The Toronto International Film Festival doesn't return in full until September, but its organizers have made it so you can throw your very own Canada-centric film festival with the return of their definitive (and sure to be polarizing) top 10 list.
Dubbed "Canada's All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films," the list has an authoritative ring to it. Its selections were picked through a survey that featured TIFF organizers, Canadian industry vets and film academics.
"In our 40th year we are celebrating our national cinema by revisiting the list of top Canadian films, with help from our esteemed colleagues in the industry and academia," TIFF director and CEO Piers Handling said in a press release. "It is encouraging to see new filmmakers and films establishing themselves on the list alongside the classics."
This marks the fourth TIFF survey, following editions in 1984, 1993 and 2004. As could be expected, the results have hanged significantly, with filmmakers like Guy Maddin, Jean-Claude Lauzon, Sarah Polley and Jean-Marc Vallée making the cut for the first time. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner has also bumped Mon oncle Antoine for the first-place spot.
"With more than a decade since our last survey, much has changed in Canadian cinema, and in the results of the survey," TIFF senior programmer Steve Gravestock added. "It's an exciting group of films indicative of our rich cinematic tradition."
Read TIFF's list below (which actually includes 11 films due to a 10th place tie). If you live in Toronto, they'll screen the films for free throughout July and August at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Look for more details on those screenings next month.
Tomorrow (April 24), the Directors Guild of Canada will publish their new edition of Montage magazine. It will include the individual voters' ballots along with essays about each film in the list.
Canada's All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films:
1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, Zacharias Kunuk (2001)
2. Mon oncle Antoine, Claude Jutra (1971)
3. The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan (1997)
4. Jésus de Montréal, Denys Arcand (1989)
5. Léolo, Jean-Claude Lauzon (1992)
6. Goin' Down the Road, Don Shebib (1970)
7. Dead Ringers, David Cronenberg (1988)
8. C.R.A.Z.Y., Jean-Marc Vallée (2005)
9. My Winnipeg, Guy Maddin (2007)
10. Stories We Tell, Sarah Polley (2012)/Les Ordres, Michel Brault (1974)
Dubbed "Canada's All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films," the list has an authoritative ring to it. Its selections were picked through a survey that featured TIFF organizers, Canadian industry vets and film academics.
"In our 40th year we are celebrating our national cinema by revisiting the list of top Canadian films, with help from our esteemed colleagues in the industry and academia," TIFF director and CEO Piers Handling said in a press release. "It is encouraging to see new filmmakers and films establishing themselves on the list alongside the classics."
This marks the fourth TIFF survey, following editions in 1984, 1993 and 2004. As could be expected, the results have hanged significantly, with filmmakers like Guy Maddin, Jean-Claude Lauzon, Sarah Polley and Jean-Marc Vallée making the cut for the first time. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner has also bumped Mon oncle Antoine for the first-place spot.
"With more than a decade since our last survey, much has changed in Canadian cinema, and in the results of the survey," TIFF senior programmer Steve Gravestock added. "It's an exciting group of films indicative of our rich cinematic tradition."
Read TIFF's list below (which actually includes 11 films due to a 10th place tie). If you live in Toronto, they'll screen the films for free throughout July and August at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Look for more details on those screenings next month.
Tomorrow (April 24), the Directors Guild of Canada will publish their new edition of Montage magazine. It will include the individual voters' ballots along with essays about each film in the list.
Canada's All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films:
1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, Zacharias Kunuk (2001)
2. Mon oncle Antoine, Claude Jutra (1971)
3. The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan (1997)
4. Jésus de Montréal, Denys Arcand (1989)
5. Léolo, Jean-Claude Lauzon (1992)
6. Goin' Down the Road, Don Shebib (1970)
7. Dead Ringers, David Cronenberg (1988)
8. C.R.A.Z.Y., Jean-Marc Vallée (2005)
9. My Winnipeg, Guy Maddin (2007)
10. Stories We Tell, Sarah Polley (2012)/Les Ordres, Michel Brault (1974)