Hot Docs is also pleased to announce that cinema renovations are now underway, with a construction crew onsite at 506 Bloor Street West to bring to fruition the plans laid out by Toronto-based architectural practice Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA), with feedback from Bloor Cinema patrons and the Annex and Harbord Village communities.

One of Canada’s most acclaimed architectural films, HPA is helmed by partners Siamak Hariri and David Pontarini, and is the recipient of one of the world’s top architecture awards – the Progressive Architecture Award – for the winning international entry for the Bahá’í Temple for South America, as well as the Governor General’s Medal for the Schulich School of Business at York University and a 2009 Award of Excellence from the Toronto Urban Design Awards for the Pape/Danforth Public Library.

Bloor Cinema renovations and improvements include the installation of a larger screen, a larger and revitalized lobby and concession area, improvements to the seating and building façade, a wheelchair accessible washroom facility on the main floor and improvements to the second floor washroom facilities, as well as a refresh of the interior design that aims to draw attention to the building’s celebrated history as an over 100-year-old cinema. Additional details around the re-opening of the cinema will be announced in the coming months.