Finally. Today we announced several titles from the Hot Docs 2009 programme, including our Opening Night presentation, the world premiere of Jennifer Baichwal’s ACT OF GOD.
Its been a white-knuckle finish (as always), but the programme is closed, the schedule is just about locked, and we can finally focus on the best part of the work: getting the films out there.
I was surprised to learn (just yesterday!) that this is the first time Hot Docs has launched with a Canadian production. TIFF has made it almost a policy to do so, but while over my three year tenure at Hot Docs its been a goal, we just haven’t found the right fit. Last year we came close, I suppose, as ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL was Canadian in every way, except the funding (and, Team Anvil, congrats on an amazing UK Opening last week).
Opening Night can be a tough slot to program, as there are so many things an effective Opener has to do. First, and most importantly, it should be an engaging screening experience for the audience, keeping in mind that this audience is not always the core audience for the Festival. As well, there should be an element of cachet connected to the presentation. And, of course, the Opening Night film should stimulate advance attention for the Festival, driving the first wave of publicity for the entire event. The Opening Night film also, often unfairly, has to endure a higher level of scrutiny than the rest of the programme.
Our feeling is that ACT OF GOD holds up quite strongly on all fronts. Baichwal and Nick de Pencier, her collaborator in art and life, have made an elegant, intelligent and captivating film on the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightening. The film interweaves seven stories (and is, in a sense, also about storytelling), including that of writer Paul Auster, who was struck as a teenager. Also featured is the composer and avant guitarist Fred Frith, who improvised a portion of the film’s score (underscoring, if you will, another theme of the film: randomness and chance).
Besides the film itself, the cachet comes from Jennifer’s standing as one of our finest nonfiction filmmakers. Over several works (THE HOLIER IT GETS, LET IT COME DOWN: THE LIFE OF PAUL BOWLES, THE TRUE MEANING OF PICTURES) Jennifer has steadily accumulated acclaim and awards, but MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES took her career to the next level, earning the Best Canadian Film award at TIFF, then becoming an international hit, and one of the most successful Canadian doc releases ever. With ACT OF GOD, which was produced by Nick de Pencier and Daniel Iron (one of Canada’s hottest producers), Jennifer continues to advance as an artist. Alluding to a quote from the film, this is her “ars poetica.”
So, 9 1/2 Weeks after our first programming meeting and we have a festival….and therefore we dedicate this year’s programme to Mickey Rourke, my brother.