The 14th edition of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival kicks off next month (April 10-13), with some notable alumni returning as special guests. Notably, filmmaker Emma Seligman will screen her films Shiva Baby and Bottoms, followed by a Q&A, on April 13.
Additionally, I Like Movies writer-director Chandler Levack will host a screening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High on April 10. And drag performer Miss Moço will host a quote-along screening of Josie and the Pussycats.
But the stars of the event are the 10 films that have been selected to be part of the festival, made by young filmmakers between the ages of 14 and 24. The themes of the films include, “coming-of-age, exploring new friendships, finding your place in the world, and self-expression through creativity and art.”
Films are selected by the TIFF Next Wave Committee, which is made up of 12 teen film lovers and creators ranging in ages from 15 to 18, from across the Greater Toronto Area.
“TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival reflects our mission to empower young creators and cultivate an exciting relationship with cinema for Toronto’s youth that we hope will last a lifetime,” a statement from Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer at TIFF, reads.
“This is absolutely one of our favourite events of the year as we welcome both new and now-established directors who were themselves a part of this Festival not too long ago, including Emma Seligman. Emma’s journey is a testament to how TIFF has nurtured young creators, and the impact of our commitment to discovering new talent and launching the next generation of original storytellers.”
2025 TIFF Next Wave Film Festival Official Selection:
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Brides, dir. Nadia Fall, United Kingdom, 2025 – Canadian Premiere
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The Dog Thief (El ladrón de perros), dir. Vinko Tomičić Salinas, Bolivia/Chile/Mexico/France/Ecuador, 2024 – Toronto Premiere
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Manas, dir. Marianna Brennand, Brazil/Portugal, 2024 – Canadian Premiere
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Pools, dir. Sam Hayes, USA, 2024 – North American Premier
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Queens of Drama (Les reines du drame), dir. Alexis Langlois, France/Belgium, 2024 – Toronto Premiere
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Rape Play, dir. Gabriella Mykal, USA, 2023 – International Premiere
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Seaside Serendipity (海辺へ行く道), dir. Satoko Yokohama, Japan, 2025 – North American Premiere
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The Virgin of the Quarry Lake (La Virgen de la Tosquera), dir. Laura Casabe, Argentina/Spain/Mexico, 2025 – Canadian Premiere
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We Were Dangerous, dir. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, New Zealand, 2024 – Toronto Premiere
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Where the Wind Comes From, dir. Amel Guellaty, Tunisia/France/Qatar, 2025 – Canadian Premiere
Next Wave Events
Opening Night: Battle of the Scores & After Party — April 11
Battle of the Scores, co-presented by Insomniac Film Festival, involves four up-and-coming bands being challenged to score two silent short films, and the audience then picks the winner.
Special Screenings – April 10–13
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Loved It: Chandler Levack on Fast Times at Ridgemont High (April 10 at 7:30 pm)
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Quote-along screening of Josie and the Pussycats (April 12 at 8:00 pm) hosted by drag performer Miss Moço
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Double-bill screening of Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby and Bottoms with Q&A (starting at 6:30pm on April 12)
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First-feature director Sam Hayes and producer Jack Heston present the North American Premiere of their film Pools followed by a Q&A
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Gabriella Mykal will present her debut film Rape Play
Young Creators Co-Lab – April 12 and 13
The Young Creators Co-Lab is a space for young and emerging artists in Toronto to connect with their peers and industry professionals.
This year’s lab sessions include a new to the festival Focus on Actors panel, with actors sharing advice on “how to navigate the industry and hone your craft as a young actor.” There will also be the interactive Let’s Get Weird! panel with seven members of the New Toronto Bizarre film movement about building community, DIY filmmaking techniques, and “keeping cinema weird.”
Francisca Duran and Derek Jenkins will have a panel on the history of expanded cinema and the process of creating moving-image art.
In Coming-of-age Confrontations, directors Chandler Levack, Emma Seligman and Sam Hayes will revisit “the scenes that defined their characters’ turning points,” breaking down their approaches to “accurately and empathetically” representing experiences of being young and “navigating the world on your own terms.”
Young Creators Showcase — April 13
Celebrating boundary-pushing work by emerging filmmakers, the Young Creators Showcase focuses on themes of “connection, identity, and finding community,” a shorts programme created for youth, by youth.