To that end, the festival's 'Spotlight On' program will commission guest programmers to select their favourite NFB documentaries.

'The National Film Board of Canada is the reason I am a documentary programmer,' said Hot Docs director of programming Sean Farnel in a statement.

'I eagerly await the selections from our guest programmers, which I am sure will bear some exciting and memorable discoveries for Hot Docs audiences.'

As for South Korea, focus of the festival's 'Made In' program, Farnel described recent documentary production as 'driven by a mix of personal explorations of Korea's complex 20th-Century history and grassroots activism confronting current issues.'

Farnel added that the festival hopes to engage Toronto's substantial Korean community as well as Hot Docs regulars.

Past 'Spotlight On' programs have presented non-fiction production from such territories as Iran (2008), Central and Eastern Europe (2007), France (2006), Israel (2005), The Netherlands (2004), the United Kingdom (2003) and Germany (2002). 'Made In' programs have explored Mexico, Brazil, Japan and South Africa.

In addition, Hot Docs will present a 'Focus On' retrospective of the work of Toronto counter-culture documentary filmmaker Ron Mann.

It will also present an outstanding achievement award to aboriginal activist and filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. A selection of her more than 30 films will also be presented.

Hot Docs runs from April 30 to May 10 in Toronto. The associated Toronto Documentary Forum runs May 6 and 7.

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