By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
Hot Docs Gets $5 Million Gift From Rogers Foundation
This morning Hot Docs announced that it has received a remarkable $5-million gift from the Rogers Foundation to support its mission to showcase and celebrate the art of documentary and to enable production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. As a non-profit cultural organization, Hot Docs relies on such support for its ongoing growth and activity, and this gift from the Rogers Foundation is by far the largest it has received in its 23-year history.
From this gift, $1-million will be used to establish the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund to provide much-needed financial support to Canadian documentary filmmakers. Each year for the next ten years, the Fund will disburse up to $35,000 in production grants to three to four projects. With this new fund, Hot Docs now proudly supports Canadian and international filmmakers with a portfolio of production funds valued at $8-million.
The balance of the gift will enable Hot Docs to purchase the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, which it has successfully administered, operated and programmed for the past four years in partnership with the generous Blue Ice Group. Once threatened with redevelopment, this creative partnership saved the much-loved neighbourhood venue, and now Hot Docs’ purchase of the building represents a long-term commitment to its thriving future as a cinema. Under Hot Docs’ ownership, the cinema will continue as the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in recognition of the late philanthropist and visionary CEO of Rogers Communications.
Owning a home is huge step in the growth of any cultural organization, bringing with it challenges but also enormous opportunities. Hot Docs is fortunate to have had four years to build the skills and expertise to confidently enter this new stage, and we do so with great passion, ambition and energy. We are also fortunate to have the best audiences in the city, enthusiastic and engaged with our activities and invested in our success. We look forward to bringing you even more fantastic year-round programming that has made the cinema one of Toronto’s unique and dynamic cultural hubs.