TIFF 2022 Spotlight: Canadian Cinema

by KM, Movie Lightbox

Today marks the return of the Toronto International Film Festival in its full form. Now on its 47th year, the festival will be featuring big titles, festival favourites and a strong slate of Canadian films throughout different sections and programmes. With a robust lineup of films from Canadian filmmakers, this year could mark the arrival of new era in the contemporary Canadian film landscape. Here’s some of the must-see films from Canada that are set to play at TIFF:

I Like Movies

Chandler Levack’s feature debut follows a teenager with early onset cinephilia. The film is set in early 2000s suburban Ontario and features Isaiah Lehtinen as a self and movie-obsessed teenager pursuing his dreams and testing personal connections. With its premise and themes, these ultra-indie film could easily appeal to movie lovers and fanatics.

Brother

Clement Virgo’s return to the big screen is an adaptation of the award-winning novel from David Chariandy set in 1990s Scarborough. Lamar Johnson and Aaron Pierre plays Jamaican-Canadian brothers Michael and Francis whose dreams are dashed by violent realities. A powerful story which could end up as one of the standouts at this year’s festival.

Riceboy Sleeps

Vancouver based filmmaker Anthony Shim’s second feature centers on a South Korean mother and son struggling with their new life in 1990s Canada. With the underlining narrative of immigrant experience in Canada this film could resonate with diverse audiences who might have found or still searching for that connection.

Viking

Stephane Lafleur’s latest film focuses on a group of astronauts on their first manned flight to Mars. Combining absurdist humour and reflection on the human condition, this contemplative science fiction film could be one of the highlights at the festival’s competitive Platform programme.

When Morning Comes

A young Jamaican boy who grapples with his widowed mother’s decision to relocate to Canada is the central character in Kelly Fyffe-Marshall’s feature debut. Putting emphasis on the immigrant experience and the complex circumstances around it, this film wil be a distinctive addition to narrative or stories from diverse backgrounds often neglected on screen.

The 47th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8-18.

Image courtesy of TIFF