Interest: Classics
The Street
An award-winning adaptation of a story by Canadian author Mordecai Richler about how families deal with older relatives, and the emotions surrounding a grandmother’s death.
Director
Caroline Leaf
Writer
Mordecai Richler
Producer
Guy Glover
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Classics, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
NFB
The Sand Castle
A man made of sand makes other sand creatures in this inventive, Oscar-winning stop-motion film.
Director
Co Hoedeman
Producer
Gaston Sarault
Genre
Animation
Interest
Classics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Canadian Distributor
NFB
- Own Voice
Village Of Idiots
Directors
Eugene Fedorenko, Rose Newlove
Writer
John Lazarus
Producers
Michael Scott, David Verrall
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Classics, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences
Original Language
English
Language Versions
FR Dub, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
NFB
- Own Voice
Short Film Programme
If you’d like to show several short films together as a programme, please feel free to get in touch for advice and tips on selecting the perfect combination for your needs.
Director
Various
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Family, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Bullying, Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Discrimination, Environment, ESL, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Literary Adaptation, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, French
The Great Toy Robbery
Director
Jeff Hale
Genre
Animation
Interest
Classics
Original Language
English
Cosmic Zoom
Director
Robert Verrall
Producers
Robert Verrall, Joseph Koenig
Genres
Animation, Documentary
Interest
Classics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Canadian Distributor
NFB
Hunger
Rapidly dissolving images form a satire of self-indulgence in a world plagued by hunger and poverty in this Oscar-nominated film, among the first to use computer animation technology.
Director
Peter Foldès
Producers
Peter Foldès, René Jodoin
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Classics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Canadian Distributor
NFB
The Big Snit
Director
Richard Condie
Writer
Richard Condie
Producers
Richard Condie, Michael Scott
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Drama
Interests
Classics, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
NFB
Pour la suite du monde (For Those Who Will Follow)
In 1962, Michel Brault and a team of filmmakers travelled to the island to document the resumption of the practice decades after it had been abandoned, shedding light and wit on this “resourceful” tradition.
A balance of grace, humour, and up-close observation, Pour la suite du monde is known as a landmark achievement in documentary filmmaking and was screened at the Cannes film festival.
Directors
Michel Brault, Pierre Perrault
Writers
Michel Brault, Pierre Perrault
Producers
Jacques Bobet, Fernand Dansereau
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Classics, Environment, History
Original Language
French
Canadian Distributor
NFB
Walking
Director
Ryan Larkin
Producer
Ryan Larkin
Genre
Animation
Interest
Classics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Canadian Distributor
NFB
A Married Couple
In 1969, Allan King crafted one of the most intimate portraits of domestic life ever captured on film with A Married Couple. Billy and Antoinette Edwards are experiencing some marital crises: Power struggles and gender politics have come between them, and their relationship is in deep, deep trouble.
Inviting the cameras into their home, the Edwards allow King to film their life over 10 weeks in Toronto, which — like the film itself — is intense and hectic, frightening and funny. It’s a cinéma verité documentary unlike any other. Throwing the conflict and intimacy of the bonds of marriage into a spotlight that is at once both harsh and tender.
Director
Allan King
Writer
Allan King
Producer
Allan King
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, Classics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Criterion Collection
- Own Voice
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance
This powerful documentary takes you right to the heart of the action, painting a sensitive and deeply affecting portrait of the people behind the barricades.
Winner of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Best Canadian Feature Film prize.
Director
Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Legendary Abenaki filmmaker Obomsawin has made over 50 documentaries on issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, Trick or Treaty?, Is the Crown at War with Us?, Our People Will Be Healed and Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger. Her most recent film is the short documentary Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair. Next, she is set to appear in an episode of Marie Clements’ Bones of Crows: The Series.
Writer
Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Producers
Wolf Koenig, Colin Neale, Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Classics, Environment, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR CC, FR Dub, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
Tales from the Gimli Hospital
Nominated for a genie award for Best Screenplay, Gimli Hospital is a cult classic bearing many of the surreal hallmarks that would make Maddin one of Canada’s most singular filmmaking voices.
Director
Guy Maddin
Writer
Guy Maddin
Cast
Kyle McCulloch, Angela Heck, Michael Gottli
Producers
Guy Maddin, Stephen Snyder, Greg Klymkiw
Genres
Drama, Experimental
Interests
Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Criterion
The Grey Fox
After going in and out of prison for over 30 years after a career of stagecoach robbing, Bill Miner is released in 1901 to a completely new reality. Lost about what to do next, Miner finds his inspiration for his next great adventure from the film The Great Train Robbery. His plan to commit the first ever train robbery leads to a thrilling heist and an intriguing tale full of twists and turns.
Based on the true story of William Miner (nicknamed the Gentleman Bandit), The Grey Fox won 4 Genie Awards including Best Picture and has been included on TIFF’s top 10 list of the Best Canadian Films of All Time.
Director
Phillip Borsos
Borsos was a four-time Canadian Film Award, Genie Award winner, and an Oscar nominee. He released his debut feature, The Grey Fox, to much acclaim in 1982, at age 27. He also directed The Mean Season, One Magic Christmas, Bethune: The Making of a Hero and Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog, before his tragic death from leukemia at age 41.
Writer
Jonathon M.B. Hunter
Cast
Richard Farnsworth, Jackie Burroughs, Ken Pogue
Producers
David Brady, Peter O'Brian
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
Biography, Classics, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
United Artists Classics
Neighbours
Director
Norman McLaren
Writer
Norman McLaren
Cast
Jean Paul Ladouceur, Grant Munro
Producer
Norman McLaren
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Classics, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
NFB
The Cat Came Back
Director
Cordell Barker
Writer
Cordell Barker
Cast
Richard Condie
Producers
Cordell Barker, Richard Condie
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Family
Interest
Classics
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
NFB
La guerre des tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War)
This poignant and touching children's classic still resonates today as an affecting allegory about peace, as well as a celebration of snowy Canadian winters!
Director
André Melançon
Writers
Roger Cantin, Danyèle Patenaude, André Melançon
Cast
Cédric Jourde, Marie-Pierre A. D'Amour, Julien Elie
Producers
Rock Demers, Nicole Robert
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Interests
Arts and Culture, Classics
Original Language
French
Canadian Distributor
Imavision Distribution
Sitting in Limbo
Boasting an infectious reggae score by Jimmy Cliff, the film was developed as part of the National Film Board’s Alternative Drama program, which placed non-professional actors in realistic situations. Issues including racism, poverty and teenage pregnancy are highlighted in what is also a very warm and pleasing film.
Sitting in Limbo achieved Honourable Mention for “its freshness and vitality” at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Director
John N. Smith
Smith’s credits include award-winning TV docudramas such as The Boys of St. Vincent, Dieppe and Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, as well as numerous feature films, including Dangerous Minds, A Cool Dry Place, Geraldine’s Fortune and Love & Savagery among others. Sitting in Limbo won the Best Canadian Feature Film award at TIFF 1986.
Writer
David Wilson
Cast
Pat Dillon, Fabian Gibbs, Sylvie Clarke
Producers
John N. Smith, David Wilson
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Classics, Discrimination, Global Experiences, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Astral Films
Skip Tracer
Director
Zale Dalen
Writer
Zale Dalen
Cast
David Petersen, John Lazarus, Rudy Szabo
Producer
Laara Dalen
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Interest
Classics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
International Film Distributors
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