Two Canadian features added to TIFF Discovery progamme

Karen Chapman's Village Keeper and Marie-Hélène Viens and Philippe Lupien's You Are Not Alone are world premiering.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the full lineup for its 49th edition across all programs.

Among the 20 additional films announced on Tuesday (Aug. 13) are two Canadian features that are world premiering as part of TIFF’s Discovery programme.

Toronto-filmmaker Karen Chapman’s debut feature Village Keeper (Smallaxx Motion Pictures) follows a grief-stricken single mother who tries to shield her children from violence that arrives at her doorstep.

The feature is based on Chapman’s award-winning short film Measure which premiered at TIFF in 2020.

Christina Piovesan (French Exit), Floyd Kane (Orah), Taj Critchlow (Utopia Falls), Susana Ferreira (Hip Hop Evolution), Molly McGlynn (Bloody Hell), Jordan Oram (Spiral), Lora Campbell (Two Penny Road Kill), and d’bi.young antiafrika are executive producing the film.

LevelFILM is handling Canadian distribution and the CBC is a broadcasting partner.

The second newly announced Canadian feature is the French-language You Are Not Alone (pictured) from filmmaking duo Marie-Hélène Viens and Philippe Lupien. The story follows a pizza delivery guy who finds his blossoming romance jeopardized by a mysterious taxi driver.

The film is produced by Fanny-Laure Malo under her La Boîte à Fanny shingle. The film is distributed by Maison 4:3.

TIFF runs from Sept. 5 to 15.

Image courtesy of Maison 4:3