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

    Documentaries, animated features, and female directors— oh my!

    Isabella Torchia
    by Isabella Torchia

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Alice, Darling

    three women standing in the forest
    Courtesy of TIFF

    Anna Kendrick is putting her cups down in this new captivating psychological thriller shot in and around Toronto. If you want to cross off some films with female directors off your list, this is a great start— with Mary Nighy making her directorial debut!  

    2. Black Ice

    two hockey players on the bench
    Courtesy of TIFF

    Produced by Lebron James, Maverick Carter, Drake and Future, Black Ice is a documentary that examines the longstanding history of anti-Black racism in hockey. It's a must-watch. 

    3. Ever Deadly

    two women throat singing
    Courtesy of TIFF

    This documentary is a peek behind-the-curtain of Juno Award-winning throat singer and artist Tanya Tagaq. I'm a huge fan of Tagaq (Split Tooth is a great read), and can't wait to see her on the big screen. 

    4. ROSIE

    3 adults and one kid walking down the street
    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

    two twins sitting on floor
    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

    buffy sainte marie and band
    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

    3 teens yelling
    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

    animation of two people sitting on lawn chairs
    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

    two teens waiting in line for a movie
    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

    two women gazing
    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!