Blamblog - Brett Lamb's Blog

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Hot Docs 15

The press conference to launch this year's Hot Docs was held this morning at Revival on College. It's the 15th year and my 5th as art director. The fest starts April 17, 2008.

[above] Amber checks out the new screening schedule. It'll be everywhere starting today.

[above] The programmers announce the line-up: Programming Director, Sean Farnell and Canadian Programmers, Lynn Fernie and Gisele Gordon. It's the biggest Hot Docs yet: there are 171 films to choose from.

Here are a few filmmakers:

[above, left] Jody Shapiro has created 8 shorts with Isabella Rossellini called Green Porno. 6 of those will be kicking things off on Opening Night. [above, right] I never seem to bump into anybody from film school, but today that changed when I saw Andrew Nisker who was in my year at York. His doc, Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home is screening as part of the World Showcase programme.

[above, left] I used to watch and liked This is Wonderland so I was disappointed when CBC cancelled it in order to produce more "popular" shows ... like MVP. Did you watch MVP? I have no idea how they could make a show so bad. Someone was channelling Ed Wood. Anyhow, Siu Ta (Nancy on Wonderland) has a personal doc called, Daddy Tran: A Life in 3D at the fest. [above, right] Apparently, this machine can make you experience a drug trip without the drugs. It made me experience a Star Trek TOS flashback.

It was the biggest Hot Docs press conference ever and the place was packed with media. And they all think they're cool but only the Canadian Bureau Chief for The Hollywood Reporter, Etan Vlessing [above, left] has attended and survived one of my runfit classes. I'd like to see Rick Campenelli do THAT.

There's one month to go and there's a tonne of stuff to do. This blog remain on break until fest time ... see you at Hot Docs!

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