Canadian Film Fest, an indie-spirited festival dedicated to celebrating Canadian filmmakers and a local favourite, is making its overdue return to in-person screenings, along with a virtual component available throughout Canada, later this month.
The festival will open with the Toronto premiere of the Québec-made comedy, Babysitter from director Monia Chokri. Adapted by Canadian playwright and screenwriter Catherine Léger’s play of the same name, and starring Patrick Hivon, Monia Chokri, Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Steve Laplante, the film explores what happens to a man after a sexist joke goes viral, and the therapeutic journey he embarks on to free himself from sexism and misogyny.
Opening night will also include the World Premiere of Streams Flow From a River as an exclusive Super Channel presentation. This six-episode short digital series directed by Christopher Yip is a character-driven drama about the struggles immigrant families face while trying to make a home.
The festival will close with Wintertide from writer/director John Barnard. The film stars Niamh Carolan as a volunteer watchperson of an isolated northern city who battles a plague of depression that transforms the few remaining residents into empty, zombie-like automatons.
Canadian Film Fest includes an incredible line up of nine feature films and 25 short films this year. To learn more about the festival’s lineup as well as the Industry Series, I spoke with Festival Director, Ashleigh Rains. She provides great insight into the programming efforts to put the festival together, as well as the exciting return to in-person screenings.
Canadian Film Fest Presented by Super Channel will showcase all films along and the digital series running concurrently for audiences to enjoy in-person at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre and virtually on Super Channel Fuse from March 28 to April 1, 2023. For more festival information including tickets and screening times, please visit canfilmfest.ca.
