Le givre de Bobby-Yves

Directors Bogdan Anifrani, Ranee Inez
Year 2021
Run Time 4min
Genre Drama
The tenacious Bobby-Yves wakes up to find himself stranded in a blizzard, and must explore the landscape to find shelter and warmth before he succumbs to the icy white abyss. A suspenseful and unexpectedly humorous tale told through a beautiful, minimalist animation style, Le givre de Bobby-Yves is an instant classic.

Directors

Bogdan Anifrani, Ranee Inez

Writers

Bogdan Anifrani, Ranee Inez

Producer

Sharon Corder

Genre

Drama

Interests

Arts and Culture, Environment, Female Filmmaker

Original Language

French

Mon Cirque à Moi (My Very Own Circus)

Director Miryam Bouchard
Year 2020
Run Time 105min
Genre Comedy

While some children may want to run away and join the circus, Laura (Jasmine Lemée), a young girl in rural Quebec, has grown up in a travelling circus and desperately wants a normal life. Her father (Patrick Huard) is a clown in the circus and can't understand the need for a conventional life, believing that learning happens on the road. As their differences become more apparent, he must accept the fact that his daughter may not want to follow in his footsteps, and let her live the life that she wants.

Miryam Bouchard's debut feature Mon cirque à moi is a heartwarming and hilarious crowd-pleaser that celebrates the power of family in all of its forms.

Director

Miryam Bouchard

Bouchard is an award-winning writer and director. She started her career by directing music videos, and has directed many shorts and TV series, including M’entends-tu?, L'Échappée, Mon ex à moi, Les Chroniques d'une mère indigne, Yin Yang, and La guerre des sexes. Mon Cirque à Moi was her debut feature. She has also directed Lignes de fruite and 23 Décembre.

Writers

Miryam Bouchard, Martin Forget

Cast

Patrick Huard, Jasmine Lemée, Sophie Lorain, Robin Aubert

Producer

Antonello Cozzolino

Genre

Comedy

Interests

Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

Canadian Distributor

eOne

The Ghosts in Our Machine

Director Liz Marshall
Year 2013
Run Time 93min
Genre Documentary

In a film that explores the rights of non-human animals through the compassionate lens of international photographer Jo-Anne McArthur, we meet individual animals living within — and rescued from — the machine of our modern world. 

Director

Liz Marshall

Writer

Liz Marshall

Producers

Nina Beveridge, Liz Marshall

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Environment, Female Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics

Original Languages

English, French, Other Language

Canadian Distributor

INDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT INC

Fight Like Soldiers, Die Like Children

Director Patrick Reed
Year 2012
Run Time 83min
Genre Documentary

In 1994, then-General Roméo Dallaire was on the ground in Rwanda as a genocide unfolded. He returned to Canada haunted by these memories, and has found a new mission: to end the recruitment of child soldiers around the world.  

In this important and affecting documentary based on his book They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children, Dallaire travels across Africa and North America speaking with child soldiers, self-defence groups, militia leaders and those trying to help these children. As he searches for solutions to this horrific practice, animated sequences are interspersed to add the first-person voice of Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier, who recounts a chilling story that makes it clear why this work is so crucial.  

“The cause couldn’t be more urgent… The face of the cause couldn’t be more eloquent.” – Rick Groen, The Globe and Mail

Director

Patrick Reed

Cast

Roméo Dallaire

Producer

Peter Raymont

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Global Experiences, Social Justice & Politics

Original Languages

English, French, Other Language

Canadian Distributor

White Pine Pictures

The Life and Hard times of Guy Terrifico

Director Michael Mabbott
Year 2005
Run Time 86min
Genre Comedy, Documentary
A mockumentary about the rise and fall of fictional country singer Guy Terrifico, featuring some legendary real-life stars

Director

Michael Mabbott

Writer/director Mabbott made his debut with 2005’s Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, winning Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival. He followed with Citizen Duane and television shows like Baxter and The Yard. His short documentary Music Lessons premiered at Hot Docs 2015. Most recently he wrote episodes of Ten Days in the Valley.

Writer

Michael Mabbott

Cast

Kris Kristofferson, Matt Murphy, Colin Linden

Genres

Comedy, Documentary

Interest

Arts and Culture

Original Languages

English, French

Canadian Distributor

eOne

Rock & Rule

Director Clive A. Smith
Year 1983
Run Time 87min
Genre Animation

A malevolent rock star kidnaps a singer to force her to participate in the summoning of a demon, and her band must help her stop his evil plan. Canada’s first English-language animated feature, with songs by Iggy Pop and Lou Reed.

Director

Clive A. Smith

Writers

Patrick Loubert, John Halfpenny, Anna Bourque, Greg Duffell

Cast

Don Francks, Gregory Salata, Susan Roman

Producers

Patrick Loubert, Michael Hirsh

Genre

Animation

Interest

Arts and Culture

Original Languages

English, French

Canadian Distributor

Orion Pictures

Adoration

Director Atom Egoyan
Year 2008
Run Time 100min
Genre Drama
For his French-class assignment, a high school student weaves his family history in a news story involving terrorism, and goes on to invite an Internet audience in on the resulting controversy.

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

Rachel Blanchard, Devon Bostick, Louca Tassone

Producers

Simone Urdl, Jennifer Weiss

Genre

Drama

Interest

Family Relationships

Original Languages

English, French

Canadian Distributor

eOne

Café de Flore

Director Jean-Marc Vallée
Year 2011
Run Time 120min
Genre Drama, Romance
In this exploration of maternal and romantic love, two seemingly unrelated pairs — a couple and a mother and son — intertwine after a tragic accident. Starring Vanessa Paradis.

Director

Jean-Marc Vallée

Vallée garnered nine Genie nominations for his first feature, Liste noire. C.R.A.Z.Y. was a box office hit and was honoured at film festivals worldwide. He directed the Oscar-nominated films Dallas Buyers Club and Wild, as well as Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal and the hit TV series Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects. He tragically passed away in December 2021.

Writer

Jean-Marc Vallée

Cast

Vanessa Paradis, Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent, Evelyne Brochu

Producers

Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin

Genres

Drama, Romance

Interests

Arts and Culture, Family Relationships, LGBTQ2S+

Original Language

French

Canadian Distributor

eOne

  • Own Voice

J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother)

Director Xavier Dolan
Year 2009
Run Time 96min
Genre Drama

The first feature from internationally acclaimed director Xavier Dolan, J'ai tué ma mère explores the fraught relationship between 16-year-old Hubert (Dolan) and his mother (Dorval). With lingering tensions from his father leaving them, they live in a seemingly constant argument, and he does everything within his power to distance himself from her on a quest that strikes a perfect balance between heartbreaking and hilarious.


This semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story launched Dolan’s career, winning three prizes at Cannes before going on to international acclaim.


“A coming-of-age tale as ferociously raw as its teller” – Rick Groen, The Globe and Mail

Director

Xavier Dolan

Writer

Xavier Dolan

Cast

Xavier Dolan, Anne Dorval, François Arnaud

Genre

Drama

Interests

Family Relationships, LGBTQ2S+

Original Language

French

Canadian Distributor

K Films Amerique

Splice

Director Vincenzo Natali
Year 2009
Run Time 104min
Genre Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Elsa (Sarah Polley) and Clive (Adrien Brody) are married scientists who defy legal and ethical boundaries by splicing together human and animal DNA to create a new organism. 

Director

Vincenzo Natali

Writers

Vincenzo Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant, Doug Taylor

Cast

Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac

Producer

Steven Hoban

Genres

Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Original Languages

English, French

Canadian Distributor

Les Films Seville

C’est pas moi, je le jure! (It’s Not Me, I Swear!)

Director Philippe Falardeau
Year 2008
Run Time 110min
Genre Comedy
Ten-year-old Léon has a dysfunctional family, a big imagination — and a vandalism problem. Based on Bruno Hébert’s novel of the same name, and featuring Antoine L’Écuyer and Suzanne Clément.

Director

Philippe Falardeau

Quebecois director and screenwriter Falardeau has won more than 32 international awards for his films, which include Monsieur Lazhar, La moitié gauche du frigo, C'est pas moi, je le jure!, The Good Lie, the political satire Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre, and the recent My Salinger Year as well as the TV show Le temps des framboises

Writer

Philippe Falardeau

Cast

Antoine L'Écuyer, Gabriel Maillé, Catherine Faucher, Suzanne Clément, Daniel Brière

Producers

Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Genre

Comedy

Interests

History, Literary Adaptation

Original Language

French

Canadian Distributor

Christal Films

Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés (Saint Martyrs of the Damned)

Director Robin Aubert
Year 2005
Run Time 115min
Genre Drama, Horror
At once creepy and thought-provoking, Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés is an eerie and playful supernatural thriller. Tabloid reporter Flavien (Chénier) and his photographer buddy Armand (Robitaille) are dispatched to a rural Quebec village to investigate a series of mysterious disappearances. But things quickly begin to go awry when Armand vanishes on their very first night in town.

The town’s inhabitants are a strange group — a mayor who rules with an iron fist, the creepy twins running the motel, the woman who serenades cows, a masked mechanic, and many others. But Flavien can’t get anyone to help him, as they’re all suspicious and even downright aggressive toward him. With an arresting visual style and quirky sense of humour, the film pushes the boundaries of the conventional thriller, tackling questions about identity, responsibility and mortality in a refreshing way.

Director

Robin Aubert

Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés premiered at TIFF 2005. Aubert also directed the feature films À quelle heure le train pour nulle part, À l’origine d’un cri, and Tuktuq, and starred in De père en flic, the critical hit Guibord s’en va-t-en guerre, Jeune Juliette, and Mon cirque à moi. His latest film, Les Affamés won Best Canadian Feature at TIFF 2017 and ten Prix Iris. He is currently completing his next film, Tu ne sauras jamais. 

Writer

Robin Aubert

Cast

François Chénier, Isabelle Blais, Sylvie Boucher

Producers

Luc Vandal, Roger Frappier

Genres

Drama, Horror

Interest

Family Relationships

Original Language

French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

Canadian Distributor

Christal Films

  • Own Voice

Ste. Anne

Director Rhayne Vermette (Métis)
Year 2021
Run Time 80min
Genre Drama, Experimental

Four years after leaving her daughter (d’Eschambault) to be raised by her brother (Theis) and his wife (Marion), Renée (Vermette) returns to find an entirely different life from the one she left behind. The tensions caused by her arrival simmer under the surface as Renée clumsily adjusts back into a maternal role despite her young daughter having no memory of her. 

Featuring members of Vermette’s own family and community, this lovingly made personal project went on to win Best Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021.

“More experiment than straight-ahead narrative, Ste. Anne rewards patient, careful attention. The rewards are great.” - Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail

Director

Rhayne Vermette (Métis)

Writer

Rhayne Vermette (Métis)

Cast

Isabelle d’Eschambault, Valerie Marion, Dolorès Gosselin (Métis)

Producer

Rhayne Vermette (Métis)

Genres

Drama, Experimental

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

  • Own Voice

Je m’appelle humain (Call Me Human)

Director Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki)
Year 2020
Run Time 78min
Genre Documentary

After spending most of her life working as an Innu language translator and transcriber, Joséphine Bacon rose to fame late in life in her second career as an award-winning poet. This moving profile frames her life and work in a new context, offering a deeply personal look at an important literary figure in Canada.

Je m'appele humain premiered at the Quebec City Film Festival to great acclaim, and went on to receive four Prix Iris nominations, including Best Documentary.

Director

Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki)

Writers

Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki), Nathalie Gressin

Cast

Joséphine Bacon (Innu)

Producer

Andrée-Anne Frenette

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Languages

French, Other Language

Language Versions

EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR CC, FR Subtitles

  • Own Voice

Bootlegger

Director Caroline Monnet (Algonquin)
Year 2021
Run Time 81min
Genre Drama

Driven by a desire to spark change in her community, young activist Mani (Jacobs) returns to her reserve from the big city to promote the ending of alcohol prohibition on her reserve. When she runs into opposition from the local convenience store owner Nadine (Poupart), the two square off, forcing the divisive issue into the spotlight leading to unexpected consequences.  

This critically acclaimed first feature from Caroline Monnet is a thought-provoking and timely look at an ongoing debate that rarely gets the media attention it deserves. 

 

Director

Caroline Monnet (Algonquin)

Writers

Caroline Monnet (Algonquin), Daniel Watchorn

Cast

Pascale Bussières, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Joséphine Bacon (Innu), Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Samian (Algonquin)

Producer

Catherine Chagnon

Genre

Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics

Original Languages

French, Other Language

Language Version

EN Subtitles

Un sac de billes (A Bag of Marbles)

Director Christian Duguay
Year 2017
Run Time 110min
Genre Drama
A heartwarming adaptation of Joseph Joffo’s novel, Un Sac de Billes follows 10-year-old Joseph (Le Clech), who is forced to leave his home in 1941 when Paris is invaded and occupied by German troops. Separated from his parents and with only his older brother to help him, Joseph must find a way to survive in the devastated French landscape in the Second World War. Joseph’s story is fraught with dangers, as he must disguise both his name and religion in order to have a chance of seeing his family again. Through his eyes, this emotional film shows the progression of the Second World War and its effect on the average citizen.

“Makes such a barbaric and bewildering chapter in human history comprehensible for young audiences.” – Matt Fagerholm, RogerEbert.com

Director

Christian Duguay

Christian Duguay launched his directorial career with Memoirs in 1984 before going on to direct some of the most notable thrillers of the 90s and early 2000s, including Scanners II: The New Order, Scanners III: The Takeover, Live Wire, The Art of War with Wesley Snipes, and Human Trafficking with Donald Sutherland. Most recently he directed the series Medici and the feature film Ride Above. 

Writers

Jonathan Allouche, Alexandra Geismar, Joseph Joffo, Christian Duguay

Cast

Batyste Fleurial, Dorian Le Clech, Patrick Bruel, Elsa Zylberstein

Producers

Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Laurent Zeitoun, Yann Zenou, Joe Iacono

Genre

Drama

Interests

Discrimination, Family Relationships, Global Experiences, History, Literary Adaptation, Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

French

Language Versions

EN Subtitles, FR CC

Canadian Distributor

Gaumont Film Company

  • Own Voice

Tia and Piujuq

Director Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)
Year 2018
Run Time 80min
Genre Drama, Family, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Tia (Bshara) is a 10-year-old refugee from Syria, living in Montreal and struggling to make friends and feel comfortable in her new environment. While her parents are preoccupied with her mother’s pregnancy and the challenges of everyday life in a new place, Tia is left mostly to her own devices. 

Everything changes when she discovers a magical portal that transports her to Igloolik, a community in the Arctic Circle. There she meets Piujuq (Tulugarjuk), an Inuk girl who she quickly forms a deep bond with in spite of their cultural differences. Through their friendship, the stories of Piujuq’s grandmother, and their wanderings across the striking northern landscape, the girls are immersed in Inuit myth and magic. 

A heartwarming magical-realist fable about friendship and discovery, Tia and Piujuq is a delightful adventure for all ages. 

Director

Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)

Writers

Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk), Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Samuel Cohn-Cousineau

Cast

Tia Bshara, Nuvvija Tulugarjuk (Inuk), Madeline Piujuq Ivalu (Inuk)

Genres

Drama, Family, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Indigenous Filmmaker, Newcomer Stories, Strong Female Leads

Original Languages

English, French, Inuktitut, Other Language

Language Versions

EN CC, FR Subtitles, Other Subtitles

Canadian Distributor

Vtape

Fabuleuses

Director Mélanie Charbonneau
Year 2019
Run Time 112min
Genre Comedy, Drama

Laurie (O’Farrell) desperately wants to become a social media influencer, much to the chagrin of her roommate Elizabeth (Zazham). When she befriends her idol, Clara (Gosselin), a prolific content creator who seems to have a perfect life, Laurie starts to gain a following herself, and finally gets a taste of the life she wants. But as their friendship continues, and the façade that Clara constructed starts to fall away, Laurie comes to see the dark side of internet celebrity, and that she may already be in too deep.

An insightful look at contemporary young female relationships, Mélanie Charbonneau’s debut feature Fabuleuses was nominated for 5 Prix Iris, including best film and best actress. 

Director

Mélanie Charbonneau

Quebec-based director Charbonneau started her career with directing commercials. Her first short film, Seule played several international festivals including Cannes. Her short film Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous collected over 30 prizes at festivals internationally. Fabuleuses was her first feature. Most recently she directed episodes of Je ne suis pas un robot.

Writers

Mélanie Charbonneau, Geneviève Pettersen

Cast

Noémie O'Farrell, Alexandre Nachi, Juliette Gosselin, Genevieve Boivin Roussy, Mounia Zahzam

Producer

Nicole Robert

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Interests

Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker

Original Language

French

Language Version

None

Canadian Distributor

Téléfiction Distribution

La Chute de l’empire americain (The Fall of the American Empire)

Director Denys Arcand
Year 2018
Run Time 129min
Genre Drama
A delivery truck driver on the scene of a bank robbery takes two bags of money amidst the commotion, sending him down a rabbit hole of crime and bad decisions.

Director

Denys Arcand

Writer

Denys Arcand

Cast

Alexandre Landry, Maripier Morin, Rémy Girard

Producer

Denise Robert

Genre

Drama

Interest

Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

French

Canadian Distributor

eOne

Les Boys (The “Boys”)

Director Louis Saïa
Year 1998
Run Time 110min
Genre Comedy, Drama
This hockey comedy is a true phenomenon. Les Boys has captured the hearts of Canadian audiences with its rowdy humour, down-to-earth characterizations and appealing plots.

Stan (Girard), the very likeable tavern owner and hockey coach, allows himself to run up a huge gambling debt to Meo (Lebeau), the local Mob boss. 

Meo offers Stan a deal: If his pub's team, Les Boys, can defeat Meo's band of thugs at a game of hockey, the tavern remains his. If not, the Mob will take over Chez Stan. Naturally, Les Boys, an out-of-shape group of hockey enthusiasts, are highly motivated to win the game. How they go about doing so, however, is a slapshot of laughs.

Director

Louis Saïa

Montreal director/actor/writer Saïa is known for his trilogy Les Boys I, II and III, each of which won the Golden Reel Award for biggest box-office gross in Canada. Saïa’s TV directing credits include the French-language Vice caché, Max Inc. and the Les Boys television adaptation, as well as the feature Dangerous People.

Writers

Louis Saïa, Christian Fournier

Cast

Marc Messier, Rémy Girard, Patrick Huard

Producers

Richard Goudreau, Jeffrey Tinnell

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Interests

Classics, Sports

Original Language

French

Language Versions

EN Dub, EN Subtitles

Canadian Distributor

eOne