TORONTO 鈥� An absurdist dramedy about an alternate-universe Winnipeg and a dystopian thriller about a famine-ravaged world are among the Toronto International Film Festival鈥檚 picks for best Canadian films of 2024.
TIFF鈥檚 annual sa国际传媒鈥檚 Top Ten list includes Matthew Rankin鈥檚 鈥淯niversal Language,鈥� the Winnipeg director's cross-cultural odyssey that imagines a sa国际传媒 where the two official languages are Persian and French. The film is also sa国际传媒's official entry for best international feature film at this year鈥檚 Oscars.
Making the cut as well is R.T. Thorne鈥檚 鈥�40 Acres,鈥� the Toronto director鈥檚 debut film about an ex-military matriarch who protects her family in a future where food is scarce.
Another first-time filmmaker on the list is Ottawa鈥檚 Kaniehtiio Horn, who stars in her home-invasion comedy 鈥淪eeds鈥� as a young Mohawk influencer trying to stop criminals from stealing her family's crops.
Among other selections are Toronto macabre master David Cronenberg鈥檚 metaphysical horror 鈥淭he Shrouds,鈥� Quebec filmmaker Sophie Deraspe鈥檚 existential sheep-herding drama 鈥淪hepherds,鈥� and the surrealist political comedy 鈥淩umours,鈥� by Winnipeg auteurs Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson.
The selected films will play at TIFF Lightbox from Feb. 5 to 9.
TIFF says this year's list was curated by its programmers in consultation with various festival programmers across sa国际传媒.
One documentary made the list: 鈥淎ny Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story,鈥� a film about the pioneering Black transgender soul singer by Edmonton鈥檚 Michael Mabbott and Toronto鈥檚 Lucah Rosenberg-Lee.
Other features that secured spots are: 鈥淧aying For It鈥� by Sook-Yin Lee, 鈥淢att and Mara鈥� by Kazik Radwanski, and 鈥淐an I Get a Witness?鈥� by Ann Marie Fleming.
An opening ceremony Feb. 5 will announce the winner of the inaugural Charles Officer Legacy Award, presented by TIFF and CBC. The award honours a Black Canadian director or writer whose work showcases creative excellence, a strong point of view, and a commitment to community.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2025.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
