The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has presented its annual Canada’s Top Ten list for 2024 with films from emerging and established homegrown directors.

The selections were determined by TIFF’s Canadian programmers in conjunction with the senior programming team and recommendations from consultant programmers across Canada. The selected films will be shown at the TIFF Lightbox theatre for the 24th annual showcase from Feb. 5 to 9.

Two debut features were selected for this year’s list: R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres (Hungry Eyes Media; pictured) and Kaniehtiio Horn’s Seeds (Carpe Dee Yum Productions). Co-director Lucah Rosenberg-Lee also makes his feature debut alongside veteran director Michael Mabbott for their documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (Banger Films, NFB).

Sook-Yin Lee marks her first appearance on the list as well with Paying For It (Wildling Pictures, Hawkeye Pictures), her adaptation of Chester Brown’s 2011 graphic novel of the same name. Matthew Rankin marks his second appearance on the features list with his surrealist comedy Universal Language (Metafilms) along with Kazik Radwanski for his drama Matt and Mara (MDFF Films) and Sophie Deraspe for her France/Canada coproduction Shepherds (micro_scope, Avenue B Productions).

Guy Maddin makes his seventh appearance on the features list with the comedy-horror Rumours (Buffalo Gal Pictures, Maze Pictures, Square Peg Films). The film marks the first and second appearance on the features list for co-directors Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson, respectively.

Rounding out the list is David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds (Prospero Pictures, SBS International, Saint Laurent Productions). The body horror and sci-fi France/Canada coproduction represents Cronenberg’s eighth inclusion.

The shorts list includes Bec Pecaut’s Are You Scared to Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?; Phillip Barker’s EarthWorm; Amanda Strong’s Inkwo for When the Starving Return; Connor Jessup’s Julian and the Wind; and Torill Kove’s Maybe Elephants.

Pier-Philippe Chevigny’s Mercenaire; Alicia K. Harris’ On a Sunday at Eleven; Alexander Farah’s One Day This Kid; Alison McAlpine’s perfectly a strangeness; and Arshia Shakiba’s Who Loves the Sun round out the shorts top ten.

The Top Ten opening ceremony will include the presentation of the inaugural Charles Officer Legacy Award, which recognizes a Black Canadian director and/or writer whose work “exemplifies the creative excellence, strong point of view and community-mindedness” of Officer. The film and TV director and co-founder of the Black Screen Office died in 2023.

“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 TIFF’s chief programming officer, Anita Lee in a statement. “The selection reflects Canada’s eclectic cultural landscape and a renaissance in risk-taking cinema.”

Image courtesy of TIFF