‘Hoop Dreams’ director Steve James to be honoured by Hot Docs

TORONTO – “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James will be honoured by Toronto’s Hot Docs International Documentary Festival this year.

Organizers for the festival say a retrospective program of James’ films will be timed for Hot Docs, which runs April 28 to May 8.

James has produced and directed a number of popular documentary films, including “Life Itself,” focused on the life of film critic Roger Ebert, and “The Interrupters,” about a group of people trying to protect their Chicago communities from violence.

“Hoop Dreams” received critical acclaim when was released in 1994, garnering widespread attention for its subjects, a rarity for a documentary at the time.

The film also generated controversy when it was snubbed by the documentary wing of the Oscars.

“Over a career spanning three decades his body of exceptional work has demonstrated his commitment to illuminating stories of grit, honour and personal sacrifice, and solidified his status as a master of the documentary form,” said Hot Docs’ director of programming Shane Smith in a statement.