Region: ON
Rhymes for Young Ghouls
It’s a tough life, but she’s making it work. That is, until the precarious balance of her world is threatened by her father’s return from prison and the theft of her drug money.
Part fable, part small-town drama, Rhymes for Young Ghouls is a richly imaginative and striking drama about growing up during a very dark time in Canada’s treatment of Indigenous people.
“A savvy [Indigenous] genre film with a strong, beautiful and ingenious heroine whose courage helps right an injustice.” — Liam Lacey, The Globe and Mail
Director
Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw)
Writer
Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw)
Cast
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Glen Gould (Mi’qmaw), Brandon Oakes (Mohawk), Roseanne Supernault (Cree/Métis)
Producers
Aisling Chin-Yee, John Christou, Justine Whyte
Genres
Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
The Red Violin
As the auction proceeds, the violin’s history is revealed through four interconnected tales spanning 300 years. And as it passes through the hands of musicians in Italy, Vienna, London and Shanghai, the violin fills its owners’ lives with romance, adventure, intrigue and tragedy. At the centre of the story is the instrument’s dark secret, which is revealed only at the film’s suspenseful finale.
“In a time of timid projects and easy formulas, The Red Violin has the kind of sweep and vision that we identify with elegant features from decades ago.” — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Director
François Girard
Girard won a Grammy for Secret World Live, a Peter Gabriel concert film. Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould won four Genie Awards, including Best Picture. The Red Violin won eight Genies and an Oscar for Best Original Score. His recent films include Boychoir, starring Dustin Hoffman, and Hochelaga terre des âmes, which was nominated for eight CSAs, winning four. His latest, The Song of Names, premiered at TIFF 2019.
Writers
Don McKellar, François Girard
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Flemyng, Colm Feore, Greta Sacchi, Sylvia Chang
Producer
Niv Fichman
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, History
Original Language
English
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire
Dallaire attempted to stop the killing by alerting the world through the United Nations and the international media. Though his attempts were unsuccessful, Dallaire emerged as a hero. Ten years later, Dallaire returns to Rwanda to personally commemorate the anniversary of that holocaust.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.
“Dallaire is not only the protagonist of Shake Hands with the Devil, he is a compelling reason to see it.” — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Director
Peter Raymont
Raymont has produced and directed over 100 documentaries, which have earned more than 50 international awards. His producing credits include West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson, Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr and Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band. He recently directed the doc Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power, and produced Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On, which premiered at TIFF 2022.
Writer
Roméo Dallaire
Producers
Linda Lee Tracey, Peter Raymont
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, Discrimination, Global Experiences, History, Literary Adaptation, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
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)
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
When it was released in the late 1990s, Fire’s incendiary subject matter led to protests and government interventions in India. Years later, the internationally acclaimed film is as seductive and moving as ever.
The film won seven awards at film festivals around the world, including "Most Popular Canadian Film" at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
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
Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Karishma Jhalani
Producers
Bobby Bedi, David Hamilton, Deepa Mehta
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Riot Girls
In this spirited, punky post-apocalyptic adventure film, all the adults are wiped out by a mysterious plague, leaving kids and teens to fend for themselves. In the town of Potter’s Bluff, there is a sharp divide between two groups: the have-not Eastsiders vs. the tyrannical Westside Titans.
When one of their own is captured by the Titans, it's up to female punk rockers and best friends Nat (Iseman) and Scratch (Kwiatkowski) to lead the East side teens on a dangerous, high-octane mission that forever alters the future of their community.
Riot Girls is a punchy, poppy tribute to girlhood that raises a studded middle finger against classism and conformist culture. Packed with punk rock anthems and comic-book undertones, this film is a love letter to teenaged misfits everywhere.
“Riot Girls confidently and entertainingly sets itself apart from the pack rather nicely thanks to a well rounded script, playful direction, and a whole lotta swagger.” - Andrew Parker, The Gate
Director
Jovanka Vuckovic
Writer
Katherine Collins
Cast
Madison Iseman, Paloma Kwiatkowski, Munro Chambers
Producer
Lauren Grant
Genres
Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr
His subsequent detention at Guantanamo Bay, a harsh prison on the southern coast of Cuba, became the topic of a major political debate, as child soldiers have not been prosecuted for war crimes since WWII.
Guantanamo’s Child gives Khadr a chance to speak for himself on camera for the first time. More than just a stirring story, this documentary delivers an engrossing intimate portrait of how a teenager from a Toronto suburb became the first juvenile to ever be tried for war crimes.
Directors
Michelle Shephard, Patrick Reed
Producers
Peter Raymont, Patrick Reed, Michelle Shephard
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
The High Cost of Living
In the days to come, Henry is overcome by guilt and sets out to find the woman he hit. Her life nearly destroyed by the accident, Nathalie needs a friend, and ends up finding one in the compassionate and charming Henry. Slowly, Nathalie comes out of her shell and starts to rebuild her life.
As their unlikely relationship develops, Henry must work hard to conceal his real identity and keep the truth from ruining his new friendship.
Director
Deborah Chow
Chow’s short films have played numerous festivals and have been broadcast worldwide. The High Cost of Living won Best Canadian First Feature at TIFF 2010. She directed an adaptation of Flowers in the Attic and many TV shows including Reign, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian, American Gods, and most recently, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Writer
Deborah Chow
Cast
Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbé
Producers
Kim Berlin, Susan Schneir
Genre
Drama
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
The Lesser Blessed
Anita Doron explores questions of identity, ancestry and belonging in this sensitive and tender coming-of-age story that is brought to life by the powerful performance of Evans. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was nominated for four awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the Canadian Screen Awards.
"An impressive debut by Evans, whose brown eyes are both soulful and watchful. It's a performance that commands our attention and empathy." - Bruce Demara, The Toronto Star
Director
Anita Doron
Writer
Anita Doron
Cast
Joel Evans, Benjamin Bratt, Kiowa Gordon, Chloe Rose
Producer
Christina Provesan
Genre
Drama
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Manufactured Landscapes
An impactful but subtle statement about humanity’s impact on the world, Manufactured Landscapes’ powerful images raise more questions than answers.
Director
Jennifer Baichwal
Baichwal and de Pencier are known for their CSA-winning docs, Manufactured Landscapes, Watermark and Anthropocene. They are frequent collaborators, with Baichwal directing and de Pencier as her cinematographer and producer. Their credits include The Holier it Gets, Act of God and Payback, and their newest film together, Into the Weeds.
Cast
Edward Burtynsky
Producers
Jennifer Baichwal, Nick de Pencier, Daniel Iron
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Environment, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English