Eleven Films to Watch Out For At TIFF

From David Suzuki to Bruce McDonald to Fubar 2 - there's lots to look forward to at this year's TIFF.

The Mark: What Canadian film(s), besides your own, are you excited to see at The Toronto International Film Festival?

Sturla Gunnarson: I'm looking forward to Trigger, because of director Bruce McDonald, and actors Molly Parker and Tracy Wright; Fubar 2, because It's All Gone Pete Tong rocked; Modra, because I like director Ingrid Veninger's warm, personal films; Yesno, Brian Johnson's short film, inspired by Dennis Lee's poetry, because Johnson has lived, breathed and written about film all his life and now he's made one.

TM: What role does the Toronto International Film Festival play in the Canadian film industry?

SG: It's huge. It provides Canadian filmmakers with the opportunity to launch their films on both a national and world stage. Critics and festival programmers see the films, foreign sales are made and new films are conceived. For me, this year, it's the opportunity to sleep in my own bed, bike down to the Ryerson and premiere Force Of Nature to a hometown audience.

TM: What advice would you give to aspiring Canadian filmmakers?

SG: My advice is, don't chase the market – do what you're passionate about. Your strength is that you're unencumbered by knowledge of the industry. Find your voice and the market will come to you.

TM: Where did you get the inspiration for your film?

Force of Nature began as a conversation with David Suzuki about making a big, popular, scientific distillation of the history of the universe to the present moment of environmental catastrophe. We had discussions over several months and the more we talked about the ideas the more fascinated I became with Suzuki himself – the relationship between his ideas, his character and his incredible life story. The filmmaking became kind of an affectionate interrogation over the course of a year and revealed an icon contemplating mortality, wrestling with his legacy, and delivering a powerful manifesto. Suzuki like you've never seen him.