Hot Docs 2020 Postponed Due to Coronavirus

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Mar 13, 2020

Organizers behind Canadian international documentary festival Hot Docs have announced the postponement of their 2020 edition due to ongoing concern surrounding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Due to the recent declaration by the World Health Organization of COVID-19 as a pandemic, and with the health and safety of Hot Docs participants at our festival as our first priority, we will be postponing this year's festival, which was scheduled for April 30-May 10 in Toronto," organizers wrote in a statement.

While rescheduled dates for Hot Docs have yet to be announced, organizers wrote that they "remain committed to bringing these outstanding documentary films to our audiences and are currently investigating ways that we can do so at a later date."

The statement notes that the festival "[intends] to replace the onsite industry events" that were scheduled to take place, with "plans...currently underway to bring together filmmakers, producers and industry decision makers in an online environment and to virtually deliver the event's valuable pitch presentations and one-on-one meetings."

Outside of the festival, programming at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will "proceed in accordance to instructions and recommendations" from Toronto Public Health and additional municipal, provincial and federal agencies.

Measures currently implemented by the theatre include changing screening capacities from 650 to 250 people, additional hand sanitizing stations and disinfectant wipes, an enhancement of venue cleaning schedules and more. A complete list of implementations can be found here.

Read Hot Docs' complete statement on the postponement of their festival here.

Keep track of everything cancelled and postponed with Exclaim!'s ongoing list of everything being affected by the coronavirus in Canada.

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