Interest: Cult & Offbeat Cinema
- 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
Psycho Goreman
Two children accidentally resurrect an evil alien overlord, who they name Psycho Goreman (or PG for short). While a magical amulet allows the kids to control him into doing their bidding, PG still wants to destroy the universe - and soon their activities draw the attention of a Planetary Alliance that sends an elite assassin named Pandora to stop PG from carrying out his evil will. In this battle of good vs. evil, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top.
From Steven Kostanski, the creator of the cult-hit Manborg, Psycho Goreman is a fantastical ride that is as bizarre as it is hilarious.
Director
Steven Kostanski
Writer
Steven Kostanski
Cast
Nita-Josée Hanna, Owen Myre, Matthew Ninaber
Producers
Stuart F. Andrews, Shannon Hanmer, Steven Kostanski
Genres
Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Dystopia Films
Manborg
In a dystopian future, the evil Count Draculon (Brooks) has taken over the world with his horde of vampire demons. The fate of the universe rests on the shoulders of a single soldier, brought back to life as MANBORG (Kennedy), the man-machine hybrid that the world has been waiting for. Together with his gang of misfit resistance fighters from Mega-Death City, Manborg sets out for his ultimate battle, facing impossible odds and near-certain death.
A hilarious sci-fi parody, Steven Kostanski’s debut feature was an instant classic and remains a goofy epic for the ages.
Director
Steven Kostanski
Writers
Jeremy Gillespie, Steven Kostanski
Producer
Steven Kostanski
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Raven Banner Entertainment
Pin
When young Leon (Hewlett) forms a bond with an anatomy doll he calls Pin, his father (O’Quinn) doesn’t give it much thought, seeing it as a typical childhood imaginary friend. But after both of Leon’s parents are killed in a car accident, his attachment grows into a dangerous level of fixation, and he begins to employ the doll in increasingly horrific ways. This incredible piece of psychological horror will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A cult favourite among horror fans but currently out of print, we’re pleased to offer a rare chance to see Pin in honour of its 35th anniversary.
“A cool, bloodless, well-made thriller with a taste for the quietly bizarre.” – Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Director
Sandor Stern
Writer
Sandor Stern
Cast
David Hewlett, Cynthia Preston, Terry O'Quinn, Bronwen Mantel
Producer
Rene Malo
Genre
Horror
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Weirdsville
A pair of slackers get in way over their heads when they try to dump a body in the basement of a drive-in movie theatre where a satanic cult performs ritual sacrifices. Starring Scott Speedman.
Director
Allan Moyle
Director, screenwriter and actor Moyle wrote the seminal Canadian films Montreal Main and The Rubber Gun, and directed the latter. His film credits also include Times Square, Pump Up the Volume, Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story and Weirdsville. He most recently directed the documentary How Sweet It Is.
Writer
Willem Wennekers
Cast
Scott Speedman
Producer
Nicholas Tabarrok
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
ThinkFilm
Un zoo la nuit (Night Zoo)
Director
Jean-Claude Lauzon
Cast
Corrado Mastropasqua, Lorne Brass, Gilles Maheu, Roger Lebel
Producers
Roger Frappier, Pierre Gendron
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
French
Canadian Distributor
Telefilm Canada
Crime Wave
Set in a 1950s fantasy world, this wryly humorous combination of post-modernism, surrealism and genuine affection for old Hollywood films is irresistible for anyone who likes unusual movies with an inventive take on storytelling.
Director
John Paizs
Since filming the widely-praised Crime Wave in his native Winnipeg, Paizs has directed Top of the Food Chain and Marker, and has worked on such TV series as Kids in the Hall, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes and John Woo’s Once a Thief. He is currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel and working as the director in residence at the Canadian Film Centre.
Writer
John Paizs
Cast
John Paizs, Eva Kovacs, Darrell Baran
Producer
John Paizs
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Crimes of the Future
A loose remake of one of his earliest films, Crimes of the Future is classic Cronenberg, with all of the body horror you’d expect from the master director.
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Viggo Mortensen, Lihi Kornowski, Lea Seydoux, Scott Speedman, Kristen Stewart
Producers
Robert Lantos, Steve Solomos, Panos Papahadzis
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Environment
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
MK2 Mile End
Random Acts of Violence
A comic book writer and his publisher visit a small town where a series of violent murders seems to be tied to their popular comic series. Starring Jesse Williams, Jay Baruchel and Jordana Brewster.
Director
Jay Baruchel
Writers
Jay Baruchel, Jesse Chabot
Cast
Jesse Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jordana Brewster
Producers
Jay Baruchel, Randy Manis, Noah Segal
Genre
Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Elevation Pictures
The Wild Hunt
A medieval re-enactment game turns into a Shakespearean tragedy when a non-player crashes the event in order to win back his girlfriend.
Director
Alexandre Franchi
Writers
Mark Antony Krupa, Alexandre Franchi
Cast
Kaniehtiio Horn
Producers
Karen Murphy, Alexandre Franchi
Genre
Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
TVA Films
My Bloody Valentine
After a deadly Valentine’s Day accident, a mining town vows never to celebrate the holiday again. Twenty years later, some teens throw a Valentine’s party — with killer results.
Director
George Mihalka
Writers
Stephen A. Miller, John Beaird
Cast
Paul Kelman, Neil Affleck, Lori Hallier
Producers
John Dunning, André Link
Genre
Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Paramount Pictures
The Changeling
After the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter, a move from New York to Seattle was meant to be a fresh start for composer John Russell (played by Academy Award-winner George C. Scott). However, when mysterious occurrences begin to escalate in the mansion he’s renting, he starts to believe that his new home is haunted, and that the spirits are looking to do him harm.
A cult classic and the winner of eight Genie awards including Best Picture, this spine-tingling horror is a must-see for fans of the genre.
Director
Peter Medak
Writers
William Gray, Diana Maddox
Cast
Melvyn Douglas, Trish Van Devere, George C. Scott, Jean Marsh
Producers
Garth H. Drabinsky, Joel B. Michaels
Genre
Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Pan-Canadian Film Distributors
Antiviral
In a blackly satirical near future, a thriving industry sells celebrity illnesses to their obsessed fans. Employee Syd March's attempts to exploit the system backfire when they involve him in a potentially deadly mystery.
Director
Brandon Cronenberg
Writer
Brandon Cronenberg
Cast
Sarah Gadon, Lisa Berry, Caleb Landry Jones, Douglas Smith
Producer
Niv Fichman
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
- 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
Drag Kids
Director
Megan Wennberg
Writer
Megan Wennberg
Cast
Trinity Bailey, Olivia Bailey, Victoria Bailey-Kerr, Nemis Quinn Melancon Golden
Producers
Edward Peill, Erin Oakes
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Cult & Offbeat Cinema, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Tell Tale Productions
Phil the Alien
Director
Rob Stefaniuk
Writer
Rob Stefaniuk
Cast
Rob Stefaniuk, Nicole de Boer, Graham Greene (Oneida)
Producer
Craig Fleming
Genres
Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Decade Distribution
The Delicate Art of Parking
Director
Trent Carlson
Writers
Ross Ferguson, Blake Corbet, Bridget Hill
Cast
Andrew McNee
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Anagram Pictures
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
Christopher’s Movie Matinee
Director
Mort Ransen
Cast
Graham Bourns, Roger Dowker, Jan Casson, Malcolm Dean
Producer
Joseph Koenig
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
Réjeanne padovani
Director
Denys Arcand
Writers
Denys Arcand, Jacques Benoit
Cast
J. Leo Gagnon, Jean Lajeunesse, Luce Guilbeault, Therese Cadorette
Producer
Marguerite Duparc
Genre
Drama
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
French
Canadian Distributor
Cinak Compagnie Cinématographique