Interest: Newcomer Stories
Green Grass
A father and daughter seek refuge in a far away land, but what they find there may not be what they were expecting.
Director
Michael Greco
Writer
Michael Greco
Producer
Mariana Ospina-Arteaga
Genre
Drama
Interests
Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories
Original Language
English
Refuge in the Rockies
Director
Kaio Kathriner
Writers
Kaio Kathriner, Tom Malenica
Producers
Matt Drake, Tony Cerciello, Kaio Kathriner
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Sports
Original Language
English
Bollywood/Hollywood
As a joking way of accommodating them, he hires Sue (Ray), a beautiful escort girl, to pretend to be his fiancée. Naturally, the two fall in love, and just as naturally, complications ensue. Incorporating the wild stylistic excesses of Bollywood — the melodrama, the choreography and the music — Mehta allows Indian culture and societal attitudes to play out in Toronto.
“Much hilarity, joyful song and dance numbers and a surprisingly touching love story.” — Kevin Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Director
Deepa Mehta
Mehta gained acclaim for her trilogy, Fire, Earth and the Oscar-nominated Water. Her adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children was nominated for eight CSAs. She has also directed Bollywood/Hollywood, Beeba Boys, Anatomy of Violence, and many others. Her most recent film Funny Boy has also won multiple awards, including the CSA for best direction. Most recently, she directed an episode of the series Yellowjackets. She has numerous projects in development as a writer, director and producer.
Writer
Deepa Mehta
Cast
Rahul Khanna, Lisa Ray, Jessica Paré, Moushumi Chatterjee
Producers
Camelia Frieberg, David Hamilton, Ajay Virmani
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Interests
Arts and Culture, Asian Filmmaker, BIPOC Stories, ESL, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Newcomer Stories, Strong Female Leads
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
Sabah is frustrated at home with no means of escape. That is, until she meets non-Muslim Stephen (Doyle), who awakens her long-lost desire for independence and romance. Soon, Sabah is having a whirlwind cross-cultural affair that she must hide from her family.
Ruba Nadda’s witty and timely love story breathes new life into a classic tale of family, tradition, cultural difference and love.
Director
Ruba Nadda
Nadda is an internationally acclaimed writer and filmmaker whose credits include the features Inescapable and October Gale and television shows such as Killjoys; Frankie Drake Mysteries; Arrow; Roswell, Riverdale and many others. Her feature Cairo Time won the Best Canadian Feature at TIFF. She is currently producing the series Gray, and next she will direct the films Lifetime and Elizabeth.
Writer
Ruba Nadda
Cast
Arsinée Khanjian, Fadia Nada, Jeff Seymour, Shawn Doyle
Producers
Tracey Boulton, Atom Egoyan
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interests
BIPOC Stories, ESL, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
The Cuban
The Cuban is a touching story about friendship, love and of course, beautiful music. Mina (Golga), an Afghani-Canadian pre-med student in her first placement at a long-term care home, meets Luis (Gossett Jr.) an elderly musician whose dementia has deprived him of many of the memories of his youth in Cuba. When Mina finds a way to reignite his memory using music and food from his past, the two enter on an inspiring journey of self-discovery that reawakens Mina’s love of music, and changes both of their lives.
Featuring a stellar cast and beautiful original music, The Cuban is a heartwarming cross-cultural story that received 3 Canadian Screen Award nominations.
“As a story of the curative power of music, it works, has a good beat and you can dance to it.” - Richard Crouse, film critic
Director
Sergio Navarretta
Navarretta is an award-winning director whose credits include the shorts Serena DeBergerac, and The Fortune Cookie, and the features Looking for Angelina and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship. Most recently, he executive produced Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend. Next, he will be directing the feature The Last Palikári, and he will be working with Louis Gosset Jr. again on his next film, Elephants in the Room.
Writer
Alessandra Piccione
Cast
Ana Golja, Louis Gossett Jr., Shohreh Aghdashloo
Producers
Alessandra Piccione, Taras Koltun, Ana Golja
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, ESL, Family Relationships, Newcomer Stories, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Wild Life
Directors
Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby
Producers
Marcy Page, Bonnie Thompson
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Female Filmmaker, History, Newcomer Stories
Original Language
English
Taxi Libre
Jose Garcia was a doctor in his home country. Now, as a taxi driver in Canada, he must cope with a playfully taunting prospective employer who takes a seat in his cab.
Director
Kaveh Nabation
Writer
Kaveh Nabation
Cast
Omar Alexis Ramos Torres, Alain Cadieux, Marco Ledezma
Producers
Alexandra Yanofsky, Kat Baulu
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Newcomer Stories
Original Languages
French, Other Language
Leftover
Director
Eui Yong Zong
Writer
Eui Yong Zong
Producer
Andy Kloske
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories
Original Language
Other Language
Breakaway
A cross-cultural story of self-discovery, Breakaway is a heartwarming, action-filled comedy, bringing a dash of Bollywood to Canada’s favourite sport. With a hilarious supporting cast including comedian Russell Peters, and a special appearance from Drake, Breakaway will have you cheering for its unlikely heroes.
Director
Robert Lieberman
Lieberman’s directing credits include the feature films D3: The Mighty Ducks, Fire in the Sky and Table for Five. He has won 29 Clio Awards for his work in advertising and has directed such hit TV shows as Lost Girl, Republic of Doyle, Houdini & Doyle, Haven, The Expanse, Rogue, and Criminal Minds. Most recently, he directed the features Christmas in Tahoe, Love Stories in Sunflower Valley and Love on the Road.
Writers
Noel S. Baker, Jeffrey Alan Schechter, Matt Simmons, Vinay Virmani
Cast
Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Rob Lowe, Camilla Belle
Producers
Ajay Virmani, Don Carmody, Frank Siracusa
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Bullying, Discrimination, ESL, Family Relationships, Newcomer Stories, Sports
Original Language
English