Original Language: Other Language
We Were Children
Harrowing stories of survivors of the Canadian Indian residential school system are woven together in this profoundly moving film about the resilience of the human spirit in the face of institutionalised racism, abuse and injustice on a national scale.
Director
Tim Wolochatiuk
Writer
Jason Sherman
Producers
Kyle Irving, David Christensen
Genres
Documentary, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Languages
English, French, Other Language
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
With the reserve bully (Supernault) constantly at her heels and an old flame (Kapashesit) suddenly back in her life, she is grateful that her cousin (Martin) is there to help her in the fight to stay positive under trying circumstances. With a lot of laughs along the way, Mitzi embarks on a quest to get her family back on the right track!
Director
Shelley Niro (Kanien'kehaka)
Shelley Niro is a Mohawk filmmaker and multi-disciplinary artist. She is widely recognized for her photography, and in 2023, was recognized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian with a career retrospective. Her latest film, Café Daughter, premiered at imagineNATIVE in 2023 where it won the Audience Choice Award.
Writer
Shelley Niro (Kanien'kehaka)
Cast
MorningStar Angeline (Navajo/Shoshone/Chippewa Cree/Blackfoot), Gary Farmer (Cayuga), Roseanne Supernault (Cree/Métis), Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis), Ajuawak Kapashesit (Ojibway/Cree)
Producers
Amos Adetuyi, Floyd Kane, Shelley Niro (Kanien'kehaka)
Genre
Comedy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Bootlegger
Driven by a desire to spark change in her community, young activist Mani (Jacobs) returns to her reserve from the big city to promote the ending of alcohol prohibition on her reserve. When she runs into opposition from the local convenience store owner Nadine (Poupart), the two square off, forcing the divisive issue into the spotlight leading to unexpected consequences.
This critically acclaimed first feature from Caroline Monnet is a thought-provoking and timely look at an ongoing debate that rarely gets the media attention it deserves.
Director
Caroline Monnet (Algonquin)
Writers
Caroline Monnet (Algonquin), Daniel Watchorn
Cast
Pascale Bussières, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Joséphine Bacon (Innu), Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Samian (Algonquin)
Producer
Catherine Chagnon
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Languages
French, Other Language
Je m’appelle humain (Call Me Human)
After spending most of her life working as an Innu language translator and transcriber, Joséphine Bacon rose to fame late in life in her second career as an award-winning poet. This moving profile frames her life and work in a new context, offering a deeply personal look at an important literary figure in Canada.
Je m'appele humain premiered at the Quebec City Film Festival to great acclaim, and went on to receive four Prix Iris nominations, including Best Documentary.
Director
Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki)
A passionate activist for human rights, Kim O’bomsawin has written and directed multiple documentaries for film and TV. Her first film La ligne rouge, focused on three young Indigenous hockey players experiencing conflict between their love of hockey and their own cultural practices. She went on to direct Ce silence qui tue and Je m’appelle humain, which won VIFF’s Best Canadian Documentary award in 2020.
Writers
Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki), Nathalie Gressin
Cast
Joséphine Bacon (Innu), Adam Bouhouhou
Producer
Andrée-Anne Frenette
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
French, Other Language
Being a teenager isn’t always easy. 17-year old Lina (Hallie Switzer) is planning a summer holiday visiting her mother’s family in Modra, Slovakia with her boyfriend, when he unexpectedly breaks up with her. Not willing to let it ruin her summer plans, Lina asks Leco (Alexander Gammal), another cute boy from school, to join her on the trip.
While Lina’s Slovakian family assumes they’re a couple, she and Leco start to realize that they don’t have a whole lot in common after all – which doesn’t stop Leco from feeling hurt when Lina steps out with a local boy. An emotional journey of soul searching and self discovery, Modra lets its two young leads gently discover who they are while they navigate the unfamiliar challenges of being far from home.
The film was selected by the Toronto International Film Festival as one of Canada’s Top Ten films of 2010 and won an Audience Award in Slovakia, at the Bratislava International Film Festival.
“… a prime example of heartfelt DIY filmmaking that really works… poignantly alert to the nuances of teen life, perfectly capturing that confusing betwixt-and-between time." Alissa Simon, Variety
Director
Ingrid Veninger
Writer
Ingrid Veninger
Cast
Alexander Gammal, Hallie Switzer
Producer
Ingrid Veninger
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Soon, though, she finds herself falling in love with him, and as the physical terrain becomes more dangerous, so does the landscape of the heart. Beautifully shot and featuring screen legend Peter O’Toole in one of his last roles, Iron Road revisits an important and controversial time in Canadian history.
Originally broadcast as a CBC miniseries, REEL CANADA is proud to present the feature version of this epic tale that spans two continents.
Director
David Wu
Wu is a master editor who has worked with many legendary Hong Kong filmmakers. His directorial credits include the films The Snow Queen with Bridget Fonda, Plague City: SARS in Toronto (for which he earned the DGC Best Director nomination), See You Tomorrow, and the TV show Once a Thief. He recently edited the films You Are In My Heart and Bai du ren.
Writers
Barry Pearson, Raymond Storey
Cast
Sun Li, Luke Macfarlane, Sam Neill, Peter O’Toole
Producers
Zhao Haicheng, Anne Tait, Raymond Massey II
Genre
Drama
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, ESL, History, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
Other Language
Al Ghorba
Director
Alia Hijaab
Writer
Alia Hijaab
Producer
Alia Hijaab
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics
Original Languages
English, Other Language
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
Funny Boy
Based on the celebrated novel by Shyam Selvadurai, Funny Boy was nominated for nine Canadian Screen Awards, winning for directing, screenplay and score.
“An attractive journey, gilded in summery light throughout by Douglas Koch’s camera.” – Guy Lodge, Variety
Director
Deepa Mehta
An Officer of the Order of Canada, 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 other films. Her film Funny Boy also won multiple awards, including the CSA for best direction. Her television credits include episodes of Leila, Yellowjackets, and Little America. She has numerous projects in development as a writer, director and producer.
Writers
Deepa Mehta, Shyam Selvadurai
Cast
Brandon Ingram, Arush Nand, Nimmi Harasgama, Agam Darshi, Ali Kazmi
Producers
Hussaini Amarshi, Lodi Butler, Gopi Darmaratnam, David Hamilton, Neil Mathieson
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, BIPOC Stories, Bullying, Discrimination, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, LGBTQ2S+, Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Four Faces of the Moon
Director
Amanda Strong (Michif)
Writers
Amanda Strong (Michif), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose)
Cast
Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis)
Producer
Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose)
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Other Language