The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is upon us. This year’s lineup of Canadian films includes familiar faces and some first-time directors.

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with Kelly Boutsalis, the Associate Programmer, International, Canadian Features at the Toronto International Film Festival and Norm Wilner, Senior International Programmer (Canada) and Industry Selects Lead, formerly a Toronto film critic.

Kelly and Norm talk about their respective work as TIFF Programmers, some trends seen in Canadian film submissions, as well as, some of their picks of films that we should be adding to our TIFF lists. Below, I share highlights of the films discussed during our conversation.

Kelly Boutsalis’ Highlights

Aberdeen | Dirs. Ryan Cooper, Eva Thomas
World Premiere

40 Acres | Dir. R.T. Thorne
World Premiere

So Surreal: Behind the Masks | Dirs. Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson
World Premiere

Sweet Angel Baby | Dir. Melanie Oates
World Premiere

Young Werther | Dir. José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço
World Premiere

Norm Wilner’s Highlights

Do I Know You From Somewhere? | Dir. Arianna Martinez
World Premiere

Really Happy Someday | Dir. J Stevens
World Premiere

Seeds | Dir. Kaniehtiio Horn
World Premiere

Shepherds | Dir. Sophie Deraspe
World Premiere

You Are Not Alone (Vous n’êtes pas seuls) | Dir. Marie-Hélène Viens, Philippe Lupien
World Premiere

Tickets for TIFF ’24 are currently on sale. The full festival program list and schedule are available at tiff.net.