This year’s Toronto International Film Festival is jam-packed with high-profile films, as with just about every year. But let’s not forget that the annual event does actually take place in Canada, and thus, loves to highlight the very best cinema that the country has to offer. And this year is no different, with new films featuring the talents of Atom Egoyan, Ellen Page, and Imogen Poots.
Canadian filmmaker Egoyan is set to have the North American premiere of his upcoming film, “Guest of Honour.” The film stars David Thewlis, Luke Wilson, Laysla De Oliveira, Rossif Sutherland, and Alexandre Bourgeois. Page teams up with director Ian Daniel to direct the upcoming documentary “There’s Something in the Water.” Another standout is “Castle in the Ground,” from director Joey Klein. The new drama stars Imogen Poots, Alex Wolff, Neve Campbell, Tom Cullen, and Keir Gilchrist.
“We are deeply impressed by the high quality of the work done by Canadian directors this year — particularly from filmmakers who were making their first and second features,” said Steve Gravestock, Senior Programmer, TIFF. “Within that group, there was an extremely strong contingent of female filmmakers working everywhere from Newfoundland to British Columbia and addressing a genuinely diverse spectrum of subjects, from mother-daughter relationships to the refugee experience, female friendships to youth in crisis.”
“As part of the new wave of programmers at TIFF, I’m thrilled to help usher in the next generation of prominent voices in Canadian cinema — particularly with films that speak to the larger global issues at hand,” said TIFF programmer Ravi Srinivasan. “I am also proud to help introduce several new filmmakers to the main stage, knowing that their works will screen alongside those of Canadian legends like Alanis Obomsawin and Atom Egoyan. This is truly an exciting year for TIFF and Canadian cinema, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
TIFF 2019 begins on September 5.
Below is the full lineup of Canadian films, as well as a few new trailers for films (more can be found on TIFF’s YouTube channel):
GALAS
American Woman Semi Chellas | Canada
Canadian Premiere
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band Daniel Roher | Canada
World Premiere
The Song of Names François Girard | Canada
World Premiere
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Clifton Hill Albert Shin | Canada
World Premiere
Guest of Honour Atom Egoyan | Canada
North American Premiere
SPECIAL EVENTS
David Foster: Off the Record Barry Avrich | Canada
World Premiere
One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk Zacharias Kunuk | Canada
North American Premiere
MASTERS
Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger Alanis Obomsawin | Canada
World Premiere
TIFF DOCS
Coppers Alan Zweig | Canada
World Premiere
This Is Not a Movie Yung Chang | Canada
World Premiere
There’s Something in the Water Ellen Page, Ian Daniel | Canada
World Premiere
DISCOVERY
Black Conflux Nicole Dorsey | Canada
World Premiere
Easy Land Sanja Zivkovic | Canada
World Premiere
Kuessipan Myriam Verreault | Canada
World Premiere
Murmur Heather Young | Canada
World Premiere
Raf Harry Cepka | Canada
World Premiere
The Rest of Us Aisling Chin-Yee | Canada
World Premiere
CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA
And the Birds Rained Down (Il pleuvait des oiseaux) Louise Archambault | Canada
World Premiere
Antigone Sophie Deraspe | Canada
World Premiere
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Kathleen Hepburn | Canada
North American Premiere
Castle in the Ground Joey Klein | Canada
World Premiere
The Last Porno Show Kire Paputts | Canada
World Premiere
Tammy’s Always Dying Amy Jo Johnson | Canada
World Premiere
White Lie Calvin Thomas, Yonah Lewis | Canada
World Premiere
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
.Opening Midnight Madness Film.
Blood Quantum Jeff Barnaby | Canada
World Premiere
The Twentieth Century Matthew Rankin | Canada
World Premiere
