Hot Docs Festival to open with film on queer rock icon Carole Pope

Musician Carole Pope performs at the 2025 PTP Pink Awards in Toronto, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

A film about the career and life of queer rock icon Carole Pope will open this year’s Hot Docs Festival.

The 33rd edition of the documentary marathon will kick off with the world premiere of “Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions,” directed by Canadian filmmaker Michelle Mama.

The film will spotlight the British-Canadian singer-songwriter as she “reclaims her rightful place in music history,” says the festival. As co-leader of Toronto new wave group Rough Trade, Pope pushed radio boundaries with the 1981 hit “High School Confidential,” which explored lesbian desire.

This year’s Hot Docs slate will feature 115 documentaries from 51 countries, including world and international premieres.

Among other high-profile fare will be the world premieres of “Love Apptually,” exploring dating app algorithms; “Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart,” following the life and career of the famed hitmaker; and “Myspace,” about the rise of the pioneering social networking platform.

Meanwhile, “The Tower That Built a City” celebrates the 50th anniversary of Toronto’s CN Tower, while “A War on Women” charts four decades of feminist resistance by Iranian women against the Islamic Republic.

The Hot Docs Festival will run from April 23 to May 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2026.