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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
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Aki
Director
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe)
Writer
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe)
Producers
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe), Jamie Manning
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Other Language
Language Version
EN Subtitles
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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
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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
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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
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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
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)
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Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)
This breathtaking romantic drama won the award for Best Canadian Feature Film at TIFF in 2025, and was named to their Canada’s Top Ten list.
“Kunuk has once again created something special: a film made for and by Inuit, with a story that transcends culture.” — Matthew Simpson, Exclaim!
Director
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as TIFF’s number one Canadian film of all time. Kunuk has directed shorts such as Exile and Home and features such as Maliglutit, which was nominated for two CSAs. He recently directed the series Hunting With My Ancestors and executive produced SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Knife). His latest feature, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, premiered at TIFF 2019. Most recently, he directed the short The Shaman’s Apprentice, which won the CSA for Best Animated Short among other awards at festivals worldwide.
Writers
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Samuel Cohn-Cousineau
Cast
Haiden Angutimarik (Inuk), Leah Panimera (Inuk), Theresia Kappianaq (Inuk)
Producers
Samuel Cohn-Cousineau, Carol Kunnuk (Inuk), Jonathan Frantz
Genre
Drama
Interests
Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
Inuktitut
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Isuma Distribution International
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
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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
Director
Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)
Writer
Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)
Cast
Tompson Highway (Cree)
Producer
Chehala Leonard (Aseniwuche Winewak)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Cree
Language Versions
EN Subtitles, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
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)
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Village Keeper
Director
Karen Chapman
Writer
Karen Chapman
Cast
Maxine Simpson, Oluniké Adeliyi, Zahra Bentham
Producers
Karen Chapman, Enrique Baniqued
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Smallaxx Motion Pictures
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Sweet Summer Pow Wow
Director
Darrell Dennis (Secwepemc)
Writers
Darrell Dennis (Secwepemc), Katya Gardner
Cast
Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Tatyana Rose Baptiste (Syilx Okanagan), Graham Greene (Oneida)
Producers
Leslie D. Bland, Harold Joe
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Orca Cove Media
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Paying for It
Director
Sook-Yin Lee
Writers
Sook-Yin Lee, Joanne Sarazen
Cast
Andrea Werhun, Dan Beirne, Emily Lê
Producers
Matt Code, Sonya Di Rienzo, Aeschylus Poulos
Genre
Comedy
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Loco Films
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Red Fever
Directors
Neil Diamond (Cree)
Cree filmmaker Diamond is known for several award winning documentaries that focus on Indigenous life and issues. His debut film, Cree Spoken Here, garnered the Telefilm/APTN award for Best Aboriginal Documentary. His most recent film was Inuit Cree Reconciliation with filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk and he is currently directing the documentary Red Fever.
Writers
Neil Diamond (Cree), Catherine Bainbridge
Producers
Rebecca Lessard, Lisa M. Roth
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Les Films du 3 Mars
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Seeds
In this tense thriller, a Mohawk internet personality receives her first sponsorship, promoting the seed and fertilizer company Nature's Oath. But when she returns to her reserve, she discovers a dark side to the company that threatens both her and her people.
Director
Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk)
Writer
Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk)
Cast
Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk), Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibway), Cherish Violet Blood (Kainai), Graham Greene (Oneida)
Producers
Leonard Farlinger, Jennifer Jonas
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
levelFILM
A moving portrait that shines a light on the career of a trailblazer who was ahead of her time, this incredible story won the Special Jury Prize for Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs 2024.
“A compelling investigation of an elusive life, as well as a talent so striking you’ll be amazed it remained forgotten for so long.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
Directors
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. He also wrote, produced, and co-directed Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, which was named to the TIFF 2024 Top Ten List.
Lucah Rosenberg-Lee
Lucah Rosenberg-Lee is an independent filmmaker, speaker and entrepreneur. He is passionate about telling the stories of marginalized voices through film and he specializes in documentary and LGBTQ+ content. He produced For Nonna Anna, which won the Best Narrative Short Award at the Atlanta Film Festival, and he co-directed the 2024 films Passing and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, which won the DGC Special Jury Prize at Hot Docs 2024.
Writers
Alison Duke, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, Michael Mabbott
Cast
Rob Bowman, James Baley, Bobby Dean Blackburn
Producers
Janet Bradey, Justine Pimlott, Michael Mabbott
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
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Ice Queens
A terrific showcase of the Black players and coaches that continue to make huge contributions to the sport, this documentary is an absolute must-watch for hockey fans.
Director
Damon Kwame Mason
Former TV and radio host Damon Kwame Mason transitioned to filmmaker when he wrote, directed and produced Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future, a documentary about the contributions of black athletes to the sport of ice hockey. He went on to produce The Cannons in 2022, and directed Ice Queens, which was released in 2023.
Cast
Cassie Campbell-Pascal, Angela James, Sarah Nurse
Producer
Tom Cohen
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Filmmaker
- Own Voice
Singing Back the Buffalo
This epic and inspiring documentary not only offers a new perspective on our connection to the land, it shows us what’s possible when we come together. Singing Back the Buffalo is an essential call to take notice – and take action.
“Tasha Hubbard has created a piece of living history” – Caitie Talty, In the Seats
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)
Producers
George Hupka, Tasha Hubbard (Cree), Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Cinema Politica