Pride Projected: Celebrate Pride with three special events hosted by some of our favourite local queer film icons. We asked Saffron Maeve, Michelle Mama and Peter Knegt for some non-fiction queer cinema to share with audiences throughout Pride Month.
Series Promotional Partner: Inside Out
Having just joined us at Hot Docs Festival for the world premiere of her new film Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, filmmaker Michelle Mama is back to present a film about another legendary queer icon—one with a curious Carole connection.
“Divine is a one-of-one star in our queer constellation. She came out of the same tough post-war industrial Baltimore world as John Waters and together they created a collection of wild, raunchy and hilarious series of films like Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble that are still too vile and disgusting for polite company. A director and his muse were never more sympatico than these two rebellious creatures. I thought the only connection between Toronto and Divine was that the 2007 remake of Hairspray - the original being the most commercial of all the Waters films and, tragically Divine’s last - was shot here. But as I was working on Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, I learned that Divine and Rough Trade did a one-night-only musical called Restless Underwear on December 19th, 1977, that Carole describes as “titillating and stupid. In short it was everything we aspired to.” This Carole connection was more than enough for me to seal the deal on selecting I Am Divine as my queer doc pick for Hot Docs' Pride Projected this year.The heightened absurdity of her comedy and performances, and her relentless grit and heartbreaking sweetness make Divine one of the most beloved and important artists and agitators of the 20th century.” – Michelle Mama on Divine and I Am Divine
I Am Divine is the story of Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, from his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally recognized drag superstar through his collaboration with filmmaker John Waters. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine was the ultimate outsider turned underground royalty. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture. I Am Divine is a definitive biographical portrait that charts the legendary icon’s rise to infamy and emotional complexities.
I Am Divine will be presented with a live introduction from Michelle Mama.
Michelle Mama is an award-winning, five-time Canadian Screen Award nominee who has been producing and directing in the factual and doc space for over two decades. Her latest film, Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, was selected as the Opening Night Film for the 2026 Hot Docs Festival, where it received its world premiere and placed #6 in the 2026 Top 20 Audience Favourites.
TICKETS (+HST)
General: $15
Members: $10, $8, FREE