TORONTO 鈥� A documentary about the posthumous theft of Einstein's brain directed by award-winning journalist Michelle Shephard is among the films coming to Hot Docs.聽
The film festival announced part of its lineup Tuesday for the international festival that runs April 27 to May 7 in Toronto.聽
Among the world premieres is Shephard鈥檚 鈥淭he Man Who Stole Einstein鈥檚 Brain,鈥� about a pathologist in 1955 who without permission removed the anatomy responsible for the celebrated genius' intellect in order to study it.聽
Other Canadian world premieres include "Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella,鈥� by Montreal director Barry Avrich, about Canada鈥檚 first Jewish Supreme Court judge.
Among previously announced films is U.S. director Davis Guggenheim鈥檚 鈥淪till: A Michael J. Fox Movie,鈥� about the Canadian icon's rise in Hollywood and his experiences with Parkinson鈥檚 disease since the age of 29. It will screen for the first time in Canada.
Buzzy international films include the Russian espionage expose 鈥淭he Rise of Wagner鈥�; a look at the effort by Indigenous protectors of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil 鈥淲e are Guardians"; and 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Afraid of Nathan Law,鈥� about a Hong Kong dissident's fight during the 鈥淯mbrella Revolution.鈥�
Notable Canadian premieres that centre on stories of the past and critical issues within Canada and the world also include filmmaker Ella Glendining鈥檚 鈥淚s there Anybody Out There?鈥� which explores ableism and her personal quest to discover someone who looks like her.聽
The complete festival lineup will be announced March 28.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2023.
Noel Ransome, The Canadian Press
