Interest: LGBTQ2S+
The coming-of-age story gets an imaginative makeover with Stephen Dunn’s debut feature, which mixes affecting drama with whimsical fantasy to tell the story of high school senior Oscar (Connor Jessup), a young man who is struggling with his identity and a turbulent volatile home life with his increasingly volatile father.
Oscar finds an escape from his troubled home life in a passion for special effects and fantasy makeup that he shares with his best friend Gemma (Sofia Banzhaf) and hopes to pursue in college. At home, he creates a different fantasy world, sharing a close bond with the pet hamster (voiced by Isabella Rosellini) who has talked to him since his childhood.
When Oscar meets the cool, handsome Wilder (Aliocha Schneider), he finally starts coming to terms with his own sexuality, which he has repressed since witnessing a terrible act of homophobic violence as a child.
Closet Monster premiered at the Toronto International FIlm Festival, winning the award for Best Canadian Feature Film and was named one of Canada’s Top Ten films of 2015.
Director
Stephen Dunn
Dunn established himself as a writer and filmmaker with short films such as Swallowed and Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, which starred Canadian screen legend Gordon Pinsent and won the CBC Short Film Face-Off in 2013. His first feature, Closet Monster, won the TIFF award for Best Canadian Feature Film. He has written and directed two Heritage Minutes for Historica Canada, and episodes of Little America, and the reboot of Queer as Folk.
Writer
Stephen Dunn
Cast
Joanne Kelly, Aliocha Schneider, Aaron Abrams, Isabella Rossellini, Connor Jessup
Producers
Edward J. Martin, Kevin Krikst, Fraser Ash
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Discrimination, Family Relationships, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing
Though timid on the outside, Polly’s inner life is rich and full of charming fantasies which Rozema brings to life in black & white sequences that punctuate the film with humour and whimsy.
The film won the award for Best First Feature at the Cannes Film Festival, and in 1993 was ranked as one of TIFF’s Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time.
Director
Patricia Rozema
Rozema is a director, writer, and producer whose work has garnered 13 awards, including the Le prix de la jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival and two Emmys. Her credits include short films, television, and feature films such as I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing, Mansfield Park, Grey Gardens, and Into the Forest. Her film Mouthpiece was named one of TIFF’s Top Ten Canadian Films of 2018.
Writer
Patricia Rozema
Cast
Ann-Marie MacDonald, Paule Baillargeon, Sheila McCarthy
Producers
Patricia Rozema, Alexandra Raffe, Don Haig
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
Beautifully shot and featuring a killer '70s soundtrack, the new film from Canadian master Bruce McDonald and playwright and screenwriter Daniel MacIvor shakes up the coming-of-age road-movie concept with wit, charm and a lot of heart.
"What's not to love about Canuck hipster Bruce McDonald's return to a genre he's a master of – the indie road movie with a distinctly Canadian flavour and endearingly peculiar characters." – Michelle Reid, Victoria Times Colonist
Director
Bruce McDonald
McDonald directed the cult hits Highway 61, Roadkill, Hard Core Logo, The Tracey Fragments, starring Elliot Page and Pontypool, the award-winning series Twitch City, and episodes of Degrassi and Heartland. He has also directed the features Trigger, The Husband, Hellions, Weirdos, and Dreamland, and episodes of Creeped Out and Malory Towers.
Writer
Daniel MacIvor
Cast
Dylan Authors, Rhys Bevan-John, Julia Sarah Stone, Molly Parker, Allan Hawco
Producers
Marc Almon, Mike MacMillan
Genre
Drama
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, LGBTQ2S+, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Laurence Anyways
Passionate and powerfully acted, this epic film explores the tumultuous relationship between two lovers, one of whom is transitioning from male to female. Touching, enigmatic and genuine, Laurence Anyways is a powerhouse of contemporary Canadian cinema.
Director
Xavier Dolan
Dolan is an acclaimed filmmaker and actor, whose films have won over 90 awards internationally. J’ai tué ma mere and Heartbeats both won the Regards Jeunes Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Laurence Anyways won the Queer Palm at Cannes, and Best Canadian Feature at TIFF, and Mommy won the Jury Prize at Cannes, 10 Jutra awards and nine CSAs. He also directed Tom at the Farm, It’s Only the End of the World, Matthias & Maxine, and others.
Writer
Xavier Dolan
Cast
Melvil Poupaud, Suzanne Clément, Nathalie Baye, Monia Chokri
Producers
Lyse Lafontaine, Nathanaël Karmitz
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
French
Bursting with life, innovative visuals and a best-of soundtrack, Mommy is a critically acclaimed award-winner, garnering eight Canadian Screen Awards including Best Motion Picture, and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Director
Xavier Dolan
Dolan is an acclaimed filmmaker and actor, whose films have won over 90 awards internationally. J’ai tué ma mere and Heartbeats both won the Regards Jeunes Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Laurence Anyways won the Queer Palm at Cannes, and Best Canadian Feature at TIFF, and Mommy won the Jury Prize at Cannes, 10 Jutra awards and nine CSAs. He also directed Tom at the Farm, It’s Only the End of the World, Matthias & Maxine, and others.
Writer
Xavier Dolan
Cast
Anne Dorval, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément, Patrick Huard
Producers
Sylvain Corbeil, Lyse Lafontaine, Xavier Dolan, Nancy Grant
Genre
Drama
Interest
LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
French
Sleeping Giant
A shocking revelation sets in motion a series of events that tests the bonds of friendship and changes the boys forever. With gorgeous location photography and unerring authenticity, Sleeping Giant highlights that critical moment in adolescence when everything seems possible and every dare is an opportunity to test one’s limitations, regardless of the consequences.
Nick Serino won a Canadian Screen Award for his supporting role.
Director
Andrew Cividino
Cividino is an award-winning director and producer. He directed several shorts such as Norbert and Yellow Fish, and produced and directed the mini-series Essex County, and the feature Sleeping Giant, which premiered in the Critics’ Week section of the Cannes Film Festival, and won Best Canadian First Feature at TIFF. He has also directed episodes of Schitt’s Creek, for which he won a Primetime Emmy, and produced the features White Lie and Infinity Pool.
Writers
Aaron Yeger, Blain Watters, Andrew Cividino
Cast
Nick Serino, Reece Moffett, Jackson Martin
Producers
Aaron Yeger, James Vandewater, Marc Swenker, Karen Harnisch, Andrew Cividino
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interest
LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
When Night is Falling
Director
Patricia Rozema
Rozema is a director, writer, and producer whose work has garnered 13 awards, including the Le prix de la jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival and two Emmys. Her credits include short films, television, and feature films such as I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing, Mansfield Park, Grey Gardens, and Into the Forest. Her film Mouthpiece was named one of TIFF’s Top Ten Canadian Films of 2018.
Writer
Patricia Rozema
Cast
Pascale Bussières, Rachael Crawford
Producer
Barbara Tranter
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interests
Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
Venus
Director
Eisha Marjara
Writer
Eisha Marjara
Cast
Jamie Mayers, Debargo Sanyal
Producer
Joe Balass
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
Transformer
Director
Michael Del Monte
Cast
Janae Marie Kroczaleski
Producers
Lyndon Hall, Tad Munnings
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
The Wars
Follows the tense relationship between a young gay man and his family before and after he enlists in the First World War.
Director
Robin Phillips
Writer
Timothy Findley
Cast
Jean Leclerc, Brent Carver, Martha Henry, Ann-Marie MacDonald
Producer
Richard Nielsen
Genre
Drama
Interests
Classics, Family Relationships, Global Experiences, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English