Educational Film: No
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Brilliantly adapted from Kim Thúy’s Governor General Award-winning novel of the same name, this compassionate story of resilience in the face of adversity is stunningly captured and deeply moving.
“An exceptional and beautiful film.” – Isobel Grieve, Montréal Guardian
Director
Charles-Olivier Michaud
Writers
Kim Thúy, Charles-Olivier Michaud, Jacques Davidts
Cast
Chloé Djandji
Producers
André Dupuy, Marie-Alexandra Forget
Genres
Drama, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Global Experiences, Literary Adaptation, Newcomer Stories
Original Languages
French, Other Language
Canadian Distributor
Immina Films
Seven Veils
After the death of her mentor, Jeanine (Seyfried) takes over the task of directing his production of the opera Salome, a piece they had collaborated on previously, to create his most celebrated work. But with the spectre of their complicated relationship still affecting her decisions, and mounting problems within the cast and crew as well as her personal life, Jeanine’s whole world could come crashing down at any second.
This stylish new psychological drama from Atom Egoyan, shot on location at the renowned Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, features an electric performance from Amanda Seyfried at the head of a terrific ensemble cast.
“A wildly ambitious, visually intoxicating reinterpretation of the Richard Strauss opera, Salome, that proves to possess almost as many layers as the Biblical princess’ famous dance routine.” – Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter
Director
Atom Egoyan
Egoyan received the Governor General’s award in 2015 for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. He was the first-ever Canadian director to earn two Oscar nominations (for The Sweet Hereafter). His award-winning films include Exotica, Ararat and The Captive. His most recent film, Guest of Honour, premiered at TIFF 2019.
Writer
Atom Egoyan
Cast
Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Liddiard
Producers
Niv Fichman, Fraser Ash, Atom Egoyan, Kevin Krikst, Simone Urdl
Genre
Drama
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Elevation Pictures
- Own Voice
The Queen of My Dreams
Azra (Kaur), a young Queer Pakistani-Canadian woman, has long felt disconnected from her mother, Mariam (Bucha). Reuniting in Pakistan for her father’s funeral in 1999, flashbacks to 30 years earlier show a young Mariam (played in a dual role by Kaur) falling in love with Azra’s father, Hassan (Haq). Jumping back and forth between these two coming-of-age stories, the connections between mother and daughter become more and more clear – but will they realise this in time to save their relationship?
Sumptuously capturing the feel of a Bollywood film while telling a relatable cross-continental story, Fawzia Mirza’s impressive debut feature is an instant classic.
“Mirza has created a film bursting with creative energy and distinctive aesthetic sensibilities.” – Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter
Director
Fawzia Mirza
Writer
Fawzia Mirza
Cast
Amrit Kaur
Producers
Marc Tetreault, Jason Levangie, Andria Wilson
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Newcomer Stories, Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Canadian Distributor
Cineplex Pictures
Testament
Archivist Jean-Michel (Girard) doesn’t recognize the world he’s living in anymore. Feeling like society has moved on from him, he’s dismayed when the seemingly safe confines of his retirement home become the site for a protest centred on a culture clash of generational values. As it grows into a full-blown media sensation, he decides to involve himself in the conflict – with hilarious results.
Partly a reflection on life and legacy, partly a playful skewering of contemporary society, the latest from Canadian icon Denys Arcand is a touching comedy with a lot of heart.
“Arcand’s genius is in every frame of this movie.” – Ralph Lucas, Northernstars.ca
Director
Denys Arcand
Writer
Denys Arcand
Cast
Rémy Girard, Sophie Lorain
Producer
Denise Robert
Genre
Drama
Interest
Arts and Culture
Original Language
French
Canadian Distributor
TVA Films
- Own Voice
Roses Sing on New Snow
Director
Yuan Zhang
Genre
Animation
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Global Experiences
Original Languages
English, French
Language Versions
EN CC, FR CC
The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin
The classic Cinderella fairytale is given an endearing twist, presented by a cast of penguins!
Director
Janet Perlman
Genres
Animation, Comedy
Interests
Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
No Dialogue
Hockey Night
A Canadian sports classic, Hockey Night features the on-screen debut of Yannick Bisson (Murdoch Mysteries) and memorable performances from Rick Moranis and Megan Follows (Anne of Green Gables).
Director
Paul Shapiro
Writers
Jack Blum, Paul Shapiro
Cast
Megan Follows, Rick Moranis, Gail Youngs
Producer
Martin Harbury
Genres
Drama, Family
Interests
Classics, Discrimination, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Invasion of the Space Lobsters
Director
Janet Perlman
Genre
Animation
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, French
Sinking Ship
Director
Sasha Leigh Henry
Writer
Tania Thompson
Cast
Pip Dwyer, Edsson Morales, Madeleine Claude
Genre
Romance
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice
Director
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as TIFF’s number one Canadian film of all time. Kunuk has directed shorts such as Exile and Home and features such as Maliglutit, which was nominated for two CSAs. He recently directed the series Hunting With My Ancestors and executive produced SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Knife). His latest feature, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, premiered at TIFF 2019. Most recently, he directed the short The Shaman’s Apprentice, which won the CSA for Best Animated Short among other awards at festivals worldwide.
Writers
Jonathan Frantz, Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Cast
Madeline Piujuq Ivalu (Inuk), Jacky Qrunnut, Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)
Producers
Neil Christopher, Jonathan Frantz, Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Nadia Mike
Genre
Animation
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, Inuktitut
The Magic of Anansi
Director
Jamie Mason
Genre
Animation
Interest
Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, French
- Own Voice
No Crying at the Dinner Table
Director
Carol Nguyen
Producers
Carol Nguyen, Aziz Zoromba
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Thog’s Hamlet
In this still from Thog's Hamlet, the female Hamlet #2, played by Caroline Johnson, rides atop of The Ghost's back, played by Jim Bearden.
Directors
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Foster Child
At 35 years old, filmmaker Gil Cardinal makes the decision to seek out his biological family, sending him on a journey into his own roots, uncovering an ancestry he knew nothing about. As Cardinal discovers that he was forcibly taken from his Métis mother, the film shifts into addressing the ongoing systematic oppression of Indigenous peoples.
This incredibly personal documentary was a landmark in Indigenous storytelling on film, and received many accolades including the Gemini award for directing.
Director
Gil Cardinal (Métis)
Cast
Gil Cardinal (Métis), Don Cardinal (Métis)
Producer
Jerry Krepakevich
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Classics, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Two Worlds Colliding
Director
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Hubbard is an award-winning filmmaker and an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of English. Her writing-directing project Two Worlds Colliding won a Gemini and a Golden Sheaf Award. She has also directed the short film 7 Minutes, and the feature docs Birth of a Family and nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, which won Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs and at the CSAs. She is currently directing the feature doc Singing Back the Buffalo.
Writer
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Cast
Andrea Menard
Producer
Bonnie Thompson
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
- Own Voice
Frost
Director
Jeremy Ball
Writer
Jeremy Ball
Cast
Emily Piggford, Lara Daans, Oscar Hsu
Producer
Lauren Grant
Genres
Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, History
Original Language
English
Language Version
None
Canadian Distributor
Canadian Film Centre
Viola Desmond Is On The Money
Directors
Pat Jeflyn, Kim Kristy
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Wildfire
Director
Bretten Hannam (L'nu)
Writer
Bretten Hannam (L'nu)
Cast
Guillermo Knockwood, Bobby Pierro
Producers
Bretten Hannam (L'nu), Gharrett Patrick Paon
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Wash Day
As they get ready for the day, three young Black women discuss the public perception of their Blackness in relation to their personal journeys of cultivating a strong sense of self.
Director
Kourtney Jackson
Writer
Kourtney Jackson
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Love, Leymo
Director
Randall Lloyd Okita
Writer
Leymo Mohammed
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships
Original Language
English