Film + TV

9 music films to see at Hot Docs 2013

by AUX staff

One of our favourite festivals to happen in Toronto, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, kicks off its 20th year tomorrow, and as ever, they’ve got a whack of quality music films you might be interested in checking out.

If you happen to be in town for the festival, full scheduling, ticket, and film information can be found on the Hot Docs website. If you won’t be, consider this a sneak peek before the wider release of some of these films.

DOWNLOADED

One word: Napster. Downloaded features interviews with the world-changing peer-to-peer network’s creator Shawn Fanning and cohort Sean Parker, along with musicians such as Henry Rollins, Snoop Lion, Mike D, and Chuck D, about the site’s start—and its finish.

Sat, Apr 27 9:00 PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

Sun, Apr 28 3:30 PM
Scotiabank 3

Fri, May 3 9:30 PM
Fox Theatre

THE PUNK SINGER

The long awaited longform look at punk and feminism icon Kathleen Hanna’s life. Director Sini Anderson compiled a ton of archival and new interview footage to paint a personal picture previously unseen of the Le Tigre/Bikini Kill force.

Mon, Apr 29 9:30 PM
The Royal Cinema

Wed, May 1 8:00 PM
Hart House Theatre

Fri, May 3 6:30 PM
Scotiabank 3

TPB AFK: THE PIRATE BAY AWAY FROM KEYBOARD

The case of The Pirate Bay is one that should resonate with most music (and media in general) consumers today. TPB AFK is a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial court case between defendents Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, and Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, and Hollywood. FREE THE INTERNET.

Mon, Apr 29 6:30 PM
Scotiabank 4

Tue, Apr 30 8:00 PM
Hart House Theatre

Sun, May 5 4:00 PM
The Revue

GOOD OL’ FREDA

Good Ol’ Freda tells the story of the Beatles’ personal secretary and fan club manager for the first time. Freda still works as a secretary to this day. She just wants her grandson to see what she did. Maybe this is Hot Docs’ most adorable movie.

Sat, Apr 27 9:00 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Sun, Apr 28 1:00 PM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Sun, Apr 28 4:00 PM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

Sat, May 4 8:45 PM
The Regent

FINDING THE FUNK

Questlove narrates this archeology of the often-overlooked bridge between 60s soul and ’80s hip-hop, with a deeper look at some of its homes in Ohio and Michigan.

Tue, Apr 30 7:00 PM
The Royal Cinema

Thu, May 2 4:30 PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

Sat, May 4 1:30 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

MUSCLE SHOALS

Muscle Shoals is a town in Alabama that was quietly home to an integral part of American popular music since the late 1950s—FAME Studios. Founded by Rick Hall, the man at the centre of this doc, FAME hosted legends such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, and lots more, creating a space where black and white artists worked side by side, even as Alabama was in the midst of a race crisis.

Tue, Apr 30 9:15 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Fri, May 3 6:15 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Sat, May 4 9:00 PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS

The National are getting set to release their new album Trouble Will Find Me, but new tour doc Mistaken For Strangers follows the band on the tour for their last album High Violet. It was directed by singer Matt Berninger’s brother, and it looks more like a family therapy session than a music doc (NO THANK YOU, VINCENT MOON), and therefore, amazing.

Tue, Apr 30 9:15 PM
The Royal Cinema

Thu, May 2 11:59 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Sun, May 5 4:00 PM
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

OIL SANDS KARAOKE

Whacks of Canadians flock to Fort McMurray, AB, for well-paying work in the oil industry, and Oil Sands Karaoke looks like a simple human side to making a life in the villainized sands.

Fri, Apr 26 8:30 PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

Sat, Apr 27 2:00 PM
The ROM Theatre

Sat, May 4 6:30 PM
Scotiabank 4

ALIAS

Director Michelle Latimer takes a look at marginalized Toronto neighbourhoods such as Regent Park, Don Mills, and Jane and Finch, following five Toronto rappers trying to “escape the hustle of drugs and danger.” Featuring rap artists and producers Alkatraz, Trench, Alias, Knia, and Keon.

Fri, Apr 26 7:00 PM
The Royal Cinema

Sun, Apr 28 1:00 PM
Scotiabank 3

Sat, May 4 8:45 PM
Scotiabank 4