Genre: Action/Adventure
- Own Voice
Red Snow
This powerful drama follows Dylan (Asivak Koostachin), a Gwich’in soldier from the Canadian Arctic, who is caught in an ambush while serving in Afghanistan. His capture and interrogation by a Taliban Commander releases a cache of memories connected to the love and death of his Inuit cousin, Asana (Miika Bryce Whiskeyjack), and binds him closer to a Pashtun family as they attempt to escape across treacherous landscapes.
Director
Marie Clements (Métis/Dene)
Clements works within a variety of mediums including film, television, radio, and live performance. Her work has screened at Cannes, TIFF, MOMA, VIFF, American Indian Film Festival and imagineNATIVE, and has garnered numerous awards. Her films include the musical documentary The Road Forward and Red Snow, her dramatic debut. She is currently directing the TV show Bones of Crows.
Writer
Marie Clements (Métis/Dene)
Cast
Asivak Koostachin (Cree/Inuk), Tantoo Cardinal (Cree/Métis), Miika Bryce Whiskeyjack (Cree)
Producers
Marie Clements (Métis/Dene), Lael McCall, Michelle Morris, Jonathan Tammuz
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Vortex Media
Back to God’s Country
The first (and earliest surviving) feature film made in Canada by Canadians, Back to God’s Country tells the story of Delores LeBeau, who goes on a treacherous journey to the Arctic with her husband on a vessel captained secretly by the man who murdered her father. In a tense and action-packed sequence, Delores must save her husband from the malicious Rydal and survive in the unfamiliar Arctic conditions.
Written and starring female filmmaking pioneer and creative powerhouse of the silent era, Nell Shipman, this is also the most successful silent film in Canadian history and is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019.
Director
David Hartford
Writers
Nell Shipman, James Oliver Curwood
Cast
Nell Shipman, Charles Arling, Wheeler Oakman, Wellington A. Playter
Producers
James Oliver Curwood, Ernest Shipman
Genre
Action/Adventure
Interests
Classics, History, Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
Canadian Photoplays Ltd.
- Own Voice
SG̲aawaay Ḵ’uuna (Edge of the Knife)
Set in the Haida Gwaii region in the 19th century, Edge of the Knife (SG̲aawaay Ḵ'uuna in Haida) adapts a classic Haida folk tale of a man left for dead in the forest who becomes the Gaagiid/Gaagiixiid, or “the Wildman”. After an accident where he is separated from his family, Adiits'ii (York) wanders through the forest becoming driven mad by both natural and supernatural forces. As his loved ones, including best friend Kwa (Russ), set out to capture and cure him, Adiits’ii grows increasingly feral.
The first feature film made entirely in the critically endangered Haida language - fluently spoken by fewer than 20 people - the film is a spellbinding and mythical tale of pride, tragedy and love, set against the stunning backdrop of Canada’s Pacific northwest.
Made with a Haida cast and in collaboration with the Haida Council, this compelling film proves that cinema can be at once a powerful vessel for storytelling and a profound act of Indigenous language and culture revitalization.
Directors
Gwaai Edenshaw (Haida), Helen Haig-Brown (Tsilhqot'in)
Writers
Gwaai Edenshaw (Haida), Jaalen Edenshaw (Haida), Graham Richard, Leonie Sandercock
Cast
Curtis Brown, Diane Brown, Greg Brown, Tyler York (Haida), Sphenia Jones (Haida)
Producer
Jonathan Frantz
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Other Language
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Vtape
Bon Cop Bad Cop 2
Eight years after they met in Bon Cop Bad Cop (above), the comically mismatched duo of straightlaced Ontario cop Martin Ward (Feore) and scruffy Quebec cop David Bouchard (Huard) reunite to investigate yet another major crime in this long-awaited sequel. When their separate investigations unexpectedly cross paths, the pair must join forces to investigate a crime ring south of the border, giving the film plenty of hilarious opportunities to poke fun at the cultural differences between the two Canucks and their American counterparts.
Director
Alain Desrochers
Desrochers began his filmmaking career with over 100 music videos and commercials, winning numerous awards. His first feature, La Bouteille, earned him a Genie nomination for Best Direction. His credits include Nitro, Cabotins and Gerry. Most recently, he directed the miniseries Bad Blood and the feature Security starring Sir Ben Kingsley.
Writer
Patrick Huard
Cast
Colm Feore, Patrick Huard, Erik Knudsen, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse
Producers
Pierre Even, Patrick Huard, François Flamand
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Languages
English, French
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Between Friends
An ex-con, his daughter and her two friends plan the elaborate heist of a nickel mine in Northern Ontario. Will has worked most of his life at the nickel smelter in Sudbury. In his youth he was a professional thief before being convicted and has decided to return to his previous occupation by stealing the payroll of his current occupation. He enlists the help of his daughter Ellie, her boyfriend Chino and Chino's American surfing buddy Toby. Complications arise when Ellie becomes involved with Toby and despite all of their best efforts the heist goes horribly awry.
Director
Donald Shebib
Writer
Claude Harz
Cast
Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Parks, Chuck Shamata
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
New Cinema Enterprises
- Own Voice
Slash/Back
“Slash/Back has an endearing charm that is hard to resist.” - Phuong Le, The Guardian
Director
Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk)
Innuksuk is a director, writer, producer, and VR creator. She co-created the Inuk character Snowguard with Marvel and has written several short films and documentaries. Her first feature was Slash/Back, released in 2022.
Writers
Ryan Cavan, Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk)
Cast
Kristian Bruun, Shaun Benson, Tasiana Shirley
Producers
Dan Bekerman, Christopher Yurkovich, Alex Ordanis, Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk)
Genres
Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Mongrel Media
Pachamama
Ten-year-old Teplupai has always wanted to be a spiritual leader, but nobody will take him seriously. When a tax collector takes away his village’s sacred treasure, he sets off on a quest to find and reclaim it. However, when he arrives in the big city, his world is forever changed as he witnesses the first arrival of Europeans to the continent, and the devastation that follows.
This beautifully animated adventure set hundreds of years ago in the Andean region is a thrilling and moving story that has resonated with young audiences around the world, and was nominated for a César award for Best Animated Film.
Director
Juan Antin
Writers
Christophe Poujol, Juan Antin
Producer
Didier Brunner
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Global Experiences, History
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
Maison 4:3
- Own Voice
Afflicted
Afflicted is a rare Canadian entry in the found-footage thriller genre that was called “ambitious in scope and practically flawless in execution,” by the Toronto Star’s Bruce DeMara.
Directors
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee
Writers
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee
Cast
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee, Michael Gill, Baya Rehaz
Producers
Chris Ferguson, Zach Lipovsky
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
I Declare War
Directors
Jason Lapeyre, Robert Wilson
Cast
Siam Yu, Kolton Stewart, Gage Munroe
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Samaritan Entertainment
Scanners
Scanners are social outcasts, the by-product of a failed experimental drug given to their mothers during pregnancy, and possess the unusual ability to read and control minds.
Security firm ConSec wants to harness these telekinetics and turn them into a powerful new weapon; however, Revok (Ironside) is hellbent on destroying ConSec and taking over the world. The only man who may be able to stop him is the stoic but equally powerful Vale (Lack).
Chaos reigns as the duo face off in a series of dramatic duels featuring some of cinema’s most jaw-dropping practical effects.
Busting heads and box-office numbers when it opened in 1981, Scanners demonstrates Cronenberg’s talent for accessible, fun and truly awesome science fiction.
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Michael Ironside, Patrick McGoohan
Producers
Pierre David, Claude Héroux, Victor Solnicki
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Groupe Laurem inc.
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
Writers
Andrew Cividino, Blain Watters, Aaron Yeger
Cast
Jackson Martin, Reece Moffett, Nick Serino
Producers
Andrew Cividino, Karen Harnisch, Marc Swenker, James Vandewater, Aaron Yeger
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interest
LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributors
D Films, Vortex Media
La guerre des tuques (Snowtime!)
The result is a family-friendly contemporary hit full of chilly thrills, snow-fort hills, and a rollicking energy that is unstoppably fun. Fortunately, there’s also a brilliant anti-war message packed in the ice that’s sure to melt hearts.
Snowtime! (La Guerre des tuques) 3D was a bilingual box-office smash, winning the Golden Screen Award for being the highest-grossing Canadian film in 2015.
Directors
Jean-François Pouliot
In addition to over 500 commercials, Montrealer Pouliot’s credits include feature films Guide de la petite vengeance and the 2015 box-office success Dr. Cabbie as well as the hit animated film Snowtime!. Recently, he directed the feature films Les 3 p’tits cochons 2, Votez Bougon and the Snowtime! sequel, Racetime.
Writers
Paul Risacher, Normand Canac-Marquis, Roger Cantin, Danyèle Patenaude
Cast
André Sauvé, Nicholas Savard L'Herbier, Mariloup Wolfe, Sandra Oh, Ross Lynch
Producer
Marie-Claude Beauchamp
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Interest
Bullying
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Ricky’s girlfriend, Lucy (Lucy Decoutere), has run off, and in between his efforts to win her back, he’s also planning the boys’ biggest heist yet: a haphazard plot that finds him enlisting the help of his nerdy friend Bubbles (Smith).
Following a television series beloved by millions on both sides of the border, Trailer Park Boys: The Movie dishes up more hilarity for fans and newcomers to Dartmouth alike.
Director
Mike Clattenburg
Writers
Mike Clattenburg, Robb Wells
Cast
Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith, Hugh Dilllon, Lucy DeCoutere
Producers
Mike Clattenburg, Barrie Dunn, Michael Volpe, Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Dub, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Babine
In the small village of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, whenever something bad happens, the villagers blame Babine, the son of the village witch. Babine was born an outsider, and has spent his life being teased. When the local church burns down, the new priest becomes determined to find the culprit, and puts the blame on Babine, deciding he must be punished once and for all.
Babine is an offbeat comedy and a charming fairy tale filled with eccentric characters and has a strong message of acceptance that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
Director
Luc Picard
Luc Picard is a celebrated actor with over 50 film and television credits and two Jutra Awards to his name. He has directed Audition, Babine, Ésimésac, and a segment in the anthology film 9. Les rois mongols earned six Canadian Screen Award nominations. His latest film is Confessions and he recently starred in Arsenault & Fils and French Girl.
Writer
Fred Pellerin
Cast
Vincent-Guillaume Otis, Luc Picard, Alexis Martin, Isabel Richer, René Richard Cyr
Producer
Lorraine Richard
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Bullying
Original Language
French
Language Versions
EN Subtitles, FR CC
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Les triplettes de Belleville (The Triplets of Belleville)
Features an original jazz musical score by Benoît Charest.
Director
Sylvain Chomet
Writer
Sylvain Chomet
Cast
Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, Béatrice Bonifassi, Lina Boudreau
Producers
Viviane Vanfleteren, Didier Brunner, Paul Cadieux
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Interests
Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
French
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Entract Films
The Blue Butterfly
Director
Léa Pool
Pool has earned three Genie Award nominations for Best Direction. Her films include Emporte Moi, Mouvements du désir, Lost and Delirious, La dernière fugue and the documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc. Her recent films include the doc Double Sentence and the features La passion d'Augustine and Et au pire, on se mariera.
Writer
Pete McCormack
Cast
William Hurt, Pascale Bussières, Marc Donato, Raoul Max Trujillo, Marianella Jimenez
Producers
Claude Bonin, Francine Atlaire, Arnie Gelbart, Michael Haggiag
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR Dub, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Babar: King of the Elephants
First released in 1931, The Babar series is a global phenomenon with millions of fans across multiple generations. Babar: King of the Elephants continues the series’ tradition of teaching important lessons in a fun and smart way.
Director
Raymond Jafelice
Writers
Peter Sauder, Raymond Jafelice
Cast
Philip Williams, Wayne Robson, Ellen-Ray Hennessy
Producers
Hasmi Ferguson, Merle-Anne Ridley
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Family
Interest
Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
Nelvana
Black Robe
This powerful drama follows Father Laforgue (Bluteau), a 17th-century priest, who embarks on a dangerous journey into the unfamiliar terrain of New France. Sent by Samuel de Champlain (Brousseau) to a remote Catholic mission in a Huron village, the young Jesuit travels with a group of Algonquin guides deep into the wilderness, where his religious values are tested against the life-threatening elements of the woods and physical trials that await him.
Written by Irish-Canadian author Brian Moore, who adapted his own novel of the same name, this Genie Award–winning film features beautiful cinematography of the Canadian wilderness and a complex thematic dissection of culture shock.
Director
Bruce Beresford
Writer
Brian Moore
Cast
Tantoo Cardinal (Cree/Métis), Lothaire Bluteau, Aden Young, Sandrine Holt, August Schellenberg
Producers
Denis Héroux, Stéphane Reichel, Sue Milliken, Robert Lantos, Jake Ebert
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Bon Cop Bad Cop
Ward (Feore) and Boucher (Huard) couldn’t be more different: one is an English-speaker from Toronto, the other is a French-speaker from Montreal; one never deviates from established procedure, the other is a rebel who refuses to play by the rules. The detectives soon learn that if they are to solve this lurid crime, which is linked to the world of hockey, they need to stop bickering and work together.
With uproarious performances from both leads, Bon Cop, Bad Cop is a genuinely clever take on the buddy-cop genre that will keep you captivated throughout.
Director
Érik Canuel
Canuel made music videos and TV commercials before turning to film. His features include Nez rouge and Le dernier tunnel, Barrymore, starring Christopher Plummer, and the recent Undercover Grandpa. Bon Cop Bad Cop won a Genie for Best Motion Picture and the Golden Reel Award. Next, Canuel will direct the feature film The Burning Man.
Writers
Leila Basen, Alex Epstein, Patrick Huard, Kevin Tierney
Cast
Colm Feore, Patrick Huard
Producer
Kevin Tierney
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Languages
English, French
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Defendor
Outfitted in a homemade costume, Defendor may not have special powers, but he is nonetheless dedicated to protecting the streets and fighting crime. He battles a corrupt cop (Koteas), befriends the tough and streetwise Kat (Dennings) and schemes to bring down a local mob boss, all while a court-appointed psychiatrist (Oh) tries to get to the bottom of his conviction that he is, in fact, a superhero.
Turning the superhero genre on its head, Defendor is a bittersweet and emotionally affecting take on our comic book–obsessed culture.
Director
Peter Stebbings
Stebbings’ directorial debut was Defendor, and his second film, Empire of Dirt, was nominated for five CSAs. As an actor, his numerous credits include Citizen Duane, The Borgias, Bates Motel, Counting for Thunder and his newest film Percy Vs Goliath. He recently directed The Disappearance, which garnered four CSAs, and episodes of Frankie Drake Mysteries, The Sounds, and Killjoys. He is currently writing and directing the feature Running with Monsters.
Writer
Peter Stebbings
Cast
Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Elias Koteas
Producer
Nicholas Tabarrok
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Dub
Canadian Distributor
eOne