TORONTO — CBC and the Hot Docs documentary festival are partnering to bring a multiplatform festival-at-home experience to Canadians, providing access to 2020 Hot Docs Festival premieres on Thursday nights starting April 16.
Following the postponement of the 2020 Hot Docs Festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a selection of exclusive first-run feature documentaries that would have debuted at the festival will now premiere on CBC, Documentary Channel, and for free on streamer CBC Gem.
CBC and Hot Docs have also partnered to expand the at-home audience experience with interactive, livestreamed Q&As with filmmakers and other original digital content at CBC Docs. A complete list of 2020 Hot Docs Festival selections will be announced by Hot Docs on April 14.
“As we all seek out new content to engage and inspire us and provide a sense of meaning and connection during these unprecedented times, we are partnering with Hot Docs to bring these extraordinary, thought-provoking Festival premieres to Canadians at home,” said Sally Catto, general manager of entertainment, factual and sports for CBC, in the news release. “We are grateful to have an opportunity to shine a light on some of our documentary filmmakers during this challenging period for our creative communities and ensure their voices and perspectives can be shared widely with audiences across the country.”
In addition to these exclusive 2020 Hot Docs Festival premiere films, Documentary Channel will offer an expanded Hot Docs programming lineup from April 16 to May 10, showcasing feature-length documentaries from past Festivals. CBC Gem will offer a Hot Docs at Home on CBC collection, including features from past Festivals as well as a selection of CBC Short Docs from the 2020 Festival.
For more information about the Hot Docs at Home on CBC schedule, please see the news release.
