TIFF Announces Canada’s Top Ten Films of 2024
TIFF has officially announced its selections for Canada’s Top Ten Films of 2024, recognizing the finest achievements in Canadian cinema across feature and short formats. The 24th edition of this annual program, presented by MUBI, will take place from February 5 to 9, 2025, at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto.
The showcase, curated by TIFF programmers in collaboration with festival programmers from across Canada, features an exciting lineup of bold and innovative works. Highlights include the directorial debuts of R.T. Thorne with 40 Acres and Kaniehtiio Horn with Seeds, as well as new films by established auteurs such as David Cronenberg (The Shrouds), Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson (Rumours), and Matthew Rankin (Universal Language).
Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee noted, “This year’s Canada’s Top Ten celebrates the bold artistry of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers and the fresh perspectives of emerging voices.”
Honoring Charles Officer
The opening ceremony on February 5 will feature the presentation of the inaugural Charles Officer Legacy Award, recognizing a Black Canadian filmmaker whose work exemplifies creative excellence and community impact. Officer’s influence, as both a filmmaker and advocate, continues to resonate deeply within the Canadian film industry.
Special Screening of Last Night
On February 6, TIFF will host a special screening of Don McKellar’s 1998 film Last Night, a standout of the Toronto New Wave era. The screening will include a retrospective discussion, “A Look Back at Last Night,” followed by an extended Q&A with McKellar.
Selected Films
Feature Films:
- 40 Acres | dir. R.T. Thorne | 113 minutes | English and Cree
- Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story | dirs. Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee | 98 minutes | English
- Can I Get a Witness? | dir. Ann Marie Fleming | 110 minutes | English
- Matt and Mara | dir. Kazik Radwanski | 80 minutes | English
- Paying For It | dir. Sook-Yin Lee | 85 minutes | English
- Rumours | dirs. Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson | 103 minutes | Multilingual
- Seeds | dir. Kaniehtiio Horn | 82 minutes | English and Kanien’kéha
- Shepherds (Bergers) | dir. Sophie Deraspe | 113 minutes | French
- The Shrouds | dir. David Cronenberg | 119 minutes | English
- Universal Language (Une langue universelle) | dir. Matthew Rankin | 89 minutes | Farsi and French
Short Films:
- Are You Scared to Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail? | dir. Bec Pecaut | 17 minutes | English
- EarthWorm | dir. Phillip Barker | 16 minutes | English
- Inkwo for When the Starving Return | dir. Amanda Strong | 18 minutes | English and Tlicho
- Julian and the Wind | dir. Connor Jessup | 15 minutes | English
- Maybe Elephants | dir. Torill Kove | 17 minutes | English
- Mercenaire | dir. Pier-Philippe Chevigny | 15 minutes | French
- On a Sunday at Eleven | dir. Alicia K. Harris | 9 minutes | English
- One Day This Kid | dir. Alexander Farah | 18 minutes | Multilingual
- perfectly a strangeness | dir. Alison McAlpine | 15 minutes | No dialogue
- Who Loves the Sun | dir. Arshia Shakiba | 20 minutes | Arabic
Industry Forum and Film Circuit
The Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum will return with a February 5 panel titled “Perspectives on the Future of the Canadian Film Industry,” featuring notable industry figures discussing the next 50 years of Canadian cinema.
Several of the selected films will also be part of TIFF’s Film Circuit, bringing these works to under-served communities across Canada, extending their reach beyond the festival.
Milestone Year for TIFF
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of TIFF. Celebrations will include special retrospectives and initiatives, honoring five decades of cinematic excellence.
For tickets and program details, visit tiff.net.