Canadian films to take the spotlight during 2023 Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival might have fewer Hollywood stars on the carpet this year as the actor and writers strikes continue. But during a pre-festival event on Thursday announcing this year's Canadian films, homegrown talent were front and centre an exciting prospect for the festival organizers, programmers and talent.

"The great news is that Canadian films and filmmakers always have a prominent place at our festival. But I think this year they'll be even more prominent," TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said during an interview with CBC News.

"They'll emerge more to a wider range of people who are seeking out something new."

Baileypointed to Canadian actors such as Theodore Pellerinin Sophie Dupuis'sSolo, who "gives one of the best performances I've seen all year in this great story, love story set in the drag community in Montreal."

"Canadian talent is strong enough that they can attract actors and artisans from all over the world," he said.

Bailey noted that American actor Amanda Seyfriedreunited with Canadian director Atom Egoyan for the filmSeven Veils, a psychological drama about a young theatre director.

There will be 50 Canadian titles at this year's festival, including 21 features, 20 shorts, sixdocumentaries and three television series, said chiefprogramming officerAnita Lee during a presentation focusing on Canadian contributionson Thursday. The full festival schedule was released earlier in the week.

During an interview, Lee acknowledged that it's been an unusual year leading up to the festival because of the strikes.

"At the same time, I think as related to Canadian cinema, we're really, really excited. It's an incredibly strong area," she said. "We have 50 films in series in the festival this year fromvery celebrated veteran directors from Atom Egoyan, Deepa Mehta to really, really unknown discoveries that we'll be presenting this year."

TIFF's galas and special presentations include Solo and Seven Veils; ballet docSwan Song by Chelsea McMullan; rock docHate To Love: Nickelback by Leigh Brooks; Elliot Page-led dramaClose To You by Dominic Savage; coming-of-age taleRu by Charles-Olivier Michaud; and orchestra dramaDays of Happiness by Chlo Robichaud.

TIFF will take place from Sept. 7 to 17in Toronto. The typically celebrity-heavyfestival is facing an unusual year as the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America are on strike,potentially impacting the number of high-profile guests in attendance.The strikes forbid actors and writers from doing any promotional work.

However, directors are unaffected by the strike and several actors-turned-directors will be there, including Ethan Hawke, Anna Kendrick and Michael Keaton, Bailey confirmed.

Canadian movies at this year's TIFF

Christian Sparkes'sThe King Tidewill screen in the festival's Platform section, which spotlights director-led cinema.

Films in the Centrepiece section includeFitting In by Molly McGlynn;Hey, Viktor! by Cody Lightning;Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Personby Ariane Louis-Seize;In Flames by Zarrar Kahn;Irena's Vow by Louise Archambault;Kanavalby Henri Pardo; andThe Nature of Loveby Monia Chokri.

Canadian documentariesin the TIFF Docs showcase areBoil Alert by James Burns andStevie Salas; I AmSiratby Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja; Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe by Robert McCallum; and Summer QampbyJen Markowitz.

The Discovery section highlights emerging talent. D.W. Waterson'sBackspot got big cheers from the crowd the film is produced byElliot Page's production company, Pageboy.

"Canadian artists are doing things here and it's great that we have an opportunity to come together and go, 'What stories do we want to be telling as Canadians?'" Waterson told CBC News on the carpet.

"And so that's what TIFF is. It's a huge platform for us to be in dialogue with who we are as a country."

Canadian filmsI Don't Know WhoYou Are by M. H. Murray; Seagrassby Meredith Hama-Brown; Tautuktavuk (What We See) by Carol Kunnuk andLucy Tulugarjuk; and The Queen ofMy Dreams byFawzia Mirzawill also screen in this section.

Three Canadian TV series will also get some airtime at the film fest, includingBlack Life: Untold Stories;Bria Mack Gets A Life; andTelling Our Story. The Wavelengths section, which highlights experimental and avant-garde film, includesHe Thought He Died;Mademoiselle Kenopsia; andLaberint Sequences.