Interest: Biography
Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster
Eddie gets his start by recruiting a gang of small-time crooks and slowly turns them into a crack team of professional thieves. He launches a series of spectacular bank robberies, gaining notoriety and quickly becoming both a beloved national celebrity and public enemy number one. Part action-packed crime caper, part romance, this vibrant film brings an incredible true story to life.
Director
Nathan Morlando
Morlando’s first film, Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster, won Best Canadian First Feature at TIFF. He also directed Mean Dreams, which debuted in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival. He recently produced Giant Little Ones and directed episodes of the show Cardinal.
Writer
Nathan Morlando
Cast
Scott Speedman, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Durand, Brian Cox, Charlotte Sullivan
Producer
Allison Black
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Interests
Biography, History
Original Language
English
The Secret Path
Gord Downie began Secret Path as ten poems incited by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a twelve year-old boy who died fifty years ago on October 22, 1966, while fleeing from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, and attempting to walk home to the family he was taken from over 400 miles away. Gord discovered the story of Chanie Wenjack (miscalled “Charlie” by his teachers) by his brother Mike, who introduced him to Ian Adams’ Maclean’s story from February 6, 1967, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack.” This project is an album, an accompanying graphic novel, and also an animated film.
Director
Gord Downie
Writers
Gord Downie, Mike Downie
Producers
Gord Downie, Jeff Lemire, Justin Stephenson
Genre
Drama
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire
Dallaire attempted to stop the killing by alerting the world through the United Nations and the international media. Though his attempts were unsuccessful, Dallaire emerged as a hero. Ten years later, Dallaire returns to Rwanda to personally commemorate the anniversary of that holocaust.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.
“Dallaire is not only the protagonist of Shake Hands with the Devil, he is a compelling reason to see it.” — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Director
Peter Raymont
Raymont has produced and directed over 100 documentaries, which have earned more than 50 international awards. His producing credits include West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson, Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr and Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band. He recently directed the doc Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power, and produced Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On, which premiered at TIFF 2022.
Writer
Roméo Dallaire
Producers
Linda Lee Tracey, Peter Raymont
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, Discrimination, Global Experiences, History, Literary Adaptation, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
The Carter Effect
Get ready to feel the “Vinsanity” with this unprecedented look at Vince Carter, the six-foot-six, eight-time NBA All-Star who made waves in Canadian basketball when he joined the Raptors in 1998. This engrossing doc chronicles his role in building the team’s profile and planting Toronto firmly on the world map.
Featuring appearances from Steve Nash, Director X, Mona Halem and Drake, as well as interviews with Carter himself, the film illuminates the thrill of the game and the complexity of the basketball industry.
An entertaining homage to a sports legend, and a love letter to Canada’s largest city, The Carter Effect captures the intoxicating mix of civic pride, music and diversity that makes Toronto so unique. The Carter Effect was nominated for Best Documentary at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Director
Sean Menard
Documentary filmmaker Menard has directed and produced several sports docs, including On the Line, The Perfect Storm: Story of the 1994 Montreal Expos and Exceptional Status. His first feature-length doc was Fight Mom. Most recently, he directed episodes of Sole Origins, and UFC 25 Years in Short.
Cast
Vince Carter, Drake, David Stern
Producers
Drake, LeBron James, Maverick Carter
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, History, Sports
Original Language
English
Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story
If you’ve ever watched the Toronto Raptors, chances are you’ve seen Nav Bhatia (aka the “Raptors Superfan”), stationed in the seat he’s sat in for every home game in the franchise’s history. Superfan explores how Nav found a home in Toronto, fell in love with the Raptors, and grew to be so beloved that he became the first fan ever to receive an NBA championship ring, as part of the 2019 championship Raptors team.
Featuring interviews with comedian Russell Peters, Vince Carter, Isiah Thomas, and Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, this compelling doc tells Nav’s inspiring story of perseverance, passion, overcoming adversity and ultimately finding success and joy.
Director
Amar Wala
Amar Wala is an award-winning Toronto-based filmmaker and alumni of York University’s Film Program. His debut feature The Secret Trial 5 earned him jury recognition as an Emerging Filmmaker at Hot Docs and was named as one of the Top Ten Docs of the Decade by Realscreen. Wala has also directed and produced award-winning television series such as the acclaimed CBC Arts program In The Making and the award-winning comedy series Next Stop.
Cast
Nav Bhatia
Producers
Vinay Virmani, Rinku Ghei
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories, Sports
Original Language
English
Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World Of Ben Ferencz
The fascinating story of Ben Ferencz, a 98-year-old lawyer and last surviving prosecutor of Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials after World War Two.
Ferencz grew up in New York, where he became a lawyer before enlisting in the Army. After seeing Nazi concentration camps first hand after liberation, then 27-year-old Ferencz became the lead prosecutor in what has been called the biggest murder trial in history. He went on to advocate for restitution for Jewish victims of the Holocaust and for the establishment of the International Criminal Court. His inspiring fight for justice continues today.
Directed with sensitivity and empathy, Prosecuting Evil sheds light on atrocities that should never be forgotten, and asks tough questions about the world we live in today.
Director
Barry Avrich
Prolific producer, director, and writer Avrich has made many acclaimed documentaries including The Last Mogul, Show Stopper: The Theatrical Life of Garth Drabinsky and David Foster: Off the Record, and the recent Oscar Peterson: Black + White. Avrich has also authored three books, and produced and directed several film adaptations of theatrical productions. He is currently working on 2022 doc The Talented Mr. Rosenberg.
Writer
Barry Avrich
Cast
Benjamin Ferencz, Alan Dershowitz
Producers
Patrice Theroux, Caitlin Cheddie
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, History, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with some of rock’s greatest artists, this documentary explores the long career of these Canadian musical heroes.
Directors
Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen
Writers
Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Mike Munn
Producers
Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, History
Original Language
English
Based on a true story, Isabelle Fortier chronicles her experience as a sex worker in a semi-autobiographical novel under the pen name Nelly Arcan (Mylène MacKay). The book becomes a scandalous international bestseller, leading to unexpected and unwanted fame for Arcan, who must now deal with the pressure of increased scrutiny about the authenticity of her stories and the demand for an equally successful follow-up.
Anne Emond explores the author’s colourful and ultimately tragic life in a multi-layered and stylish mix of make-believe and memoir, revealing the person behind the shocking literary alter ego.
“Mylène MacKay delivers a towering performance” - T’Cha Dunlevy, The Montreal Gazette
Director
Anne Émond
Émond's debut feature, Nuit #1, won the Claude Jutra Award for Best Feature by a first time filmmaker at the 2012 Genie Awards. Her other credits include the shorts La vie commence, Sophie Lavoie and Plus rien ne vouloir, and the features Nelly and Les êtres chers, which received seven Jutra Award nominations and won for Best Direction. Her most recent film is Manuel de la vie sauvage.
Writers
Anne Émond, Nelly Arcan
Cast
Mylène Mackay, Marie-Claude Guérin, Simon Alain
Producer
Nicole Robert
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
French
Alias Grace
Adapted from Margaret Atwood’s Giller prize-winning novel of the same name, this miniseries has received universal acclaim, earning 5 Canadian Screen Awards including best limited series.
Director
Mary Harron
Harron is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter, and former entertainment critic. She gained recognition for her role in writing and directing several independent films, including writing I Shot Andy Warhol, and co-writing as well as directing American Psycho. Her most recent film, Daliland starring Sir Ben Kingsley, premiered at TIFF 2022.
Writer
Sarah Polley
Cast
Edward Holcroft, Rebeccah Liddiard, Sarah Gadon
Producers
Sarah Polley, D.J. Carson
Genre
Drama
Interests
Biography, Female Filmmaker, History, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Je m’appelle humain (Call Me Human)
After spending most of her life working as an Innu language translator and transcriber, Joséphine Bacon rose to fame late in life in her second career as an award-winning poet. This moving profile frames her life and work in a new context, offering a deeply personal look at an important literary figure in Canada.
Je m'appele humain premiered at the Quebec City Film Festival to great acclaim, and went on to receive four Prix Iris nominations, including Best Documentary.
Director
Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki)
Writers
Kim O'Bomsawin (Abenaki), Nathalie Gressin
Cast
Joséphine Bacon (Innu)
Producer
Andrée-Anne Frenette
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
French, Other Language