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10 Canadian Films You Need To Check Out At TIFF This Year
Documentaries, animated features, and female directors— oh my!

10 Canadian Films You Need To Check Out At TIFF This Year

1. Alice, Darling

Courtesy of TIFF

This feature-film debut by Métis writer-director-actor Gail Maurice is about a suddenly orphaned Indigenous girl who’s put into the care of her unprepared Aunt Fred. A vibrant movie all about finding chosen family, ROSIE is one to watch out for this year. 

5. High School

Courtesy of TIFF

So this isn’t a FILM… but a new series that’s premiering during the fest (okay, curveball)! It’s based on the bestselling memoir of the same name by Canadian icons Tegan and Sara, and has Clea DuVall directing it. Screams! It also stars TikTok famous twins Railey and Seazynn Gilliland, so that’s fun too.

6. Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On

Courtesy of TIFF

Musician, activist, legend, and first Indigenous person to win an Oscar— there’s nothing Buffy Sainte-Marie hasn’t done. Did you know she’s also one of the few pop stars to refuse to have her rights bought out by Elvis (who famously demanded full ownership of most songs he recorded)? Spicy. Get into it by watching the doc.

7. Soft

Courtesy of TIFF

This film originally piqued my interest as it was initially titled Pussy (naturally I clicked on that title, sue me!). And even though the movie title has changed, I’m still SO excited to see this. This coming-of-age drama follows three queer kids navigating Toronto for a summer, and I can already tell it’ll make me cry. 

8. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Courtesy of TIFF

If you’re a fan of animation, add this to your TIFF 2022 watch list. It’s an adaption of a few stories by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, where you’ll encounter characters like a lost cat and a giant frog navigating life after the 2011 tsunami in Tokyo. 

9. I Like Movies

Courtesy of TIFF

This hilarious indie about a movie-obsessed teenager living in early-2000s Burlington, Ontario begins with a parody of A Christmas Carol. What more do we need to say? 

10. This Place

Courtesy of TIFF

This Place is a queer love story about two young women— one Iranian and Kanienʼkehá꞉ka, the other Tamil. More! Queer! Love! Stories! 

What are you looking forward to seeing this year? Check out all the films here, and let us know below!