Genre: Experimental
Cette maison (This House)
Drawing from the real life events surrounding her fourteen-year-old cousin’s murder in 2008, director Miryam Charles wants to finally unpack her grief and the trauma associated with it. Through dream-like reenactments of her own childhood and an imagined life for her cousin, Charles delves into the changing emotional, political, and historical climates surrounding her family as Haitian-Canadians in Quebec.
This beautifully crafted film is a bold and thought-provoking look at family, and a moving tribute to a life tragically cut short.
“A daring blend of documentary and fantasy that invests a deeply personal drama with a wide historical scope.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker
Director
Miryam Charles
Charles is a filmmaker and cinematographer who has directed, produced, and shot many short films, including A Fortress, Drei Atlas, and Chanson pour le Nouveau Monde. She directed the features Mosaic, and Cette maison (This House), which premiered at the Berlinale Forum and was included in TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten, and Sight and Sound’s Best Films of the Year. She was the inaugural recipient of TIFF’s Charles Officer Award for her body of work.
Writer
Miryam Charles
Cast
Schelby Jean-Baptiste
Producer
Felix Dufour-Laperriere
Genres
Documentary, Drama, Experimental
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Newcomer Stories
Original Language
French
Four years after leaving her daughter (d’Eschambault) to be raised by her brother (Theis) and his wife (Marion), Renée (Vermette) returns to find an entirely different life from the one she left behind. The tensions caused by her arrival simmer under the surface as Renée clumsily adjusts back into a maternal role despite her young daughter having no memory of her.
Featuring members of Vermette’s own family and community, this lovingly made personal project went on to win Best Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021.
“More experiment than straight-ahead narrative, Ste. Anne rewards patient, careful attention. The rewards are great.” - Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail
Director
Rhayne Vermette (Métis)
Writer
Rhayne Vermette (Métis)
Cast
Isabelle d’Eschambault, Valerie Marion, Dolorès Gosselin (Métis)
Producer
Rhayne Vermette (Métis)
Genres
Drama, Experimental
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
French
Baba (Dance)
Director
Jonathan Lawley
Writer
Jonathan Lawley
Cast
Stacey Armstrong, Cassidy DeFreitas, Alana Elmer
Producer
Wayne Lawley
Genre
Experimental
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories
Original Language
Other Language
Bus No. 9
Director
Michael Downing
Cast
Chinny Hoan, Marc Roumy
Producers
Jonathan Orson, Joel Awerbuck
Genres
Drama, Experimental
Interest
Arts and Culture
Original Language
English
Grandfather on the Prairies
Jason meets his great-great-greatgrandfather and soon finds himself in a hilarious debate about what it means to be a hunter.
Director
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Writer
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Cast
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Producers
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Lisa Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Robert Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Genres
Animation, Experimental, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, History, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
How To Be Alone
Narrated by Tanya Davis to beautiful hand-drawn illustrations by Dorfman, Davis’s eloquent poem is full of powerful truths. With over 9.5 million views on YouTube, the film is an online sensation.
Director
Andrea Dorfman
Writer
Tanya Davis
Producers
Walter Forsyth, Andrea Dorfman
Genres
Animation, Experimental
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Wave a Red Flag
Director
Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis)
Writer
Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis)
Cast
Lisa Cromarty, Monique Mojica
Producer
Lea Marin
Genre
Experimental
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
No Dialogue
Zaasaakwe
A powerful call to action to all Indigenous people to shout for joy and celebrate their identity.
Director
Madison Thomas (Ojibwe/Saulteax)
Writer
Madison Thomas (Ojibwe/Saulteax)
Cast
Danni Black
Producers
Madison Thomas (Ojibwe/Saulteax), Darcy Waite (Cree)
Genre
Experimental
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
The Cinnamon Peeler
Director
Veronica Tennant
Writer
Michael Ondaatje
Cast
Gail Skrela, Sean Ling, Michael Ondaatje
Producers
Peter Gentile, Veronica Tennant
Genre
Experimental
Interests
Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Cycles
Director
Joe Cobden
Cast
Joe Cobden, Marc Bendavid, Romina D'ugo, Laura Harris
Producers
Joe Cobden, Alyssa Swanzey
Genre
Experimental
Interest
Arts and Culture
Original Language
No Dialogue