4/19/2012

Hot Docs Welcomes Subjects, Record Number of Directors

Jennifer Lynch directing Hisss in Mumbai. Lynch will be at Hot Docs as the subject of Despite the Gods.
Hot Docs is just one week away! Sure to add some excitement to the event is this list of guests slated to attend the festival. Post-screening Q&As with filmmakers/subjects always add to one’s appreciation of the film and offer an extra incentive to see these films at the festival.
Hot Docs is honoured to welcome a number of guest subjects, including rock star Rick Springfield, director Jennifer Lynch, video game creator Phil Fish, war photographer Don McCullin, artist and Pee-wee’s Playhouse puppeteer Wayne White, and Dahmer-case detective Pat Kennedy, who are featured in films at the upcoming Festival, April 26 to May 6. In addition to guest subjects, 146 directors - a record number - will be in attendance at the Festival to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As.

Frank Lee in Legend of a Warrior
Featured guests are listed below. In most cases, the guests will be present at one or more screenings.
Rick Springfield from An Affair of the Heart (D: Sylvia Caminer | USA | 94 min) – Rock star Rick Springfield is well known for pop mega-hits like “Jessie’s Girl” and from his stint as General Hospital’s Noah Drake.
Wayne White from Beauty is Embarrassing (D: Neil Berkeley | USA | 91 min) – Wayne White began as a humble puppeteer and went on to become a co-creator of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and a celebrated artist.
Karen Winther from The Betrayal (D: Karen Winther |UK, Norway | 64 min) – Winther turns the camera on herself in a first-person exposé of her  darkest moments.
Fredrik Gertten from Big Boys Gone Bananas* (D: Fredrik Gertten | Sweden | 88 min) – Gertten chronicles the lawsuit led by a multi-national food giant that attempted to quash the release of his film BANANAS!*
Stacy Peralta from Bones Bridage: An Autobiography (D: Stacy Peralta | USA |110 min) – The Bones Brigade, a ‘80s skateboarding team that included director Stacy Peralta, revolutionized skateboarding.
Qi Moxiang from China Heavyweight (D: Yung Chang | Canada, China |89 min) – A state boxing coach, Qi Moxiang searches for young boys with raw talent who he hopes to shape into champions.
Aruna Papp from Crimes without Honour (D: Raymonde Provencher | Canada |69 min) – Aruna Papp counsels Canadian men and women who are trapped in cultures that extol honour and shame.
Jennifer Lynch from Despite the Gods (D: Penny Vozniak | Australia | 85 min) – Daughter of cult film auteur David Lynch, director Jennifer Lynch’s Bollywood/Hollywood production puts her to the test.
Dawn “Godiva” Maetas from Glow: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (D: Brett Whitcomb | USA | 76 min ) – Appearing in seasons three and four, Godiva is one of Glow’s gorgeous ladies of wrestling.
Nina Conti from Her Master’s Voice (D: Nina Conti | UK |61 min) – An acclaimed ventriloquist and comedian, Nina Conti receives news that her mentor has bequeathed to her his collection of dummies.
Jackie Sumell from Herman’s House (D: Angad Singh Bhalla | Canada| 81 min) – Artist and activist Jackie Sumell asks imprisoned Black Panther Herman Wallace to collaborate on an art project by imagining his dream house.
Phil Fish from Indie Game: The Movie (D: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot | Canada | 96 min) – The creator of video game Fez, Phil Fish is a gifted game-maker from Montreal.
Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi from Italy: Love it or Leave It (D: Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi | Italy, Germany |75 min) – These two filmmakers take a six-month road trip across Italy.
Pat Kennedy from Jeff (D: Chris James Thompson | USA | 75 min) – When brought in for questioning, infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confessed to Detective Kennedy.
Ewan MacKinnon from The Kid and the Clown (D: Ida Grøn | Denmark | 53 min) – Better known as Angus the Clown, Ewan MacKinnon brings joy to hospital patients.
Frank Lee and Corey Lee from Legend of a Warrior (D: Corey Lee | Canada |78 min) – Filmmaker Corey Lee trains with his father, Frank, a martial arts master, to better understand his Chinese heritage.
Ben Peter from Life in Stills (D: Tamar Tal | Israel | 58 min) – Ben join forces with his grandmother to save his grandfather’s photographic legacy.
Don McCullin from McCullin (D: Jacqui Morris | UK | 89 min) – To many, Don McCullin is the greatest living war photographer.
Tiffany Sudela-Junker from My Name is Faith (D: Tiffany Sudela-Junker, Jason Banker, Jorge Torres-Torres |USA | 82 min) – Director Tiffany Sudela-Junker tackles the seemingly impossible task of helping her adoptive daughter overcome past traumas.
Sami Helle, Pertti Kurikka, and Toni Välitallo from The Punk Syndrome (D: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi | Finland |85 min) -  Bassist Sami Helle , guitarist Pertti Kurikka and drummer Toni Välitallo are three quarters of the punk rock band Pertti Kurikka’s Name Day.
Radioman from Radioman (D: Mary Kerr | UK | 75 min) – A fixture on NYC film sets, Radioman is a celebrity’s celebrity.
Brian White from Smoke Traders (D: Jeff Dorn, Catherine Bainbridge | Canada | 51 min) – Brian White is a former tobacco runner from Akwesasne.
Wu Tsang from Wildness (D: Wu Tsang | USA |74 min) – Director and L.A. performance artist Wu Tsang co-founded the popular weekly party called Wildness.
Times, locations, and further info for screenings can be found at http://www.hotdocs.ca/schedule/