Original Language: English
- Own Voice
Meadowlarks
Director
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Hubbard is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and an associate professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies. Her NFB documentary 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, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, which won 14 awards, including the CSA for best documentary and Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs 2019. She is a founding director of the International Buffalo Relations Institute. Her documentary Singing Back the Buffalo won three awards and was nominated for four others.
Writer
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Cast
Carmen Moore (Wet'suwet'en), Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree), Michelle Thrush (Cree)
Producers
Tyler Hagan, Julia Rosenberg
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Mongrel Media
Out Standing
Director
Mélanie Charbonneau
Quebec-based director Charbonneau started her career directing commercials. Her first short film, Seule (Single), played at several international festivals, including Cannes, and her short film Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous collected over 30 prizes at festivals internationally. Fabuleuses (Fabulous) was her first feature. She has also directed episodes of Je ne suis pas un robot (I am Not a Robot).
Writers
Mélanie Charbonneau, Martine Pagé, Sandra Perron
Cast
Antoine Olivier Pilon, Nina Kiri, Vincent Leclerc
Producers
Marcel Giroux, Julia Rosenberg
Genre
Drama
Interests
Biography, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, History, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Sedna, Empress of the Sea
Director
Jerry Thevenet
Writer
Jerry Thevenet
Cast
Shawn Youngchief, Paula Davis
Producer
Jerry Thevenet
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, French, Other Language
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles
- Own Voice
Nika & Madison
Eva Thomas’ urgent and thoughtful debut film premiered at TIFF to critical acclaim, was nominated for the Director’s Guild of Canada Team Award, and won several awards at festivals internationally.
“A gripping film that tackles systemic racism through the bond of two Indigenous women. Powered by authentic performances, it’s a timely, unflinching, and deeply human story.” — Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots
Director
Eva Thomas (Ojibwe)
Writers
Michael McGowan, Eva Thomas (Ojibwe)
Cast
Ellyn Jade (Ojibwe), Star Slade, Shawn Doyle
Producer
Eva Thomas (Ojibwe)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Game Theory Films
The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood
This brilliantly wacky and satirical cult comedy took almost a decade to make and was the first film to be produced entirely in Newfoundland. It was nominated for three Genie Awards including Best Screenplay.
Directors
Andy Jones, Michael Jones
Writers
Andy Jones, Michael Jones
Cast
Andy Jones, Greg Malone
Producers
Andy Jones, Michael Jones
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
- Own Voice
40 Acres
Anchored by an incredible performance from Danielle Deadwyler, 40 Acres is a pulse-pounding action thriller that was met with critical acclaim when it premiered at TIFF, and was named to their annual Canada’s Top Ten list.
“A riveting and fiercely political thriller as poignant as a T.S. Eliot poem and as gory as a George A. Romero flick.” — Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail
Director
R.T. Thorne
Writers
R.T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor, Lora Campbell
Cast
Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree), Kataem O'Connor
Producer
Jennifer Holness
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
Interest
Black Filmmaker
Original Languages
Cree, English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Dub
The Apprentice
Featuring Academy Award nominated performances by Stan and Strong, and winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Picture, this revelatory film is truly a biopic unlike any other.
“Thoughtful and inspired in its direction, engaging in its visual textures and featuring fully committed performances from its primary cast.” — John Serba, Decider
Director
Ali Abbasi
Writer
Gabriel Sherman
Cast
Jeremy Strong, Sebastian Stan, Martin Donovan
Producers
Ali Abbasi, Ruth Treacy, Louis Tisné
Genre
Drama
Interests
Biography, History
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR Dub, FR Subtitles, Other Dub, Other Subtitles
Boxcutter
This inspiring first feature from longtime radio host Rez Dahya won the award for Outstanding Direction in a Feature Film at the Reelworld Film Festival and went on to play at South By Southwest.
“It is a portrait of a city that feels both nuanced and universal” — Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail
Director
Reza Dahya
Writer
Chris Cromie
Cast
Zoe Lewis, Ashton James
Producers
Soko Negash, Reza Dahya, Alison Almeida, Kirthiga Rajanayagam
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Interest
Arts and Culture
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Bye Bye Blues
This acclaimed musical drama is a true Canadian classic, and was nominated for twelve Genie Awards, winning three, including Best Actress for Jenkins.
Director
Anne Wheeler
Writer
Anne Wheeler
Cast
Michael Ontkean, Rebecca Jenkins, Chad Krowchuk, Jyoti Dhembre, Sumant Mastaher
Producers
Anne Wheeler, Arvi Liimatainen
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Family Relationships, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Image Organization
The End of Sex
Featuring outrageous performances by a terrific cast, this witty look at long term relationships is a fun and fresh entry into the romantic comedy genre.
“Heartfelt and funny in all the right places.” — Rachel Ho, Exclaim!
Director
Sean Garrity
Writer
Jonas Chernick
Cast
Jonas Chernick, Emily Hampshire
Producer
Justin Rebelo
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Eastern Promises
Featuring incredible performances, including an Oscar-nominated turn from Mortensen, this masterpiece from David Cronenberg received widespread acclaim, winning seven Genie Awards and the TIFF People’s Choice Award.
“A film that takes us beyond crime and London and the Russian mafia and into the mystifying realms of human nature.” — Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun Times
Director
David Cronenberg
A Companion of the Order of Canada, Cronenberg is a legendary filmmaker and pioneer of the body horror genre. His directing credits include iconic films such as Scanners, Dead Ringers, Videodrome, and Crash, for which he won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed eXistenZ, Crimes of the Future, The Shrouds, and others. He has won over 80 awards, including the Golden Coach at Cannes, and lifetime achievement awards from TIFF and the DGC.
Writer
Steven Knight
Cast
Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel
Producers
Paul Webster, Robert Lantos
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Language Version
EN CC
Degrassi: Whatever it Takes
Featuring interviews with some of your favourite cast members (including Drake, arguably Degrassi’s most famous graduate), and the crews and creators of the various series, this is a nostalgic look at a seminal series that’s also not afraid to ask the tough questions about the sacrifices that were made to bring it to life.
“An ode to one of Canada’s greatest entertainment exports. It will make you laugh, it might make you cry, but more than anything, it will hopefully make you proud.” - Kevin Bourne, SHIFTER
Director
Lisa Rideout
Writers
Lisa Rideout, Celine Wong
Cast
Drake, Kevin Smith, Linda Schuyler
Producers
Erin Sharp, Carrie Mudd
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
- Own Voice
Endless Cookie
Wildly imaginative and lovingly crafted over the course of nearly a decade, this unique animated documentary won the Audience Choice Award at Hot Docs in 2025 and Best Animated Film from the Toronto Film Critics Association.
“Endless Cookie is not like anything else and yet it is very much like life.” — Jennie Kermode, Eye For Film
Directors
Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver (Cree)
Writers
Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver (Cree)
Cast
Peter Scriver, Seth Scriver
Producers
Daniel Bekerman, Alex Ordanis, Chris Yurkovich, Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe), Seth Scriver
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
Cree, English
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR Subtitles
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
A hilarious romp that goes far beyond just being for fans of the show, this instant cult classic won the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award at TIFF and was named to their Canada’s Top Ten list.
“A comedic delight from beginning to end, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is a must-see comedy worthy of spanning time for.” — Courtney Small, That Shelf
Director
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson is a writer, actor, and director who co-created the cult web series Nirvanna the Band the Show, which he adapted for television in 2016. His first two features, The Dirties and Operation Avalanche were featured at the Slamdance and Sundance film festivals respectively. His third feature, BlackBerry, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2023, and earned 28 awards, including 14 Canadian Screen Awards, and another 31 nominations internationally.
Writers
Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol
Cast
Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol, Jared Raab
Producers
Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Arts and Culture
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
- Own Voice
Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts)
A deeply affecting thriller that brilliantly combines the personal with the supernatural, Sk+te’kmujue’katik premiered at TIFF and was named to their annual Canada’s Top Ten list.
“Compelling performances, atmospheric direction, and an evocative use of imagery help the film to stand out as a spirited exercise in genre-bending.” - Nadia Dalimonte, Next Best Picture
Director
Bretten Hannam (L'nu)
Writer
Bretten Hannam (L'nu)
Cast
Forrest Goodluck (Diné/Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian), Blake Alec Miranda (Native American), Glen Gould (Mi’qmaw)
Producers
Martin Katz, Mitchel Fleming, Diana Elbaum, Marc Tetreault, Jason Levangie
Genres
Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Languages
English, Other Language
- Own Voice
There Are No Words
In this poignant documentary that brilliantly weaves together her family’s story with Korea’s political climate, Lee finds a bridge from the personal to the universal, tracing the complicated journey from grief to healing.
Director
Min Sook Lee
Writer
Min Sook Lee
Cast
Min Sook Lee
Producers
Sherien Barsoum, Chanda Chevannes
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
Youngblood
Drawing inspiration from the 80s cult classic of the same name, Director Hubert Davis expertly captures the drama both on and off the ice, with incredible performances and exhilarating hockey sequences.
“In an age when sports movies often feel either overly sentimental or clumsily macho, ‘Youngblood’ finds a refreshing sweet spot that’s emotionally intelligent, grounded, and deeply human.” — Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots
Director
Hubert Davis
Davis’s first film, Hardwood, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Documentary. He went on to receive the Don Haig award at Hot Docs for Invisible City, and direct numerous award winning commercials, as well as the short films Aruba and Rivolta, which won a Cannes Film Lion, and the feature documentaries Giants of Africa and Black Ice, which premiered at TIFF in 2022 where it won the People’s Choice Documentary Award.
Writers
Seneca Aaron, Josh Epstein, Peter Markle
Cast
Shawn Doyle, Ashton James, Blair Underwood
Producers
Anthony Leo, Andrew Rosen
Genres
Drama, Romance
Interest
Sports
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas
Every year, millions of people celebrate the Christmas season with a soundtrack of feel-good classics, most of which were written by Jewish songwriters. This insightful documentary showcases artists like Irving Berlin, Johnny Marks, and Mel Tormé who used universal themes of joy, love, and family to tell the story of the holiday.
Director
Larry Weinstein
Weinstein has received three Gemini awards for his work, including Best Direction for Beethoven’s Hair. Weinstein also directed the docs Mulroney: The Opera, The Devil’s Horn, Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star, and Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas, and co-directed Our Man In Tehran. His latest, Propaganda: The Art of Selling Lies, premiered at Hot Docs 2019.
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Filmmaker
- Own Voice
Backspot
Riley (Jacobs) and her girlfriend Amanda (Rutendo) devote their whole lives to their passion for cheerleading. Given a chance to compete with an elite squad, Riley pushes herself to a point of dangerous dedication in order to impress her idol, the all-star coach Eileen (Wood). As the pressure mounts on both her and the squad, Riley’s obsession threatens to make her lose everything, leading to an exhilarating finale that is sure to get your blood pumping!
Featuring an all-star cast at the top of their game, this intense cheerleading drama is unlike any other that has come before it.
“Jacobs and Waterson are in the same perfect lockstep as the film's cheer squad itself.” – Marya E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
Director
D. W. Waterson
Writers
D. W. Waterson, Joanne Sarazen
Cast
Evan Rachel Wood, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk)
Producers
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), D. W. Waterson, Martin Katz, Alona Metzer
Genre
Drama
Interests
Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
levelFILM
- Own Voice
Hebron Relocation
Director
Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)
Writer
Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)
Producers
Latonia Hartery, Katherine Baulu
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)