By John Corrado

Hot Docs has officially come to a close, with the final announcement of the coveted Audience Awards revealing the top twenty films that resonated the most with viewers during the virtual festival. In first place is director Franz Böhm’s Dear Future Children, which follows three young female activists in Chile, Hong Kong and Uganda. While I haven’t seen the film, I’m looking forward to watching it in the future, and was able to catch fully half of the Top 20 titles.

Additionally, the winners of the Rogers Audience Award for the top five highest rated Canadian films were announced last night, which were FANNY: The Right to Rock, Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy, Someone Like Me, Still Max, and Hell or Clean Water. This award carries a cash prize of $50,000, divided evenly between the five films for $10,000 each. I’m a bit surprised that FANNY: The Right to Rock came in so high, and that One of Ours just missed making the top five, though I’m very pleased with the other four.

All of the winners are listed below, with links to my reviews of the ones that I’ve seen.

Rogers Audience Award Winners

1. FANNY: The Right to Rock (Review)
2. Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy (Review)
3. Someone Like Me (Review)
4. Still Max (Review)
5. Hell or Clean Water (Review)

Top 20

1. Dear Future Children
2. Writing with Fire
3. FANNY: The Right to Rock (Review)
4. Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy (Review)
5. Someone Like Me (Review)
6. Still Max (Review)
7. Hell or Clean Water (Review)
8. Subjects of Desire
9. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (Review)
10. One of Ours (Review)
11. A Once and Future Peace
12. We Are the Thousand (Review)
13. Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra
14. Imad’s Childhood
15. It Is Not Over Yet (Review)
16. Rebel Hearts
17. With Drawn Arms
18. Spirit to Soar
19. In the Same Breath (Review)
20. Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Top 5 Shorts

1. A Concerto Is a Conversation
2. The Hairdresser
3. Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again (Review)
4. Recorder Queen
5. TIE – The Train Station and The White Death of the Black Wizard

Top 5 Midlengths

1. Spirit to Soar
2. Becoming
3. Holy Bread
4. Only I Can Hear
5. Dropstones

Top Films by Program

Artscapes: We Are the Thousand (Review)

Canadian Spectrum: Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy (Review)

The Changing Face of Europe: Raise the Bar

Deep Dive: Philly D.A.

International Spectrum: School of Hope

Made in Colombia: Rebel Love

Markers: Faya Dayi

Nightvision: Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest

Persister: FANNY: The Right to Rock (Review)

Special Presentations: Subjects of Desire

Systems Down: It Is Not Over Yet (Review)

World Showcase: Dear Future Children