Canadian Made Coworking Meets Canadian Made Film

With The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) closing its gates this weekend, it’s only fair that Toronto provide us with one last big festival in the city to commemorate the end of Canadian summer. And what could be better that The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)?

This year, TIFF is putting Canadian cinema into the spotlight, with Canadian films taking center stage across all genres. With Workhaus right in the center of the TIFF action at our 212 King Street location, we decided to look at some of the top Canadian films that are getting all the buzz.

Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger
Directed by Alanis Obomsawin

Photo Credit TIFF Festival 2019

This marks the 53rd film to come out of Obomsawin’s treasury. She looks at the short lived life and death of a sick 5 year-old boy that spent his entire life in a hospital. The federal and provincial governments argued over who was responsible for his care as he was a First Nations child.

SHOWTIMES
6:00pm Tuesday, September 10th, Jackman Hall (AGO)
12:00pm Thursday, September 12th, Jackman Hall (AGO)
6:15pm Saturday, September 14th, TIFF Bell Lightbox

The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open
Directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn

Photo Credit TIFF Festival 2019

This heartfelt story shows a woman console and take home a young woman that’s barefoot, abused and crying in the street. According to Tailfeathers, the story is ultimately about women helping women, and the capability that Indigenous women have to love and to heal.

SHOWTIMES
4:15pm Tuesday, September 10th, Scotiabank Theatre

There’s Something in The Water
Directed by Ellen Page and Ian Daniel

Photo Credit TIFF Festival 2019

Academy Award winner Ellen Page slides her feet into the Director’s shoes with this gritty and unyielding documentary. Page and Daniel shine a light on the ecological and social disasters that have struck Page’s native home, Nova Scotia.

SHOWTIMES
5:45pm Sunday, September 8th, Elgin Theater
4:14pm Saturday, September 14th, Winter Garden Theater
3:30pm Sunday, September 15th, Scotiabank Theater

American Woman
Directed by Semi Chellas

Photo Credit TIFF Festival 2019

Adapting from Susan Choi’s novel of the same name, Chellas uses her film to outline the perspective of the character Jenny, an activist living underground for years. She’s tasked with the responsibility of keeping this volatile group of America’s most wanted fugitives together and hidden from the Feds.

SHOWTIMES
6:30pm Thursday, September 12th, Roy Thomson Hall
8:00pm Thursday September 12th, Elgin Theatre
7:00pm Saturday, September 14th, Scotiabank Theatre

David Foster: Off the Record
Directed by Barry Avrich

Photo Credit TIFF Festival 2019

David Foster is a Grammy Award-winning producer and composer that has gathered success over the past half-century. Avrich gives us a sneak peak inside his musical career and what it was like working on chart-topping albums with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, and Whitney Houston.

SHOWTIMES
5:00pm Monday, September 9th, Elgin Theatre
9:15am Saturday, September 24th, Scotiabank Theatre

While these Canadian films are taking up most of TIFF’s lineup this year, it’s important to note that half of them are directed by women. Toronto is lucky to have this massive moment in Canadian culture, and Workhaus will be there every step of the way.

TIFF is taking place from September 5th – September 15th. While King street is sure to be crowded, you can always stop by our Castle location at 212 King Street to avoid the crowds.

Photo Credit CBC Canada