Discoveries from Canada World Cinema

On the verge of attack by the evil witch queen, Prince Dev and Princess Kyra turn to a young rebel named Gorhager for help in protecting the Human World and the Dragon World.

Karate meets Kalashnikovs as the uncontrollable force and the immovable object are thrown together in this bloody hilarious action comedy! Hiro's a Tokyo cyber-punk Yakuza with a simple mission: smuggle a toilet made of pure heroin to New York City. If he fails his boss will stick his sword where the rising sun don't shine. Marco's a muscle mountain enforcer working for a family of ex-commandos from the Bosnian war. He's an entry-level thug with dreams of rising up the ranks. But in the Bosnian mob, promotion is spelled AK-47. When a bloody New York mob war erupts and Hiro and Marco snatch the toilet. It's worth millions - if they can find somebody who can decipher the Japanese chemistry formula. Wounded, hunted and dragging a 50-pound toilet made of heroin; they race around New York. Through sleazy alleyways, bouncer brawls, sniper shoot-outs and a biker war they're on a quest to find a Japanese chemist...

Brad Stevens and Alex Prager are best friends. They are both popular high school students and key members of the football team. Brad is up for nomination to West Point, and Alex is a talented pianist who’s counting on his football skills to land him a university scholarship. But their lives are turned upside down when one day Alex admits that he is gay.

When 25-year-old New Yorker Eric Traber gets fired from his job and kicked out of his apartment, he fears the worst. But his best friend, Ziggy, shows up A.W.O.L. from the Peace Corps and leads him out to the swank Hamptons for Easter weekend in search of betterment and understanding. Once there, they confront the adult roles of life for the first time; fraud, attempted murder, two-faced disloyalty and well-catered cocktail parties!

Business mogul David Hawkner and his wife are enjoying a quiet vacation by themselves at their isolated retreat. The serenity is broken when they become the targets of a handsome, crazed killer.

A lone Mountie has come to town to clean up the crime and corruption after finding an innocent man dead. As he sets up home, in town, he discovers endless amounts of illegal activity taking place behind closed doors. Once he uncovers the men behind the crimes he prepares to take them down one by one in the most vicious showdown this town has ever seen.

The title of this French-Canadian film translates to In the Belly of the Dragon, but don't assume that it's just another kung fu epic. Rather, the film is a likeable mixture of science fiction and humor, centered around the money-making schemes of star David La Haye. Unable to make ends meet with his minimum-wage job, La Haye hires himself out as a guinea pig to genially loopy scientist Marie Tifo. It is the doctor's contention that a person's intelligence can be artificially increased. La Haye proves her right...up to a point, that is. Extremely popular in Canada, Dans le Ventre du Dragon has yet to receive proper distribution in the States.

A forest fire and rock-slide trap five bickering college friends in a small Alaskan ghost town with a horrifying history. When they seek refuge inside the torched ruins of Blackburn Asylum they must fight to survive as the angry inhabitants slaughter the friends one-by-one.

A photographer who lives in an apartment building takes sneak photos of women in their apartments. One day he accidentally photographs a murder, and the killer goes after him.

A South American quasi-revolutionary/guerilla/terrorist and a misled, admiring girl compatriot manage to kidnap the U.S. President during a diplomatic visit to Toronto.

When Celeste loses her job as a teacher in Rocheport because of her non-curriculum style of teaching, her boss puts her forward for an au pair job with infamous NY Property Tycoon Richard Trapp. With nothing to lose and an amazing opportunity to gain, Celeste applies and gets the job! As Celeste settles into this new life in the big apple, it isn’t all plain sailing, as she struggles with the children, and this isn’t helped by Richard’s girlfriend Julie – who is desperate to marry Richard and send the children to boarding school.

Follows Liza, who retreats to a '70s variety show in her mind as she struggles to cope with the impending death of her mother, trying to work through parts of their past without losing herself in the process.

A powerful story about ambition, resilience, and the devastating impact of gun violence. It follows a young man striving to build a better future for himself, a teen influencer chasing musical stardom with raw talent and big dreams, and a security guard determined to earn his place on the police force. But their aspirations collide with harsh realities when a single act of violence sends shockwaves through their lives, forcing them to confront the true cost of their environment and the choices they make.

An earthquake destroys a Russian Nuclear Power plant.

To save her father’s lake-front restaurant, a talented interior designer must partner with the celebrity chef her father hired without her knowledge to revamp the place before time runs out.

A newly engaged bride dreamed of her wedding day with her late mother for her entire life, and is looking forward to planning every perfect detail to honor her mom's memory. But her special day is nearly ruined by her intimidating future mother-in-law and her fiancé's sudden work transfer, which pushes her perfect outdoor June wedding ceremony up to a January date -- just three weeks away!

A rising musical theatre star struggles with his changing voice during his gender transition. With the help of a singing coach, he learns to trust himself, reclaim his career, and reconnect with the people he loves.

When a snowstorm diverts Kate's first private flight bound for Switzerland, to Christmas Island in Nova Scotia, she must team up with an air traffic controller to secure her dream job as the family's pilot.

A scholarly king and his three companions swear off the society of women for three years, only to have a diplomatic visit from a French princess and her three ladies-in-waiting thwart their intentions.

Random Acts of Romance is a feature comedy about intense characters in extreme relationship situations — and the crazy and obsessive behaviors that spring from this thing called love. The story is paced like an emotional roller coaster, punctuated by moments of uncomfortably illuminating hilarity as characters confront situations we all identify with.

Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it’s too late.

It’s been a few years, and there’s still not a lot going on 40 kilometers from nowhere. But that’s all about to change as the fine folks of Dog River, Saskatchewan face their biggest crisis ever. Brent and the gang discover that the town’s been badly mismanaged, leaving residents with little choice but to pack up and leave. As residents make one last rally to save Dog River as they know it, they discover a devious plan by a corporate chain that would change life for Dog Riverites forever.

Set in Canada during World War II, a young girl's brother comes home from his army base, and brings an buddy with him. After a night of drinking, the brother's friend rapes the sister. After the two men have gone back, the girl finds that she's pregnant - and discovers that her parents don't blame the soldier, but blame her.

After a mother is released from prison for a crime she didn't commit, her journey to prove her innocence takes her down a dark path filled with deceit from those she trusted most.

Ambitious young script writer Igor Sullivan, who just lost his lover, concentrates on a romantic comedy. He gets advice from seasoned professional James Ford, who explains the `fomula` way, while Igo keeps insisting on artistic input of his own. Thus they draft piece by piece, often after dropping or amending the first version, a (not quite) standard triangle. It involves Internet firm colleagues Patrick, the good boy, and his womanizing buddy Mark Gibson, the vixen being the firm`s new consultant Jennifer.

TV Movie directed by Gary Yates. Claire is hosting her best friend's wedding. Guests arrive, old family conflicts resurface and the night before the wedding, the Groom goes missing. Only Claire knows of Danny's disappearance and she is determined to find him and bring him back before her best friend finds out.

The story of Canadian Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire and his controversial command of the United Nations mission to Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. The documentary was inspired by the book Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda which was published in 2003.

A former child detective, now a listless millennial, must solve a new murder and the even bigger mystery of how to get her own life together.

Set in the late 1990s, once a year a group of men choose to hunt human targets on a remote island. A developer and his mistress retreat to a getaway cottage where they are taken hostage, brought to the island, and hunted for sport.

Dumped two weeks before Christmas, actress Olivia O’Hara secretly returns to her tiny hometown to hide out, eat cookies and avoid the press. What she doesn’t expect is to be faced with the family she left behind, meeting a charming new guy Casey Rawlins, and a nosy reporter following her every move.

A struggling writer on the verge of success finds his love for the woman of his wildest dreams drawing him deeper into the depths of passion and jealousy, until he realizes he has been framed for murder.

Mastering classic pinball arcade games requires focus, agility and dedication. Robert Gagno has all these traits. It might explain why he surged from a complete unknown to one of the world's best players in five years. The achievement is even more impressive considering he was diagnosed with autism at age three. His success on the pinball circuit made him part of a community that provided acceptance and encouragement. With his parents' support and determination, Robert has exceeded every expectation placed upon him. As he approaches adulthood, his next challenge is to become more self-sufficient and gain his independence. From high-stakes tournaments across the continent to his day-to-day search for employment, we follow Robert's persistent progression to overcome obstacles and manage the highs of success and lows of falling short. In Wizard Mode, flashing lights and triple combos highlight an outstanding individual who continues to beat the odds and set records.

A middle-aged woman follows letters from an unseen admirer into potential danger.

This documentary film focuses on the animal life that survives in this harsh arctic climates at the edge of the ice - from the simple algae to narwhals, polar bears, sea birds, seals, whales and walruses.

On a dairy farm in the Eastern Townships, in the middle of a drought and while the land is parching, a drama will disrupt the life of the Santerre family. Confronted to each other they will have to learn to forgive.

When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau, when in reality, he’s her overzealous security guard.

After being found not guilty for his crimes, Dr. Albert Beck takes a teaching job at a university, where his blossoming relationship with a student is threatened when one of his previous victims begins a campaign of terror against him.

Moki, a Cree Indian, is made foreman of a sprawling cattle ranch owned by his former army commander. But he carries with him through life the lore of his own people. When he rescues a bear cub, Wahb, he feels a mystical connection between himself and the magnificent creature. Later, Wahb, now a 1,300-pound bear, returns from the wild to wreak havoc on the cattle ranch, and Moki must face this fearsome grizzly. This spectacular film depicts a territorial battle over a country of breathtaking beauty.

A documentary portrait of Chinese pianist Yundi Li that captures the poetic intensity of this young virtuoso as he works with the great Maestro Seiji Ozawa to prepare for his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. This is interwoven with Yundi on tour in his home country, where we meet his family, gain insight into his upbringing and are exposed to the massive scale of piano culture in China.

Two strangers, Joanne and Chris share a winter road trip through rural eastern Ontario. After losing her husband John, Joanne faces the rituals of remote rural life on her own, while Chris is processing his failing eyesight and the loss of his mother and the new responsibility of taking over her old home in the country. As their journey together unfolds, their drifting memories reveal parallel experiences, helping each of them shift the focus of their destination.

When Evette moves into a new apartment, she learns she can hear her neighbors through the wall. Can her detached obsession take the place of her longing for human connection?

A photographer sets off toward a mysterious forest to find Boychuk, witness and victim of the Great Fire that swept through Northern Ontario at the turn of the 20th century. But before she arrives, she learns that Boychuck has just perished. Survivors of the long-ago fire, Tom and Charlie, two elderly men who have chosen to live out their last days in the woods, are introduced to Marie Desneige, whose 60 year institutionalization has only fueled her passion for life. Meanwhile, the photographer is discovering that Boychuck had been a painter, whose life’s work had been entirely inspired by the Great Fire. The story immerses us in a historical drama while captivating us with the strange lives of these men of the forest. Three men who, in choosing freedom above all else, made a deal with death.

A pragmatic PhD candidate must let go of her logic when she finds a list of items to give away written by the late mother she never knew. With the encouragement of her enthusiastic new mentor, she attempts to return everything on the list and begins to encounter unexplainable coincidences that lead her to understand the world’s smallest marvels have the greatest meaning.

Nearly 150 North American bird names have not aged well, ruffling feathers in the ornithological world and revealing deep roots in colonial legacies. Keen birders explore what's really in a name?

When her mother leaves town to visit a sick relative, Margaret's concern for her father grows. She does not know what he is working on in the basement and cannot figure out why his behavior has changed.

After a reconstructed family moves to a converted church in the country, 14-year-old Molly, must save her new troubled step-sister from a dangerous relationship with the desperate ghost of a young girl. Based on the best selling novel by Mary Downing Hahn.

A documentary exploring how money and the trading of value has evolved, culminating in Bitcoin.

Aspiring writer Athena Carter has spent years working as a dating consultant with a less than successful dating history of her own. When her college ex suddenly reemerges, romantic complications ensue as Athena has to figure out who she really is and what she really wants.

Carly heads to a small town to lead a church choir at Christmastime, facing her first holiday season without her mother. While there, she connects with a man back in town after serving in the Army.

Carmen Aguirre and Tony Nardi star in a remarkable story of friends, lovers, seekers and thieves. Set at the intersection of the Latin American, First Nations and Italian communities, "Bella Ciao!" captures a struggle towards solidarity in East Vancouver's urban mix.

Former classmates run into each other at a bar and form an unexpected bond.

Sophie Michaels has had great success by using her 10 step plans, but when she decides to use a 10 step approach to find love, she will discover that you can't make a list when it comes to the heart.

A troubled nanny teaches a bullied ten-year-old that freedom to move forward is made possible by shedding the ugly skin of our past.

To pay for college, Business major Trina goes live with her unique dating website Let's Date. Let's Date becomes a huge success, though Trina soon learns that her site is being misused as a prostitution hub and shuts it down. When one of the dating users from the site turns up dead, Trina looks to her now defunct site for clues, which someone does not want her to uncover.

William Shatner presents a light-hearted look at how the "Star Trek" TV series have influenced and inspired today's technologies, including: cell phones, medical imaging, computers and software, SETI, MP3 players and iPods, virtual reality, and spaceship propulsion.

Two ambulance paramedics put their lives on the line when a routine call becomes a deadly race against time.

Gabriel Goode is the Limb Salesman, a disgraced doctor who regenerates limbs on the black market. When Goode travels to the water mining regions of the north to heal the cherished daughter of a wealthy water miner, dark family secrets are revealed, and Goode is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. A story of forbidden love in a dystopian future.

The documentary Custodians – A Story of Ancient Echoes follows the journey of a local community in Herschel, Saskatchewan during the summer of 2021 as they work to preserve and protect the pastureland, native grasslands, and important Indigenous artifacts found near the village. Upon discoveries of dinosaurs, marine fossils and significant Indigenous sites and petroglyphs on nearby farmland, an aging population of community volunteers come together to preserve the land and its stories including the Indigenous history, paleontology, and local ecology. “We have found a living library” says Métis Artist Jo Cooper who has spent the past 20 years in Herschel working alongside locals. The stories of the land and the echoes of the past form new friendships, unravel mysteries and model a potential for deep justice, reconciliation and healing between people and the land.