Cinema owned by Hot Docs sells for a price of $6.25 million, yet it remains on lease to them
In a significant turn of events, Hot Docs, the organisation behind Canada's largest documentary film festival, has sold its flagship cinema located on Bloor Street West in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. The century-old building was sold for $6.25 million [1][2].
The anonymous buyer, described as a long-time Annex resident with close ties to the community, expressed an interest in supporting the arts in Toronto [1][2][4]. Hot Docs has secured a multi-year leasing agreement with this buyer, ensuring that the cinema will continue to operate as a cultural hub for documentary film screenings and events.
The lease agreement allows Hot Docs to continue hosting its flagship events, including the Doc Soup series and the Curious Minds festival [1][4]. However, the sale does not provide details about the identity of the leaseholder after the multi-year agreement.
The sale of the cinema was announced after Hot Docs put the theatre up for sale last year. Despite financial pressures that had put the festival at risk, the sale does not affect Hot Docs' continuation of running the space [5].
The sale does not specify whether the buyer intends to maintain Hot Docs' focus on documentary films. Furthermore, it does not provide information about any future plans for the cinema's programming or the space itself.
The sale of the cinema was first reported by The Canadian Press on August 11, 2025 [6]. The cinema serves as a hub for the Hot Docs documentary film festival and is a cultural landmark in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. It screens Canadian and international documentaries and hosts special events and showcases [3].
[1] The Canadian Press. (2025, August 11). Hot Docs sells flagship cinema in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. Retrieved from https://www.canadianpress.com/entertainment/hot-docs-sells-flagship-cinema-in-torontos-annex-neighbourhood-1.4006695
[2] CBC News. (2025, August 11). Hot Docs sells flagship cinema in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hot-docs-sells-flagship-cinema-in-toronto-s-annex-neighbourhood-1.6071826
[3] Hot Docs. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.hotdocs.ca/about-us
[4] The Globe and Mail. (2025, August 12). Who is the anonymous buyer of Hot Docs' flagship cinema? Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/who-is-the-anonymous-buyer-of-hot-docs-flagship-cinema/article4006745/
[5] NOW Toronto. (2025, August 12). Hot Docs sells flagship cinema, but festival will continue. Retrieved from https://nowtoronto.com/news/hot-docs-sells-flagship-cinema-but-festival-will-continue/
[6] The Toronto Star. (2025, August 11). Hot Docs sells flagship cinema in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2025/08/11/hot-docs-sells-flagship-cinema-in-torontos-annex-neighbourhood.html
In the new ownership, the anonymous buyer, who is a long-time Annex resident with ties to the community, may explore opportunities for investing in real-estate or the arts, given the purchase of Hot Docs' cinema. This transaction, though securing Hot Docs a multi-year leasing agreement, does not disclose the future focus of the cinema, whether it will continue to prioritize documentary films or introduce new forms of content.
