2 months ago
Chandler Levack’s Netflix drama Roommates, starring Sarah Sherman, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Sadie Sandler, and Storm Reid, is among nan titles group for this year’s TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, which will tally from April 16–19. Scroll down for nan afloat lineup.
This twelvemonth marks nan 15th day of nan TIFF Next Wave Film Festival. The arena is programmed by TIFF’s Next Wave Committee, a postulation of 12 teens from crossed nan Greater Toronto Area.
Industry professionals who person travel done nan show arsenic either filmmakers, writers, aliases curators see head Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby), actors Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel) and Emma Cheuk (Late Bloomer), and programmer and professional Winnie Wang (The Toronto Review).
Levack directs Roommates from a screenplay penned by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan of SNL. The movie follows hopeful, naive assemblage freshman Devon, who asks nan cool and assured Celeste to beryllium her roommate. Their blossoming relationship soon spirals into a warfare of passive aggression.
Adam Sandler produced nan characteristic for Netflix done his Happy Madison Productions alongside Tim Herlihy. The formed is rounded retired by Chloe East, Billy Bryk, Martin Herlihy, Josh Segarra, Carol Kane, Janeane Garofalo, Aidan Langford, Bella Murphy, Jaya Harper, Ivy Wolk, and Bailee Madison.
“This year’s Next Wave Film Festival lineup emphasizes self-expression done passionate, diverse, and DIY modes of storytelling and provides a level for rising voices who thoughtfully disrupt conventions and clasp experimentation,” nan Committee said successful a statement.
“We want nan show to beryllium a spot for nan ceremony of life successful mobility and nan chaos that comes pinch increasing up successful this existent moment. There is thing for everyone astatine Next Wave, and we can’t hold for it to bring caller opportunities for conversation, connection, and discovery.”
2026 Next Wave Film Festival Official Selection Films:
★ Big Girls Don’t Cry | dir. Paloma Schneideman | New Zealand
Canadian Premiere
In nan ambiently homophobic situation of a agrarian municipality successful nan mid-2000s, a 14-year-old woman navigates intersexual curiosity and a desire for acceptance complete 1 transformative summer.
Virtual Q&A pinch head Paloma Schneideman
★ Burn | dir. Makoto Nagahisa | Japan
Canadian Premiere
A runaway teen (Nana Mori of Kokuho, TIFF ‘25) finds comfortableness and solace successful a group of
other young misfits. But she soon discovers that threat tin lurk moreover successful what looks for illustration a safe haven.
★ CAMP | dir. Avalon Fast | Canada
Toronto Premiere
A group of counsellors astatine a Christian condolences campy find catharsis done nan occult — but
not without consequence.
In-person Q&A pinch head Avalon Fast
★ If I Go Will They Miss Me | dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández | USA
Canadian Premiere
A 12-year-old who’s struggling to link pinch nan begetter he idolizes starts seeing ghostly figures of boys astir his neighbourhood.
★ Ish | dir. Imran Perretta | United Kingdom
Toronto Premiere
A puerility relationship is torn isolated aft a traumatic relationship pinch nan constabulary successful this
poetic and poignant drama.
★ Isle Child | dir. Thomas Percy Kim | South Korea/USA
Canadian Premiere
An adopted New England teen, played by Ethan Hwang (Riceboy Sleeps, TIFF ‘22), is
forced to face his feelings of otherness erstwhile he discovers his Korean commencement mother
is terminally ill.
In-person Q&A pinch head Thomas Percy Kim
★ Niñxs | dir. Kani Lapuerta | Mexico/Germany
Toronto Premiere
Shot complete 8 years successful nan mini municipality of Tepoztlán, Mexico, this vibrant documentary
follows Karla done an adolescence marked by joy, resilience, and transition.
★ Our Hero, Balthazar | dir. Oscar Boyson | USA
Toronto Premiere
In a misguided effort to impressment a crush, a lonely New York teen flies to Texas, wherever he thinks he tin extremity a early schoolhouse shooter — but his scheme quickly spirals retired of control.
In-person Q&A pinch head Oscar Boyson and character Jaeden Martell
★ Thanks for Nothing | dir. Stella Marie Markert | Germany
Canadian Premiere
Four teens surviving successful a Berlin group location person created their ain anarchic utopia. But nan unhelpful adults successful their lives, mixed pinch nan harsh realities of nan world, frighten to tear it apart.
In-person Q&A pinch Director Stella Marie Markert
