From box office to festival circuit or streamed from the comfort of home, here’s your roundup of some of 2021’s Canadian cinematic successes!
Ivan Grbovic’s Drunken Birds (Les oiseaux ivres)
Not only is it Canada’s official Academy Awards submission for Best International Feature Film, but Drunken Birds (Les oiseaux ivres) earned rave reviews from international press such as Variety; and, following its Canadian theatrical release, will hit U.S. cinemas thanks to a distribution deal inked with Corinth Films! The film follows a young Mexican drug gang member whose search for an old lover takes him to a Quebec farm, and the stories of characters who cross his path.
Philippe Grégoire The Noise of Engines (Le bruit des moteurs)
After premiering at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Philippe Grégoire’s full-length debut went on to wow the festival circuit, from the Warsaw Film Festival to the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival in the U.K.. and more! The feature scored top honours at Los Cabos International Film Festival, and snagged the coveted Québécor Prize at Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma. When explicit drawings surface in his Quebec town, an instructor suspended from the Canada customs college is investigated, and he develops a friendship with an Icelandic racecar driver.
Martin Edralin’s Islands
This Telefilm Talent to Watch-supported project tells the story of Joshua, an introverted Filipino immigrant scared of isolation and loneliness as his elderly parents, with whom he lives, are in poor health. After premiering at SXSW, Martin Edralin’s debut feature took home a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance in Narrative Feature (to Rogelio Balagtas, who plays Joshua), and the RBC Emerging Canadian Artist Award at the Calgary International Film Festival!
Jennifer Holness’s Subjects of Desire
Subjects of Desire premiered at SXSW, and made waves at the Raindance Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, and Hot Docs (to name a few), where it earned a Top 10 Audience Favourite award. Featuring India Arie and Jully Black, and in the context of the Miss Black America pageant, this documentary feature “examines the cultural shift in North American beauty standards towards embracing Black aesthetics and features,” explains its official synopsis.
Trevor Mack’s Portraits from a Fire
This Tŝilhqot’in (Chilcotin) nation filmmaker shot this feature debut on the Tl’etinqox reserve, where the director grew up, in northern B.C. The film tells the story of a teenage filmmaker who discovers a family secret and must confront truth and healing. After premiering at the Vancouver International Film Festival, where Trevor Mack earned the BC Emerging Filmmaker Award, Portraits from a Fire won Best Canadian Feature at the Edmonton International Film Festival, and Best Director at the American Indian Film Festival, with a supporting actor prize for Asivak Koostachin.
Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s Archipelago (Archipel)
Invented islands is the theme of this poetic animated feature by the filmmaker behind 2018’s animated Ville Neuve, where real and dreamed countries and politics overlap. Archipelago made its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; won the Contrechamp Jury Distinction at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival; and was selected for the prestigious closing film slot at Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma.
Sophie Dupuis’s Underground (Souterrain)
After an explosion in the gold mine where he works, a young man heads underground on a rescue mission. Slated to hit silver screens in France in early 2022 following its U.K. release this past summer, Underground is available to stream at home with video on demand. The drama took home honours for best screenplay, sound, cinematography, and supporting actor at the Gala Québec Cinéma, and Best Achievement at the Whistler Film Festival. At the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, it snagged the Best Cinematography prize, plus a special Best Performance mention for actor Théodore Pellerin!
Bretten Hannam’s Wildhood
After the film’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Two-Spirit L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam won Best Atlantic Feature and Best Atlantic Screenplay at the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, where Wildhood had an Opening Night Gala. This inspiring feature follows Link, a teen who runs away with his brother to find his Mi’kmaq mother and reconnect with their culture, identity, and land, accompanied by a pow wow dancer.
Sébastien Pilote’s Maria Chapdelaine
Following its premiere at TIFF, this historical drama has been named to TIFF Canada’s coveted Top Ten. and swiftly became a Quebec theatrical hit! (It’s based on the book of the same name.) Set in the 1910 countryside near Lac St-Jean, a young lady must choose between three gentlemen seeking her hand in marriage.
Ricardo Trogi’s The Guide to the Perfect Family (Le guide de la famille parfaite)
Overparenting is the name of the game in this popular Quebecois comedy, which covers the dynamics of the Dubois family. Not only did the film garner more than $2 million at the box office, but the films’ international rights were acquired by Netflix. The Guide to the Perfect Family is currently available on the platform in more that 190 territories. Have you caught it on your recommended list?
Rhayne Vermette’s Ste. Anne
Now streaming in the U.S. as recommended by The New York Times, Ste. Anne dazzled the Berlinale and TIFF, where it won the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film. Written and directed by Rhayne Vermette (Métis, born in Manitoba) who also acts in the film, this experimental narrative feature debut was filmed on 16 mm. Blurring memory and place, the story is centered on the return of a woman to her family, daughter, and Métis Nation after several years missing.
And looking ahead to 2022, here’s your quick preview of upcoming Canadian films and coproductions:
- Ken Scott’s Goodbye Happiness (Au revoir le bonheur) (Comedy)
- Theodore Ty and Laurent Zeitoun’s Fireheart (Vaillante) (Canada-France, Animation)
- Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool (Canada-Hungary, Horror)
- Denis Côté’s Un été comme ça (Drama)
- Monia Chokri’s Babysitter (Canada-France, Comedy)
- Chase Joynt’s Framing Agnes (Documentary)
- Agam Darshi’s Donkeyhead (Comedy)
- Maxime Giroux’s Norbourg (Drama)
