Hot Docs was founded in 1993 by the Canadian Independent Film Caucus, a national association of documentary producers and directors. It began as an initiative to showcase works by Canadian Independent Film Caucus filmmakers, and represent the interest of Canadian independent documentary producers and artists. In 1996, Hot Docs became a separate incorporated organization with a mandate to showcase and support the work of Canadian and international documentary filmmakers and to promote documentary production in general.

Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market. Every year, the festival presents hundreds of documentaries from across Canada and around the world to Toronto audiences and international delegates. The festival also hosts conference sessions, market pitches and industry services for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Hot Docs Forum (formerly the Toronto Documentary Forum), Hot Docs Deal Maker and the Doc Shop. The festival attracts filmmakers, buyers, distributors and broadcasters from around the world.

Hot Docs owns and programs documentaries year-round at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark theater located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. Prior to 2016 the theater was known as the Bloor Hot Docs cinema. Throughout the year, the Hot Docs Showcase festival tours nationwide and presents a selection of films from the Hot Docs Festival in Canadian cities which do not have their own documentary film festivals.