Standing next to Hot Docs president Chris McDonald Thursday night, Ontario Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Michael Chan couldn’t resist cracking a joke about the festival’s top dog.

“Hot Docs and McDonalds. That’s a good fast food chain,” Chan quipped.

His zinger was a welcome counterpoint as Hot Docs opened with The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, a biopic about the late Internet activist that also surveyed critical issues of free speech, copyright and ownership in the digital age.

“This is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world,” the film’s director, Brian Knappenberger, told the capacity Hot Docs Cinema audience.

“To have a theatre devoted to documentaries, and one of only a few in the world, is amazing,” he added, taking in the opening night atmosphere.

The Internet’s Own Boy followed the life of Swartz as he was indicted by U.S. prosecutors for his political organizing, before he was found dead at age 26 from an apparent suicide.

There was also a tribute Thursday night for the late Canadian filmmaker Peter Wintonick, who died in November 2013 at age 60.

“He was in many ways the best friend a documentary festival could have,”  Hot Docs executive director Brett Hendrie told the opening night audience as he dedicated the 2014 edition to Wintonick.

Hot Docs will continue through May 4.