10 films to watch at Hot Docs 2016

Hot Docs runs from April 28 until May 8 in Toronto and will screen more than 200 documentaries from Canada and around the world. It's the biggest documentary festival in North America, so you should probably try to check out at least one film.

Here are 10 films to watch at Hot Docs 2016.

Aim For The Roses
Hot Docs' director of programming Shane Smith describes this film as one of the coolest Canadian documentaries in years. Director John Bolton looks at the connection between two legendary Canadians: stuntman Ken Carter who wanted to jump of the St. Lawrence River and land in a bed of roses and musician Mark Haney who created a double-bass album based on Carter's feat.

Hotel Coolgardie
In the small town of Coolgardie, Australia, two Finnish backpackers try to make some cash by working as servers. Feminist ideals and gender equality, however, seem to missing from their newfound workplace.

Koneline
Billed as a "cinematic poem," this documentary by Canadian filmmaker Nettie Wild
takes viewers to the Tahltan First Nation's territory in northwestern British Columbia, an area that mining companies are particularly interested in.

Lovetrue
Director Alma Har'el explores the idea of true love through three individuals who live in New York, Alaska and Hawaii, respectively. This American doc about our various human relationships had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Mattress Men
Imagine if Bad Boys furniture had an Irish cousin, says Smith, describing this film. It follows one man as he creates a larger-than-life marketing persona (Mattress Mick) for the showroom he works at. And, it explores the larger issue of Ireland's economy.

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Canadian siblings Michael and Shannon learn that they have a half brother and a half sister - also named Michael and Shannon - in Thailand. This Canadian doc, directed by Chelsea McMullan, follows them as they learn about their father's secret family and his altogether mysterious life.

My Scientology Movie
Louis Theroux and director John Dower take a look at Scientology and use the church's own cinematic techniques. This Canadian and British film has been described as both hilarious and informative.

The Pearl of Africa
Follow Ugandan transwoman Cleopatra Kambugu after one of her country's biggest tabloids outs her on front page of its publication. This Swedish film by Jonny von Wallström will have its world premiere at the Toronto festival.

Tickled
This intriguing sounding film follows New Zealand-based journalist David Farrier as he tries to get to the bottom of an online video about a sport known as "competitive endurance tickling." Yes, it sounds strange, but it'll take you on quite the journey.

Tower
By combining animation and archival footage, American director Keith Maitland takes audiences back to the University of Texas on August 1, 1966 - the site of the first mass school shooting in the United States.

What films are you most looking forward to at Hot Docs ? Let us know in the comments.

by Staff via blogTO