The Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund has awarded $170,000 in funding to seven music documentaries.
Three music documentaries were selected for development funding. Two were from Ontario, starting with Salome Bey: First Lady of the Blues (Enomistar Productions), directed and produced by Simone Maurice. The documentary follows the life of New Jersey-born blues singer Salome Bey who, after moving to Toronto, became known as Canada’s First Lady of Blues.
The other Ontario music documentary is Some People Out There Still Like Me: Bernie Finkelstein and the True North Story (Riddle Films), directed and produced by Joel Goldberg, Liam Romalis and Jason Charters. The documentary recounts the history of Canadian record label True North Records and its founder Bernie Finkelstein.
Rounding out the development funding is Lee Aaron: Test Your Metal (Rock Yenta), from B.C. The film, directed by Scott Dobson and produced by Dobson and Charlotte Engel, tells the story of female rocker Lee Aaron and her struggles with sexism and misogyny in the music video age.
Four docs received production funding, including the Ontario project humanNATURE (Human-Nature Productions), directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier and produced by Baichwal, de Pencier and Tyler Levine. The feature follows guitarist and composer Donna Grantis as she collaborates with nature, environmental thought leaders and other musicians.
The second Ontario doc is The Blind Couple From Mali (Makers), directed by Ryan Marley and produced by Katie Lafferty. The feature film follows the journey of blind Grammy-nominated Mali duo Amadou & Mariam as they record a new studio album.
Lhasa (Metafilms), directed by Sophie Leblond and produced by Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre hails from Quebec. The feature recounts the work, life and career of U.S.-born, Montreal singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela, who died at 37 after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Rounding out the projects receiving production funding is Lauda, i like the way you think (Ruby Line Productions) from Newfoundland and Labrador. The documentary, directed by Lian Morrison and Wanda Nolan and produced by Annette Clarke, takes a look at the creative process of Shallaway Youth Choir, a neurodivergent-led ensemble in downtown St. John’s.
Eligible projects were considered by the selection committee which is comprised of Barnaby Marshall, Slaight Music’s CTO; Christina Piovesan, president and producer at First Generation Films; and Elizabeth Radshaw and María José Arauz, the industry programs director and manager.
“Once again, the quality of the submissions to the Slaight Fund this year was staggeringly good, making the selection process a real challenge,” said Marshall in a statement. “It’s incredible to see so many talented filmmakers working on projects that fit our mandate—reviewing these applications with the rest of the committee was an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to see the completed films on screen.”
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