446. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival

 We have mentioned all kinds of film festivals in www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com; e.g. Ireland, Japan, Brazil and Iran.

 Now it’s Canada’s turn. January 3 to 12 at TIFF. Are these more than something to do indoors while it’s cold outside?

  We asked film buff and filmmaker Ian Mah which of the festival films he would recommend. He writes:

Watermark will be a Cinematic tour de force.  Lyrical  and beautiful in the tradition ofManufactured Landscapes. It is worth seeing. 

 Tom at the Farm. Xavier Dolan (J’ai tué ma mere, Laurence Anyways). Well know for comedy, this young auteur has been a tour de force in Quebec since he was 18. 

 Enemy. I’ve been a huge fan of Denis Villeneuve since Maelström and Incendies. This one stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) and  Sarah Gadon (Cosmopolis). You can’t go wrong.

 When Jews Were Funny. This documentary is filled with comedy heavy weights. 

 Rhymes for Young Ghouls looks interesting, but I know nothing about the film maker.

 Sarah Prefers to Run is also interesting.

 Thanks Ian. Screenings cost $10 each. On Friday, January 10 at 11am, a free panel discussion will be on The C Word: What makes a film Canadian?

For more information about all ten films, see: http://tiff.net/topten/films/2014/features.TIFF Bell Lightbox is at 350 King St W.

Please tell us which of these films if any would the rest of you recommend for newcomers to Canada as a way to learn about Canadian culture? Ruth.