The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival has set a world premiere for Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart, a new documentary directed by Tony Award–winning Broadway producer Dori Berinstein. The film will debut in the festival’s Special Presentations section and explores the life and decades-long career of singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins.
Loggins first gained widespread fame in the 1970s as part of the successful musical duo Loggins and Messina, whose blend of folk and soft rock produced a number of hit records. Over time, Loggins expanded his career into Hollywood, becoming closely associated with movie soundtracks during the 1980s. His music became a defining element of several popular films, including songs featured in Top Gun and Footloose.
In addition to his soundtrack success, Loggins has also been recognized for his songwriting achievements within the music industry. He won a Grammy Award in 1980 for co-writing the hit “What a Fool Believes” with Michael McDonald for the band The Doobie Brothers. The following year he earned another Grammy Award for the song “This Is It,” further cementing his place among the era’s most influential pop-rock artists. Berinstein’s documentary, titled Conviction of the Heart, previously received a preview screening during the Newport Folk Festival in July 2025 before its official festival premiere.
The 2026 edition of Hot Docs, which will take place from April 23 through May 3 in Toronto, will also feature the world premiere of The Tower That Built a City, directed by Mark Myers. The documentary focuses on the history and cultural impact of the iconic CN Tower and the surrounding area that helped shape the city’s skyline.
Also among the festival’s notable screenings is the international premiere of TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing, directed by Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez. The film examines the organizing traditions and influence connected to writer and activist Toni Cade Bambara. Meanwhile, A Fox Under a Pink Moon, directed by Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhalaghi, will make its North American premiere at the festival.
Several films will also receive Canadian premieres during the event, including The Oldest Person in the World from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Green and Time and Water from director Sara Dosa, whose previous documentary Fire of Love earned widespread acclaim. Additional Canadian premieres include Black Zombie by Maya Annik Bedward, which is set to debut this weekend at SXSW, as well as To Hold A Mountain from Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, which previously won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.
The lineup also includes The Ballad of Judas Priest, directed by Sam Dunn, and American Doctor from filmmaker Poh Si Teng. Festival organizers have announced that the complete program for the 2026 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival will be revealed on March 24, offering a broader look at the documentaries scheduled to screen during the annual event.
