Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the largest documentary festival in North America, will host four documentaries by AFTRS alumni at the virtual 2021 edition.
I’m Wanita, the directorial debut of AFTRS alum Matthew Walker (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Editing, 2004) will have its world premiere, screening with a Q&A as part of the Artscapes strand, a program that features work exploring creativity in the performing and visual arts. Following Tamworth-based renegade country music singer, Australia’s self-crowned “Queen of Honky Tonk” Wanita Bahtiyar, I’m Wanita was produced by Claire Lewis (Graduate Certificate in Documentary, 2011), scored by Jonathan Dower (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Screen Composition, 2004) and lensed by Simon Cunich (Graduate Certificate in Documentary, 2004). The film will air on the ABC, following a theatrical release later this year.
2018 Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production graduate Nays Baghai’s Documentary Australia Foundation Award-winning feature (Sydney Film Festival, 2020), Descent, will have its North American premiere as part of the festival’s World Showcase. Made with AFTRS alumni, producer/cinematographer Eero Heinonen (Master of Arts Screen, 2018; Advanced Diploma in Producing: Story, Audience, Finance, 2016), cinematographer Ehran Edwards (Master of Arts Screen, 2019) and associate producer Geordie Brown (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production graduand) Descent appeared at several festivals across the globe and had an Australian cinematic release.
After celebrating its world premiere at Gold Coast Film Festival, Sally Aitken’s Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story will screen at Hot Docs as a special presentation. The film showcases the work of a stellar lineup of AFTRS alumni, including executive producer Paul Wiegard (Master of Screen Arts & Business, 2015), composer Caitlyn Yeo (Graduate Diploma in Screen Composition, cinematographer Judd Overton (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Cinematography, 2003), editor Adrian Rostirolla (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Editing, 2003), dialogue editor Yulia Akerholt (Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television) Sound, 1995) and sound effects editor Jared Dwyer (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Sound Design, 2007).
Sophie Raymond’s Recorder Queen, executive produced by Bob Connolly (Master of Arts Honours: Film, Television and Digital Media Documentary, 2004) and lensed by Nicola Daley (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Cinematography, 2004) will also screen as part of the Artscapes shorts program.
This year’s Hot Docs lineup will be available to audiences Canada-wide through their streaming platform, Hot Docs at Home. Boasting a slate of 219 films from across the globe, the festival will run from 29 April to 9 May. See the full lineup here.
I’m Wanita (world premiere)
Director: Matthew Walker (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Editing, 2004)
Producer: Claire Lewis (Graduate Certificate in Documentary, 2011)
Composer: Jonathan Dower (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Screen Composition, 2004)
Cinematographer: Simon Cunich (Graduate Certificate in Documentary, 2004)
Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story
Director: Sally Aitken
Executive producer: Paul Wiegard (Master of Screen Arts & Business, 2015)
Composer: Caitlyn Yeo (Graduate Diploma in Screen Composition
Cinematographer: Judd Overton (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Cinematography, 2003)
Editor: Adrian Rostirolla (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Editing, 2003)
Dialogue editor: Yulia Akerholt (Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television) Sound, 1995)
Sound effects editor: Jared Dwyer (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Sound Design, 2007)
Descent
Director/producer/screenwriter/cinematographer/editor: Nays Baghai (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)
Producer/cinematographer: Eero Heinonen (Master of Arts Screen, 2018; Advanced Diploma in Producing: Story, Audience, Finance, 2016)
Cinematography: Ehran Edwards (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Associate Producer: Geordie Brown (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production graduand)
Recorder Queen
Executive producer: Bob Connolly (Master of Arts Honours: Film, Television and Digital Media Documentary, 2004) Cinematographer: Nicola Daley (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media Cinematography, 2004)
