10 Music Documentaries You Need To See At HotDocs

From April 23rd until May 3rd, the biggest documentary festival in North America returns to Toronto, presenting 210 titles from 45 countries. HotDocs stakes its reputation on showcasing unique stories from an extremely diverse number of subjects, and there’s always a wide variety of music documentaries to choose from.

This year’s programming highlights include a tribute to the late DJ AM, a portrait of tweenage metal band Unlocking The Truth, and the first authorized documentary about the life of Kurt Cobain.

Here are 10 music documentaries you need to see at this year’s HotDocs film festival. For the full schedule, and ticketing information, visit the HotDocs website.

This moving and fascinating portrait of pioneer DJ AM takes us through his meteoric rise to stardom, long-time battle with addiction, dedication to recovery and miraculous plane crash survival less than a year before his untimely death.

Mixing metal and speed punk, the talented Brooklyn seventh-graders behind the band Unlocking the Truth skyrocket to fame when their video goes viral, but can these adolescents manoeuvre the music industry and emerge unscathed?

A modern-day Mozart or a hyped music producer, Hot Sugar is in crisis. He mixes everyday noises into Grammy-nominated beats, but when girlfriend, Internet-phenom “Kitty,” dumps him, he takes off to Paris seeking himself and new sounds in this fantastical road trip.

In this first fully authorized cinematic portrait of music legend Kurt Cobain, never-before-seen home movies, striking animation and interviews with those who knew him best take us into the life and mind of an icon.

Passion, talent and tragedy combine in the performances of five transient musicians who busk for change on Toronto’s streets. Their songs of survival and stories of life on the margins deeply resonate, with help from The Parachute Club's Lorraine Segato.

Thrust into the spotlight by a crazy scheme concocted after The King’s death, an obscure singer skyrockets to fame masquerading as Elvis resurrected, but seeking success on his own terms, he quickly discovers his golden voice has become his curse.

Musical strains resound in the pivotal Haitian presidential election following the 2010 earthquake. As ex-Fugee Pras Michel campaigns for controversial musician Michel Martelly, things get heated when former bandmate Wyclef Jean throws his hat into the ring.

In this intimate and understated virtual reality project, users are invited to go behind the scenes with the acclaimed Montreal singer Patrick Watson as he works on his music at home in his studio loft. This privileged look at the creative process also provides a nuanced demonstration of how new virtual reality technology can capture the details and atmospherics of everyday environments.

Under threat of torture and death, musicians fight to keep their songs alive in northern Mali where Jihadists have ruled with a strict interpretation of sharia law since 2012.

The legendary Nina Simone is brought back to life in this intimate portrait of her tumultuous life. Deemed the "High Priestess of Soul,” Simone made her mark as a pianist, singer and civil rights icon.