The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has added a number of Canadian world premieres to its lineup as part of the 2023 Discovery programme, which features debut or sophomore films from up-and-coming talents.

Among them is D.W. Waterson’s Backspot (pictured), the queer cheer drama starring Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, who is also a producer alongside Waterson, Prospero Pictures’ Martin Katz and Alona Metzer. Waterson directed the film and created the story, with the script penned by Joanne Sarazen.

Halifax-born actor Elliot Page is among the executive producers of the feature. UTA represents U.S. and international sales, and levelFILM is the Canadian distributor. Crave holds first window streaming rights, with an additional window held by CBC and CBC Gem.

Backspot is one of three Canadian titles in the Discovery programme identified as 2SLGBTQ+. The other titles are Fawzia Mirza’s English and Urdu film The Queen of My Dreams and M. H. Murray’s I Don’t Know Who You Are.

The Queen of My Dreams follows critical moments in the lives of a mother and daughter. It is written and directed by Mirza, and produced by Andria Wilson Mirza, Jason Levangie and Marc Tetreault, with Damon D’Oliviera attached as an executive producer.

I Don’t Know Who You Are comes from writer-director M. H. Murray and writer and star Mark Clennon, and follows a Toronto musician who tries to find HIV-preventive treatment following a sexual assault. It is produced by Martine Brouillet and Victoria Long.

Also premiering is the Inuktitut-language Tautuktavuk (What We See), from filmmakers Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk. The feature is an “evocative, drawn-from-life tale” about two sisters coping with the impact of the pandemic. It is produced by Tulugarjuk and Jonathan Frantz of Kingulliit Productions, with Isuma Distribution International handling Canadian distribution and sales outside of Canada. Uvagut TV is the non-exclusive Canadian broadcaster.

Rounding out the Canadian titles is Meredith Hama-Brown’s West Coast drama Seagrass, about a biracial family working through their issues at a couples retreat. The film is directed by Hama-Brown and produced by Sara Blake and Tyler Hagan.

Among the world premieres in the Discovery programme is the section’s opening film Gonzo Girl, directed by U.S. actor Patricia Arquette. The full lineup includes 26 films, with 13 directed by female filmmakers, according to TIFF.

TIFF has also announced the lineup for its Midnight Madness programme, which includes the U.S.-Canada horror-comedy Hell of a Summer, marking the feature directorial debut of Vancouver actor Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things).

The film is co-directed and co-written by Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, with the two also starring in the feature and producing. Other producers include Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan, Jay Van Hoy and Fred Hechinger. Altitude Films is handling international sales.

The Midnight Madness programme will open with Larry Charles’ Dicks: The Musical and close with Weston Razooli’s neo-fairy tale Riddle of Fire. There are 10 selections for the programme overall.

TIFF announced earlier this week that the Canadian drama The King Tide will world premiere in the Platform competition, with its special presentations, galas and documentary films announced in July.

The Toronto festival will run from Sept. 7 to 17.

Image courtesy of TIFF