CBC/Radio-Canada highlights its ongoing commitment to Canadian creators and filmmakers with the following nine titles selected to participate at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2021), including one Gala Presentation and two Special Presentations. In addition to investing in series and films that reflect a range of perspectives at the heart of the Canadian experience, CBC/Radio-Canada showcases homegrown cinema to audiences across Canada on the public broadcaster’s television and streaming platforms.
“CBC/Radio-Canada is committed to sharing a remarkable range of voices and perspectives with audiences in Canada and around the world through our ongoing, significant investment in Canadian film and television,” said Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. “Congratulations to all Canadian creators showcasing their stories at TIFF 2021.”
ALL MY PUNY SORROWS (Special Presentation, World Premiere), written by Michael McGowan (screenplay) as well as Miriam Toews (novel), directed by Michael McGowan, and distributed by Mongrel Media – produced in association with CBC Films
Michael McGowan’s touching adaptation of Miriam Toews’ beloved novel about two sisters boasts a fine cast led by Alison Pill and Sarah Gadon.
CARMEN (TIFF Industry Selects), written and directed by Valerie Buhagiar – developed and produced in association with CBC Films
CARMEN is a charming story, inspired by true events, set in a village in Malta. Carmen has looked after her brother, the priest at the local church, ever since she was sixteen years old. Now almost fifty, Carmen is suddenly left to start a new life. Facing her past, Carmen brings colour to the lives of the villagers in this compelling story about a woman finding her voice.
CHARLOTTE (Special Presentation, World Premiere), written by Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis, directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, and distributed by Elevation Pictures and MK2 Mile End – produced in association with CBC Films
The remarkable true story of Charlotte Salomon, a German Jewish artist defying incredible odds to create a masterpiece during World War II.
DRUNKEN BIRDS/LES OISEAUX IVRES (Platform Programme, World Premiere), written by Ivan Grbovic and Sara Mishara, directed by Ivan Grbovic, and distributed by Les Films Opale – produced in association with Radio-Canada
A drug-cartel worker runs afoul of his boss and migrates to Canada, in Ivan Grbovic’s timely tale of star-crossed love and starting over.
LEARN TO SWIM (Discovery Programme, World Premiere), written by Marni Van Dyk and Thyrone Tommy, directed by Thyrone Tommy, and distributed by Mongrel Media – produced in association with CBC Films
The feature debut from Toronto’s Thyrone Tommy (MARINER, TIFF ’16) charts the stormy romance between two very different contemporary jazz musicians.
MARIA CHAPDELAINE (Contemporary World Cinema), written and directed by Sébastien Pilote, distributed by MK2 Mile End – produced with the financial assistance of Radio-Canada
A teen in rural Quebec must decide her future by choosing one of three suitors, in Sébastien Pilote’s moving adaptation of Louis Hémon’s 1913 novel.
NIGHT RAIDERS (Gala Presentation, North American Premiere), written and directed by Danis Goulet, distributed by Elevation Pictures – developed and produced in association with CBC Films
Danis Goulet’s singular thriller draws on Canada’s ugly colonial legacy for a propulsive piece of genre cinema set in a dystopian postwar future.
WILDHOOD (Discovery Programme – TIFF Next Wave, World Premiere), written and directed by Bretten Hannam – developed and produced in association with CBC Films
Link and his brother flee their abusive father and embark on a journey where Link discovers his sexuality and rediscovers his Mi’kmaw heritage. WILDHOOD will also be the Opening Night film at the 2021 FIN Atlantic International Film Festival.
SORT OF (Primetime Programme, North American Premiere), created by Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, and directed by Fab Filippo and Renuka Jeyapalan – CBC original series, premiering on CBC Gem October 5; November 9 on CBC TV with back-to-back episodes starting at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)
A refreshing comedy about a young gender-fluid caregiver, whose life plans are disrupted when tragedy strikes the family they help to maintain.
CBC Films funding supports the production of feature films led by female, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous and diverse filmmakers that reflect, represent, and reframe a range of perspectives through character-driven stories that are at the centre of the Canadian experience. With new Canadian films added to the CBC Gem streaming library each month, CBC strives to create an unparalleled destination for Canadians to discover homegrown film.
Radio-Canada is also a leading partner in the Canadian film production industry. In 2019–20 and 2020–21, it supported no fewer than 44 French-language feature film projects. In addition, Radio-Canada invests in more than 20 cinematographic events across the country, including its live broadcast of the Gala Québec Cinéma and special pre-gala programming. Radio-Canada also features one Canadian film every week on three platforms – ICI TÉLÉ, ICI ARTV and ICI TOU.TV EXTRA.