Returning with this second instalment of my personal picks of films to see at this year’s TIFF.

This time, I give you a list of five excellent Canadian short films screening as part of various Short Cuts Programmes.

Meteor
Dir. Atefeh Khademolreza
Combining a stunning visual aesthetic and acutely personal reflections, this short film is an expression of grief and defiance in the face of the repression suffered by women and the LGBTQ2S+ community in Iran.

Playing as part of Short Cuts 2023 Programme 01.

Redlights
Dir. Eva Thomas
Powerful performances by Kaniehtiio Horn and Ellyn Jade add further levels of tension and texture to this short drama about two Indigenous women whose evening outing takes a dangerous direction.

Playing as part of Short Cuts 2023 Programme 02.

Bloom
Dir. Kasey Lum
Driven by a bravura performance by Jodi Balfour, this stark drama about heartbreak doubles as a provocative rumination about the interconnectedness of humans and nature.

Playing as part of Short Cuts 2023 Programme 02.

Aphasia
Dir. Marielle Dalpé
Using a powerful and evocative visual aesthetic and cunning sound design that foregrounds the voice performance by the great Clare Coulter, the film is a bracingly expressionistic and emotionally devastating portrayal of neurocognitive decline.

Playing as part of Short Cuts 2023 Programme 05.

Modern Goose
Dir. Karsten Wall
By inviting viewers to take a closer look at the birds that serve as one of this country’s hardiest symbols, this short documentary invites a deeper consideration of the conditions we humans have created for them.

Playing as part of Short Cuts 2023 Programme 06.

For up-to-date TIFF listings, schedule and tickets, please visit tiff.net.