A new generation of Canadian and Indigenous filmmakers will take the spotlight at TIFF 2026 with REDEFINED, a short documentary initiative from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) exploring culture, belonging, identity and what it means to be Canadian today.
The five-film showcase will premiere on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET at TIFF Lightbox Cinema 3 in Toronto. The films will also become available worldwide through the NFB beginning September 16.
Developed over the course of a year following a nationwide call for submissions, REDEFINED brings together five emerging filmmakers whose deeply personal stories examine the diversity of Canadian and Indigenous identity.
Five Films, Five Perspectives
| Film | Filmmaker | Runtime | Producer | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE/ROUTE | Gabrielle Côté | 9 min 18 sec | Christine Aubé | Uses surreal transformations and image collage to explore how urban environments shape human behaviour, community and the future. |
| pahkwêsikan sâkihitowin: Bannock is Love | Tyra Delver | 10 min 39 sec | Chehala Leonard | Explores the role of bannock in sustaining Indigenous identity, memory, culture and connection through family and community. |
| Where Our Flowers Grow | Maxime Kornachuk | 11 min | Jelena Popović | Follows Métis people of different generations as they reconnect with culture, identity and belonging through a visually striking animated documentary. |
| Restaurant Kids | Sylvia Mok | 12 min 21 sec | Liz Cowie | Looks at a community of Chinese restaurateurs in Halifax and the sacrifice, resilience and belonging experienced by children raised in family-run restaurants. |
| Butter Chicken to Go | Prajj | 11 min 48 sec | Kate Vollum | Follows South Asian delivery drivers navigating Toronto during winter while reflecting on immigration, identity and their search for belonging. |
