Genre: Drama
Shin-Chi’s Canoe
Through his father’s gift of a secret and tiny hand-carved cedar canoe, an Indigenous child discovers the strength and resilience to endure his first year at a residential school.
Director
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Writers
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua), Kate Kroll
Cast
Zayne Jasper
Producers
Kate Kroll, Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Family Relationships
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Sketchi
Director
Lily Sun
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences
Original Language
English
Sophie and Jacob
A moving animation based on the true story of two young Romanian Jews fleeing the Holocaust, who help each other survive when their ship is turned away from Palestine and then denied entry by country after country.
Director
Max Shoham
Writer
Max Shoham
Genre
Drama
Interests
Discrimination, Global Experiences, History
Original Language
English
Snow
Director
Kim Barr
Writer
Kathy-Ann Thomas
Cast
Hannah Chantée van Herten
Producers
Kathy-Ann Thomas, Kim Barr
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Bullying, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Gabrielle
As the choir prepares for an important performance, Gabrielle must confront other people’s prejudices with courage and overcome her own limitations.
“On the surface, it’s a simple love story: girl meets boy, girl likes boy, girl kisses boy. But Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle is much more…a deeply affecting tale of difference, dignity and the healing power of song.”
— T’cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazette
Director
Louise Archambault
Archambault’s first short film, Atomic Saké, won the Jutra Award for best short. Her first feature, Familia, won her the Genie for best debut feature, and her follow-up Gabrielle was nominated for six CSAs. Archambault also directed the TV series Catastrophe and wrote and directed Il pleuvait des oiseaux, which premiered at TIFF. She has also directed the films Merci pour tout, Le temps d’un été, and Irena’s Vow, which won the Audience Award at VIFF.
Writer
Louise Archambault
Cast
Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, Alexandre Landry, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Robert Charlebois
Producers
Luc Déry, Kim McCraw
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
French
Strange Invaders
Roger and Doris get more than they bargained for when a peculiar child appears at their doorstep. Nominated for an Oscar.
Director
Cordell Barker
Writer
Cordell Barker
Producers
Jennifer Torrance, Cordell Barker
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Language
English
The Street
An award-winning adaptation of a story by Canadian author Mordecai Richler about how families deal with older relatives, and the emotions surrounding a grandmother’s death.
Director
Caroline Leaf
Writer
Mordecai Richler
Producer
Guy Glover
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Classics, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
The Tailor
A young gender-nonconforming person finds solace and support in an unexpected location, the workshop of a master tailor.
Director
Nathalie Therriault
Writer
Nathalie Therriault
Cast
Hiro Kanagawa, Megan Danso
Producer
Andy Alvarez
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
The Orphan and the Polar Bear
In this adaptation of an Inuit legend, an orphan is adopted by a polar bear elder who teaches him the skills he needs to survive.
Director
Neil Christopher
Writer
Neil Christopher
Cast
Johnny Issaluk
Producers
Louise Flaherty (Inuk), Neil Christopher
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interest
Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Traditional Healing
Director
Raymond Caplin (Mi’qmaw)
Writer
Raymond Caplin (Mi’qmaw)
Cast
Kaelyn Martin
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Environment, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English