There're so many things that is amazing about hot docs. For one thing it's full of amazing movies that cover a wide range of subject matter from sports to horrible human crimes to documenting some of the worst living conditions in the world. It's natural to make comparisons between this and the Toronto International Film Festival and while I am big fan of both I would say that with hot docs the percentage of you leaving a theatre after having gone through a heavy hitting movie is higher.
In addition, hot docs is far more accessible especially if you are a student or a senior since they offer free daytimes screenings before 6 PM for all their movies and this even includes movies that have gone rush. While regular screenings are more expensive than you would normally pay for a commercial movie it is highly worth it to pay $14 or $15 that tickets cost, you get a great movie and the chance to hear from the producers or directors of the film in a q&a session immediately following the credits. Which is not always the case in all the screenings at tiff.
This festival is going very quickly and gathering a lot of new followers each year and while they are still small and not full of money they put on an amazing show, and now with the reinvention of the Bloor cinema this festival is just going to keep getting larger in its new home.
Just like at tiff the volunteers and staff are fantastic and very helpful, I've seen some of the best films in the last few years at HotDocs and judging from this year's festival I can see that trend continuing.