TIFF celebrates Canada’s Top Ten Films of 2024

Audiences can watch these selections February 5–9 at TIFF LightboxInaugural Charles Officer Legacy Award to be presented February 5

TORONTO, January 8, 2025 – TIFF today announced Canada’s Top Ten, the nation’s top 10 feature films and top 10 shorts of 2024, honouring the best in Canadian cinema. The 24th Canada’s Top Ten showcase, presented by MUBI, runs February 5–9 at the Lightbox and is curated by TIFF programmers in consultation with festival programmers from across Canada.

This year’s features selection includes the directorial debuts of R.T. Thorne (2016 Filmmaker Lab, 2018 Writers’ Studio) with 40 Acres, and Kaniehtiio Horn (2023 Every Story Accelerator participant) with Seeds. The spotlight also includes established filmmakers and past honourees: David Cronenberg, Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, and Michael Mabbott; with second showings from Ann Marie Fleming, Kazik Radwanski (2009 Filmmaker Lab, 2017 Pitch This, 2018 Writers’ Studio), Sophie Deraspe, and Matthew Rankin (2007 Filmmaker Lab); plus first showings for Sook-Yin Lee (2005 Filmmaker Lab, 2019 Pitch This) with Paying For It, and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, co-director of Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.

“This year’s Canada’s Top Ten celebrates the very best of Canadian cinema, showcasing the bold artistry of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers and the fresh perspectives of emerging voices,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “The selection reflects Canada’s eclectic cultural landscape and a renaissance in risk-taking cinema. We are also honoured to present the inaugural Charles Officer Legacy Award, which recognizes a filmmaker whose impact continues to resonate profoundly with TIFF and the broader Canadian film community.”

Representing a diverse range of new voices in fiction and documentary, the 24th annual showcase of Canadian films celebrates some of our most storied and award-winning filmmakers. These selections offer audiences a variety of perspectives, insights, and experiences from coast to coast to coast. This year’s Canada’s Top Ten Features and Shorts are:

Canada’s Top Ten Official Selections 2024

Canada’s Top Ten 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 | English, French, Swedish, and German
• 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

Canada’s Top Ten 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 | Dari/Farsi and English
• perfectly a strangeness | dir. Alison McAlpine | 15 minutes | No dialogue
• Who Loves the Sun | dir. Arshia Shakiba | 20 minutes | Arabic

A selection of Canada’s Top Ten films will also be featured in TIFF’s popular Film Circuit programme. Film Circuit provides access to 100+ Circuit locations in rural, remote, and under-served communities that otherwise would not have an opportunity to see these films, extending their theatrical life beyond their initial release. 

Canada’s Top Ten selections were determined by TIFF’s Canadian programmers and the Senior Programming team, taking into consideration the recommendations of consultant programmers across the country including:

Feature Films
Safia Abdigir, Program Director, Reelworld Film Festival
Pahull Bains, Communications Director, Reelworld Film Festival
Vincent Brulotte, Artistic Director, Edmonton International Film Festival
Vincent Georgie, Executive Director & Chief Programmer, Windsor International Film Festival
Lisa Haller, Director of Programming, Atlantic International Film Festival
Brenda Lieberman, Lead Programmer & Jury Coordinator, Calgary International Film Festival
Zoé Protat, Director of Programming, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma du Montréal
Emily Reid, Artistic and Executive Director, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show
Aram Sui Wai Collier, Artistic Director, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
Eric Tisch, Manager, Programming & National Canadian Film Day, Reel Canada

Short Films 
Mélissa Bouchard, Programming Director, REGARD: Le Festival international du court métrage au Saguenay    
Lisa Haller, Director of Programming, Atlantic International Film Festival
Adam Keresztes, Programmer (Shorts, Generation), Calgary International Film Festival
Kelly Lui, Shorts Programmer, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
Sydney Moule, Executive Director, Edmonton International Film Festival    
Émilie Poirier, Head of Short Films, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma du Montréal
Casey Wei, Short Forum Programmer, Vancouver International Film Festival

TIFF Members have early access to tickets starting January 15 at 10am, and public tickets go on sale on January 17 at 10am.

Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum returns with a panel featuring a leading director, producer, distributor, community builder to join a moderated onstage discussion on the future of Canadian cinema. “Perspectives on the Future of the Canadian Film Industry” will take place on February 5, from 4pm–6pm. The discussion will challenge panelists to think differently about our next 50 years, as they will share their vision and role in defining the future of the screen sector in Canada.

This year, TIFF marks a historic milestone with the 50th edition of the Festival. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for an announcement about special events, retrospectives, and new initiatives planned to honour five decades of cinematic excellence, cultural impact, and unforgettable stories.

For additional programming information and screening details, visit tiff.net.

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