At this year’s Hot Docs filmmakers and their supporters added their voice in opposition to the recent federal budget cuts. On May 4th at 12:30pm around 100 members of the documentary film community rallied on the corner of Bloor and University to protest the federal cuts to cultural institutions.  “It is an increasing trend by the federal government to suppress independent Canadian voices,” said Sarah Spring, an organizer of the event along with the Documentary Organization of Canada. The National Film Board of Canada received a 10% cut to its budget while the CBC and Telefilm Canada’s budgets were slashed as well. According to Spring, the rally was organized during Hot Docs to inform the international filmmakers about what is happening in Canada as well as to try and mobilize more Canadian filmmakers to form coalitions against the federal cuts. 

Photos by Ezra Winton