TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival — presented by Takis and supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Toronto — returns to Lightbox April 10–13, 2025, for a thrilling weekend of fresh, boundary-pushing films and special events. Dedicated to championing the next generation of filmmakers and cinephiles geared toward ages 14–24, this festival promises an unforgettable celebration of international emerging talent and bold storytelling. As part of TIFF 50 year-round celebrations, TIFF is thrilled to welcome back to Lightbox Emma Seligman, a Next Wave alumni, who will be on stage to introduce her films Shiva Baby and Bottoms, followed by a Q+A.

Now in its 14th edition, TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival will kick-start the weekend with an all-ages party themed “Neon Revolt” and the popular annual event “Battle of the Scores,” a rockin’ competition in which four up-and-coming bands compete for a grand prize by scoring the soundtrack to two silent short films: “SKRRRT!!” directed by Yvette Sin and MANVIR directed by Sumeet Sidhu. Programmed by youth, for youth, the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival offers free tickets to Official Selection screenings for anyone under 25 who also has TIFF’s Under-25 Free Pass or paid Under-25 Membership. Tickets for TIFF Members and Under-25 Free Pass holders go on sale on Wednesday, March 19, and to the public on Friday, March 21.

“TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival reflects our mission to empower young creators and cultivate an exciting relationship with cinema for Toronto’s youth that we hope will last a lifetime,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “This is absolutely one of our favourite events of the year as we welcome both new and now-established directors who were themselves a part of this Festival not too long ago, including Emma Seligman. Emma’s journey is a testament to how TIFF has nurtured young creators, and the impact of our commitment to discovering new talent and launching the next generation of original storytellers.”

This year’s Official Selection features 10 titles and includes six debut films with themes that touch on coming-of-age, exploring new friendships, finding your place in the world, and self-expression through creativity and art. These films have been selected by the TIFF Next Wave Committee, which is made up of 12 teen film enthusiasts ranging in age from 15 to 18, many of whom are young creators and filmmakers from across the Greater Toronto Area. With the guidance of TIFF staff, this Committee is charged with planning major youth-oriented events year-round at TIFF Lightbox, including the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival. Tickets and film synopsis will be available on March 19.

“Vibrant, eclectic, and bursting with energy, this year’s Next Wave Film Festival promises an authentic and unexpected lineup of films and events that speak to the specific yet universal experiences of young people. With something for everyone, our selections highlight the rising creatives of our generation and the importance of using your voice to find community. The spirit of connection is intrinsic to Next Wave now more than ever, and we can’t wait for the festival as a place to spark conversation, discover new perspectives, and push the boundaries of what you thought cinema could be.” —2024–2025 TIFF Next Wave Committee

2025 TIFF Next Wave Film Festival Official Selection:

“Brides” dir. Nadia Fall, United Kingdom, 2025 – Canadian Premiere

“The Dog Thief” (“El ladrón de perros”) dir. Vinko Tomi?i? Salinas,
Bolivia/Chile/Mexico/France/Ecuador, 2024 – Toronto Premiere

“Manas” dir. Marianna Brennand, Brazil/Portugal, 2024 – Canadian Premiere

“Pools” dir. Sam Hayes, USA, 2024 – North American Premiere

“Queens of Drama” (“Les reines du drame”) dir. Alexis Langlois, France/Belgium, 2024 – Toronto Premiere

“Rape Play” dir. Gabriella Mykal, USA, 2023 – International Premiere

“Seaside Serendipity” dir. Satoko Yokohama, Japan, 2025 – North American Premiere

“The Virgin of the Quarry Lake” (“La Virgen de la Tosquera”) dir. Laura Casabe, Argentina/Spain/Mexico, 2025 – Canadian Premiere

“We Were Dangerous” dir. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, New Zealand, 2024 – Toronto Premiere

“Where the Wind Comes From” dir. Amel Guellaty, Tunisia/France/Qatar, 2025 – Canadian Premiere

Next Wave Events

Opening Night: Battle of the Scores & After Party — April 11
“Battle of the Scores,” co-presented by Insomniac Film Festival, challenges four up-and-coming bands to score two silent short films — and the audience picks the winner. See the bands perform their music LIVE in-cinema. If you can’t make it, be sure to visit @TIFF_NET on Instagram starting April 3 to see the films, hear the scores, and cast a vote. Directly following Battle of the Scores is the official opening night all-ages party themed “Neon Revolt” at TIFF Lightbox, with an underground-inspired, secret-club vibe and high-impact, and fun activations to ignite creativity and self-expression.

Special Screenings – April 10–13
Alongside the 10 Official Selection film screenings, audiences will have the opportunity to attend special events at TIFF Lightbox, notably “Loved It: Chandler Levack on Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (April 10 at 7:30pm), which will be introduced by Canadian filmmaker Levack (“I Like Movies,” TIFF ’22), and a special quote-along screening of “Josie and the Pussycats” (April 12 at 8pm) hosted by drag performer Miss Moço. There’s also a double-bill screening of Emma Seligman’s “Shiva Baby and Bottoms” (starting at 6:30pm on April 12) with the TIFF Next Wave alumni in attendance to present her films. First-feature director Sam Hayes and producer Jack Heston will be in attendance to present the North American Premiere of their film Pools followed by a Q+A. Gabriella Mykal will also be in attendance to present her debut film, Rape Play.

Young Creators Co-Lab – April 12 & 13
The Young Creators Co-Lab is a gathering space for young and emerging artists in the Toronto community to connect with their peers and industry professionals and hear about all things film. For more Young Creators Co-Lab programming information and to get tickets, visit tiff.net/nextwave starting March 19 for TIFF Members/Under-25 Pass holders and March 21 for the public.

This year’s lab sessions include “Focus on Actors,” new to the festival with a panel of actors sharing advice on how to navigate the industry and hone your craft as a young actor; “Let’s Get Weird! with the New Toronto Bizarre,” an interactive panel talk with seven members of the New Toronto Bizarre film movement about building community, DIY filmmaking techniques, and keeping cinema weird; “Expanded Cinema” with image artists Francisca Duran and Derek Jenkins for a conversation on the history of expanded cinema, the process of creating moving-image art, and exploring film’s possibilities outside of traditional spaces; and “Coming-of-age Confrontations” with directors Chandler Levack, Emma Seligman, and Sam Hayes, who will revisit the scenes that defined their characters’ turning points and break down their approaches to accurately and empathetically represent the experience of being young and navigating the world on your own terms. The Young Creators Co-Lab is presented by the City of Toronto.

Young Creators Showcase — April 13
Discover the next wave of Canadian filmmakers in this shorts programme created for youth, by youth. Celebrating boundary-pushing work by emerging filmmakers, the Young Creators Showcase focuses on themes of connection, identity, and finding community.

Young Creators Showcase Awards: Presented by Cineplex – April 13
All of the Young Creators Showcase films are eligible for awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Writing, and Best Editing, presented by Cineplex in support of the next generation of Canadian filmmakers. The winners will be selected by a jury of film industry professionals and will be presented in-cinema as part of the Young Creators Showcase event.

The TIFF Under-25 Pass offers young people barrier-free access to year-round TIFF benefits, including discounts, free access to more than 300 Cinematheque screenings, special events, and access to one free ticket to all Official Selection screenings at the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival. For anyone under 25, be sure to sign up for free at tiff.net/join/under25.

Additional information is available at tiff.net/nextwave.

About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution program; and the TIFF Content Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.