By Bianca Kapteyn,
The Toronto International Film Festival has long been a platform for groundbreaking cinema, and this year’s lineup is no exception. Among the diverse offerings, a captivating theme emerges: the profound relationship between humans and animals.
From heartwarming tales of companionship to thrilling narratives featuring four-legged protagonists, this year’s TIFF showcases the multifaceted roles animals play in our lives and on the silver screen. These films offer a unique lens through which to explore our interspecies connections, the ethical considerations surrounding animal representation, and the enduring power of animal stories to move and inspire.
Among this year’s festival lineup—Nightbitch, The Friend, Flow, and Shepherds—viewers will witness the diverse ways animals are portrayed and the profound impact they’ve had on the cinematic landscape.
Courtesy of TFF
‘Nightbitch’ directed by Marielle Heller
An artist (Amy Adams) who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mum seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that, when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form.
courtesy of TIFF
‘The Friend’ directed by David Siegel and Scott McGhee
Novelist Iris (Naomi Watts) has her quiet New York life upended when her mentor (Bill Murray) dies by suicide and leaves her his Great Dane, Apollo. The unruly dog causes chaos, both physically and emotionally, forcing Iris to confront her grief and her past. As she bonds with Apollo, she begins to heal and reconnect with her creative self.
Courtesy of TIFF
‘FLOW’ directed by Gints Zilbalodis
The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.
Courtesy of TIFF
‘Shepherds’ directed by Sophie Deraspe
A Montréal copywriter aims to reinvent himself as a sheep herder in the French Alps, despite knowing nothing about the craft.
