Night of the Zoopocalypse

Directors Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro
Year 2024
Run Time 91min
Genre Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Horror

After a mysterious meteor crashes at Colepepper Zoo, unlikely friends Dan, a short-tempered mountain lion, and Gracie, a fierce teenage wolf, team up to stop the unleashed virus that is transforming their friends into “zoombies”.  

 

Chock-full of both scares and laughs, this gorgeously animated family-friendly horror-comedy is fun for kids and adults alike.

 

“In a world dominated by Pixar and Dreamworks, Night of the Zoopocalypse is a fun reminder that other studios produce good work, and there’s never been a better time to go to the movies and support a Canadian production.” – Matthew Simpson, That Shelf

Directors

Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro

Writers

James Kee, Steven Hoban

Cast

Pierre Simpson, Gabbi Kosmidis, David Harbour

Producers

Wes Lui, Joe Iacono, Yohann Comte, Steven Hoban, Mark Smith

Genres

Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Horror

Interest

Literary Adaptation

Original Language

English

The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin

Director Janet Perlman
Year 1981
Run Time 10min
Genre Animation, Comedy

The classic Cinderella fairytale is given an endearing twist, presented by a cast of penguins!

Director

Janet Perlman

Genres

Animation, Comedy

Interests

Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker

Original Language

No Dialogue

The Magic of Anansi

Director Jamie Mason
Year 2001
Run Time 6min
Genre Animation
This animated short tells the story of Anansi, a little spider who is tired of being snubbed by other jungle animals, especially Mr. Tiger. Anansi hatches a plan to make the other animals respect him, but soon learns an important lesson about how to treat his friends.

Director

Jamie Mason

Genre

Animation

Interest

Literary Adaptation

Original Languages

English, French

Invasion of the Space Lobsters

Director Janet Perlman
Year 2005
Run Time 6min
Genre Animation
As they try to assemble their barbecue, a suburban family is stunned by the appearance of giant lobsters in an egg-shaped UFO, leading to hilarious pandemonium. In this clever animated throwback to 1950s monster movies, a neighbourhood learns the value of clear communication!

Director

Janet Perlman

Genre

Animation

Interest

Female Filmmaker

Original Languages

English, French

Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas

Director Larry Weinstein
Year 2017
Run Time 52min
Genre Documentary

Every year, millions of people celebrate the Christmas season with a soundtrack of feel-good classics, most of which were written by Jewish songwriters. This insightful documentary showcases artists like Irving Berlin, Johnny Marks, and Mel Tormé who used universal themes of joy, love, and family to tell the story of the holiday.


Director

Larry Weinstein

Weinstein has received three Gemini awards for his work, including Best Direction for Beethoven’s Hair. Weinstein also directed the docs Mulroney: The Opera, The Devil’s Horn, Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star, and Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas, and co-directed Our Man In Tehran. His latest, Propaganda: The Art of Selling Lies, premiered at Hot Docs 2019.

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Arts and Culture, History

Original Language

English

Tomson Highway: kipimâtisinaw tapâhpeyahk

Director Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)
Year 2022
Run Time 5min
Genre Documentary
Legendary Cree playwright Tomson Highway finds that his purpose in life always comes back to music, storytelling and laughter.
 

Director

Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)

Writer

Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)

Cast

Tompson Highway (Cree)

Producer

Chehala Leonard (Aseniwuche Winewak)

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

Cree

Hebron Relocation

Director Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)
Year 2022
Run Time 15min
Genre Documentary
Decades after being forcibly relocated from the town of Hebron, a community of Labrador Inuit reflect on the residual trauma of losing the connection to their ancestral home.

Director

Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)

Writer

Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)

Producers

Latonia Hartery, Katherine Baulu

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

English

Young Werther

Director José Lourenço
Year 2024
Run Time 101min
Genre Comedy, Romance

While on a simple errand to Toronto, a carefree and charming young writer named Werther (Douglas Booth) meets Charlotte (Alison Pill), who he believes love of his life. There's only one thing standing in the way - her engagement to another man. Despite the urgings of his hypochondriac best friend, Werther turns his world upside down in a desperate, misguided and hilarious quest to win her heart.

Director

José Lourenço

Writers

Johann Goethe, José Lourenço

Cast

Alison Pill, Patrick J. Adams, Iris Apatow

Producer

Douglas Booth

Genres

Comedy, Romance

Interest

Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

La petite et le vieux (Blue Sky Jo)

Director Patrice Sauvé
Year 2024
Run Time 105min
Genre Comedy, Drama
In 1980s Quebec, 10-year-old Helene (Bharucha) dreams of living up to the standard of the cartoon hero "Josephine The Little Musketeer", so much so that she changes her name to Jo to be more like her. Filled with passion and imagination, she sets out to make life better for those around her. When she befriends her curmudgeonly neighbor (Roy), she discovers that his gruff demeanour conceals a heart of gold, and the two form an unlikely bond that enriches both of their lives.

Based on the award-winning novel of the same name, La petite et le vieux is a touching coming-of-age story that wears its heart on its sleeve.

"A bright and rich film, filled with colourful and endearing characters" - Maxime Demers, Le Journal de Montreal

Director

Patrice Sauvé

Writers

Marie-Renée Lavoie, Sébastien Girard

Cast

Gildor Roy, Gabrielle B. Thuot, Juliette Bharucha

Producers

Marc Biron, Sonia Despars

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Interests

Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation

Original Language

French

Backspot

Director D. W. Waterson
Year 2023
Run Time 93min
Genre Drama

Riley (Jacobs) and her girlfriend Amanda (Rutendo) devote their whole lives to their passion for cheerleading. Given a chance to compete with an elite squad, Riley pushes herself to a point of dangerous dedication in order to impress her idol, the all-star coach Eileen (Wood). As the pressure mounts on both her and the squad, Riley’s obsession threatens to make her lose everything, leading to an exhilarating finale that is sure to get your blood pumping!

 

Featuring an all-star cast at the top of their game, this intense cheerleading drama is unlike any other that has come before it.

 

“Jacobs and Waterson are in the same perfect lockstep as the film's cheer squad itself.” – Marya E. Gates, RogerEbert.com

Director

D. W. Waterson

Writers

D. W. Waterson, Joanne Sarazen

Cast

Evan Rachel Wood, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk)

Producers

Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), D. W. Waterson, Martin Katz, Alona Metzer

Genre

Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Sports, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English