Ste. Anne won the major 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) prize as the Best Canadian Feature Film. Scarborough is the true winner of the TIFF 2021: finishing first runner-up for the People's Choice Award, winning the Shawn Mendes Foundation Changemaker Award, and getting honourable mention for Best Canadian Feature Film.
For the second year in a row, TIFF is not awarding the Best Canadian First Feature Film. The Twentieth Century from Matthew Rankin is the last film to win that award all the way back in 2019.
Announcing the recipient of the #TIFF21 Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film, presented by @canadagoose: Rhayne Vermette’s STE. ANNE pic.twitter.com/jrSnaIF4wu
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 19, 2021
Ste. Anne is a feature debut from Manitoban filmmaker and artist Rhayne Vermette, who wrote, directed, and acted in the film. Vermette plays a mother who returns home to be with her daughter, who is being raised by her uncle and his wife. The film is a "deeply mysterious and alluring examination of home by way of places and people."
The trailer is the opening shot of the film with no words and a woman, presumably the mother walking through a field. Definitely no spoilers.
Announcing the recipient of the #TIFF21 Shawn Mendes Foundation (@shawnfoundation) Changemaker Award, selected by the #TIFFNextWave Committee: @ShashaNakhai and Rich Williamson’s SCARBOROUGH pic.twitter.com/QOitMgSgE2
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 19, 2021
Scarborough is the story of 3 families struggling to survive in the Toronto area suburb. The film is based on the Canadian novel by Catherine Hernandez, who also wrote the screenplay. Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson make their feature debut in a film that "follows three interwoven families fighting an uphill struggle against debt, addiction, and job insecurity."
#TIFFTribute Emerging Talent Award, presented by @LOrealParisCAN and supported by @mgmstudios, recipient @DanisGoulet sends love and support to Indigenous communities across Canada and honours Indigenous youth in her acceptance speech. #TIFF21 pic.twitter.com/Svk5qoK8Vl
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 18, 2021
Danis Goulet is in good company with her feature debut with Tracey Deer (Beans) winning this award in 2020. Night Raiders is about a dystopian world where children are taken from their homes at the age of 5 and brainwashed in state schools. Niska (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) is a Cree woman who is part of a resistance movement to save her daughter. Yes, you are supposed to transfer this world to what really happened in residential schools against Indigenous people in Canada.
Zacharias Kunuk's Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice won the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Film. Kunuk is best known for Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner.
TIFF has its reasons for not selecting a Best Canadian First Feature Film. Yet 3 successful Canadian film winners were feature debuts. We understood last year why the award wasn't given but there seemed to be enough films to qualify in 2021.
2021 TIFF preview
Belfast from writer/director Kenneth Branagh won the 2021 TIFF People's Choice Award. Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog finished as the second runner-up.
The 3 films, along with Scarborough, were celebrated as part of the TIFF awards TV show aired on CTV in Canada and streamed through Variety outside Canada.
Denis Villeneuve won the TIFF Ebert Director Award for Dune. The French-Canadian director has drifted away from Canadian films for some time. The tribute package did cover Polytechnique and Incendies from his Canadian film days but the TIFF tribute ignores everything Villeneuve did before those films.
Rebecca Ferguson, who is in Dune, introduced Villeneuve before he received the award. Ferguson talked about how Villeneuve cares about you whether you are a big fish or a tiny minnow. Your humble narrator had a flashback to Maelström, which did feature a fish as a narrator.
We realize that Maelström and August 32nd on Earth doesn't fit where Villeneuve is from an "American" standpoint. Same for Jean-Marc Vallée, where his classic films C.R.A.Z.Y. and Café de Flore are invisible south of the 49th parallel.
2021 TIFF Rising Stars
2021 TIFF Canadian film preview
Since Canadian film gets so little publicity, we wanted to call attention to the publicity:
Entertainment reporter Teri Hart, who often is on the Q screen panel, had high praise for Canadian films All My Puny Sorrows ("love, love, love") and Scarborough. Hart joined film critic Radheyan Simonpillai on the Q screen panel to talk TIFF 2021. Simonpillai talked about how a reduced focus on the glamour (due to the pandemic) draws more attention to independent type films such as Night Raiders.
Danis Goulet of Night Raiders talked with Matt Galloway from The Current. You really need to hear the emotion in her voice as she talks about the difficulties in telling these stories.
Bretten Hannam (Wildhood) is a Mi'kmaw filmmaker whose work calls attention to two-spirit and LGBTQ+ identity. Hannam was on Q. The film is set to open the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax.
Catherine Hernandez (Scarborough) was on Q with Tom Power. Hernandez talks about how Scarborough is considered an afterthought yet she considers her creative work as a "love letter to this community that is resilient, hardworking — that refuses to back down despite being an afterthought to the powers that be."
When TIFF concentrated on Canadian films for the opening night film
There wasn't as much pageantry about the impact of TIFF on downtown Toronto. We wanted to show a few perspectives that deserved a bit more attention.
Jenna Cato Bass—director of #TIFF21 platform pick MLUNGU WAM (GOOD MADAM)—shouts out Toronto indie bookstore @BakkaPhoenix ✨
— Nataleah (@_Nataleah) September 17, 2021
What do you love most about TIFF and Toronto? We ask three festival attendees - https://t.co/8mTRNph3nY https://t.co/HtKBjGhLVN
Heather Hatch discusses the communities in her documentary WOCHIIGII LO: END OF THE PEACE, and why she wanted to bring attention to them:
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 15, 2021
“I think what you are seeing is a fight for life.” #TIFF21 #ShareHerJourney pic.twitter.com/on0MQS8yo7
QUICKENING director Haya Waseem on working within the Canadian film industry:
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2021
“[In] Canada, this should be where all stories are celebrated and really embraced and I think it’s only just beginning to be that way.” #TIFF21 pic.twitter.com/xaSfAwsQf2
🔴 LIVE | CELEBRATING ALANIS OBOMSAWIN Q&A #TIFF21https://t.co/zhtAMhWQJ5
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 14, 2021
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
TIFF Rising Stars
We profiled the 2021 class of TIFF Rising Stars. Here is the list from all the years.
2011 Sarah Allen, Katie Boland, Sarah Gadon, Keon Mohajeri
2012 Tatiana Maslany, Connor Jessup, Charlotte Sullivan, Charlie Carrick
2013 Megan Park, Johnathan Sousa, Evelyne Brochu, Cara Gee
2014 Shannon Kook, Sophie Desmarais, Alexandre Landry, Julia Sarah Stone
2015 Deragh Campbell, Stephan James, Aliocha Schneider, Karelle Tremblay
2016 Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay, Sophie Nélisse
2017 Daniel Doheny, Mary Galloway, Théodore Pellerin, Ellen Wong
2018 Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson, Michaela Kurimsky, Jess Salgueiro
2019 Kacey Rohl, Mikhail Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, Shamier Anderson
2020 Madeleine Sims-Fewer
2021 Arooj Azeem, Emma Ferreira, Phillip Lewitski, Thomas Antony Olajide
Best Canadian Feature Film
I have added When Jews Were Funny to the films I've seen from this list. Since 2009, the ones I haven't seen were 2016, 2020, and 2021. We may never see the 2020 winner.
Year | Film | Director | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Ste. Anne | Rhayne Vermette | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | Inconvenient Indian | Michelle Latimer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | Antigone | Sophie Deraspe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | The Fireflies Are Gone | Sebastien Pilote | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | Les Affamés | Robin Aubert | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves |
Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Closet Monster | Stephen Dunn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Felix and Meira | Maxime Giroux | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | When Jews Were Funny | Alan Zweig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | Laurence Anyways | Xavier Dolan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | Monsieur Lazhar | Philippe Falardeau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | Incendies | Denis Villeneuve | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | Cairo Time | Ruba Nadda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | Lost Song | Rodrigue Jean | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | My Winnipeg | Guy Maddin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | Manufactured Landscapes | Jennifer Baichwal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | C.R.A.Z.Y. | Jean-Marc Vallée | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004 | It's All Gone Pete Tong | Michael Dowse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | Les Invasions Barbares | Denys Arcand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | Spider | David Cronenberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2001 | Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) | Zacharias Kunuk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 | Waydowntown | Gary Burns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | The Five Senses | Jeremy Podeswa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998 | Nô | Robert Lepage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997 | The Sweet Hereafter | Atom Egoyan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Hanging Garden | Thom Fitzgerald | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1996 | Long's Day Journey Into The Night | David Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1995 | Live Bait | Bruce Sweeney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1994 | Exotica | Atom Egoyan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1993 | Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance | Alanis Obomsawin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1992 | Requiem Pour Un Beau Sans-Coeur | Robert Morin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1991 | The Adjuster | Atom Egoyan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1990 | H | Darrell Wasyk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1989 | Roadkill | Bruce McDonald | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1988 | The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick | Allan Goldstein | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1987 | Family Viewing | Atom Egoyan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1986 | Le Déclin De L'empire Américain | Denys Arcand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1985 | Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga Of Hal C. Banks | Donald Brittain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1984 | La Femme De L'hôtel | Léa Pool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best Canadian Feature Film (1991-present); Excellence in Canadian Production (1984-1990). |
Best Canadian First Feature Film
Would love to find Love, Sex and Eating The Bones. Films are much harder to find in this category. My current streak goes back to 2014.
Year | Film | Director | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | no award given | no award given | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | no award given | no award given | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | The Twentieth Century | Matthew Rankin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | Roads in February | Katherine Jerkovic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | Luk' Luk'l | Wayne Wapeemukwa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Old Stone | Johnny Ma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Sleeping Giant | Andrew Cividino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Bang Bang Baby | Jeffrey St. Jules | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Asphalt Watches | Shayne Ehman, Seth Scriver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | Antiviral | Brandon Cronenberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blackbird | Jason Buxton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | Edwin Boyd | Nathan Morlando | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | The High Cost of Living | Deborah Chow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | The Wild Hunt | Alexandre Franchi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | Before Tomorrow | Marie-Hélène Cousineau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Madeline Piujuq Ivalu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | Un Film Sans Fusil Continental | Stéphane Lafleur | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | Sur La Trace D'igor Rizzi | Nöel Mitrani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | The Life And Hard Times Of Guy Terrifico | Louise Archambault, Michael Mabbott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004 | La Peau Blanche | Daniel Roby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | Love, Sex and Eating The Bones | Sudz Sutherland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | Marion Bridge | Wiebke Von Carolsfeld | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2001 | Inertia | Sean Garrity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 | La Moitié Gauche Du Frigo | Philippe Falardeau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | Just Watch Me: | Catherine Annau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trudeau and The 70's Generation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998 | Last Night | Don McKellar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997 | Cube | Vincenzo Natali | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
As determined by the Toronto International Film Festival. |
photo credit: @TIFF_NET; TIFF
Twitter captures: all @TIFF_NET except for @_Nataleah
video credit: TIFF
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