Muses of Media

Every year, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) welcomes film lovers and moviegoers worldwide to share their love of cinema.

Various films spanning different genres are shown on big screens at all the various TIFF venues, including Roy Thomson Hall, the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, TIFF Bell Lightbox, and, of course, Scotiabank Theatre (which features everyone’s favourite escalator).

Screening in all these various theatres in 2023 are many women-led films that just need to be seen. The genres are varied, and the stories are challenging, fun, and exciting. We have movies led by up-and-coming stars, fresh discoveries, and seasoned veterans off to wow us again with their dazzling talent. Many are worthy of being showcased, but these five are my favourites this year!

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The Queen of My Dreams dir. Fawzia Mirza

Fawzia Mirza is a legend in the making, so when I heard she was bringing her feature directorial debut to TIFF, I knew I had to see it! Well, folks, to the absolute surprise of no one, I LOVED IT. The Queen of My Dreams is an ode to Pakistani cinema and Bollywood. A story about queer young Pakistani-Canadian, on an emotional journey to connect with her mother after the sudden death of her father. A trip to Pakistan tests their already frayed relationship, but through heartache and pain, there is hope, redemption and growth. Starring rising star Amrit Kaur and the iconic Nimra Bucha, The Queen of My Dreams will move you, make you laugh, and inspire you to reignite your passion for classic Bollywood films.

Thank You For Coming dir. Karan Boolani

Thank You For Coming is a charming, sweet, and affirming Bollywood-inspired romantic comedy that follows 32-year-old Kanika Kapoor, who has never had an orgasm. Karan Boolani’s feature debut follows Kanika as she endeavours to find out who is responsible for giving her an orgasm after she got blackout drunk at her engagement party. After finding every one of her relationships failed her emotionally and physically, Kanika goes on a mini odyssey to discover the truth of her inability to find satisfaction—the result: an endearing tale of self-actualization, sisterhood, family and love. Bhumi Pednekar is a star as she plays a hapless but aspiring young woman seeking to find a love match despite many roadblocks. This film is a great surprise and should rise to the watch list as it embraces one of the many sides of women shunned by Indian cinema; this sex-positive contemporary comedy is a must.

You can stream Thank You For Coming on Netflix.

NAGA [ناقة] dir. Meshal Aljaser

Many films make you feel uneasy, lost, and scared. But NAGA is in a league of its own with the delirious directing that drags you to the dark depth of the human soul and brings you face to face with fear itself. NAGA is a sensory experience, one that makes you physically shake with anxiety and dread. Led by the astounding Adwa Bader, NAGA takes us on a thrilling adventure across the Arabian deserts as Bader’s Sarah races to get home before curfew. Her panicked, desperate attempts will have your heart pounding out of your ears. NAGA is not for the weak.

Sisterhood dir. Nora El Hourch

Let me in on a little secret: some of the best films to come out of TIFF every year are from the Platform selection. Sisterhood, Nora El Hourch’s directorial debut, is a vibrant project about three young women, their inseparable bonds, and the differences that threaten to tear them apart. France is a haven for conversations about ethnicity, social class, white privilege, and religion; as a nation that seems perpetual in turmoil, it is a nation that has birthed curious and informed people who are constantly pushing against expectations and the status quo. Sisterhood speaks to that, specifically the evolution of the feminist movement through the young contemporary lens. The girls in the film are empowered in ways their mothers and their mother mothers weren’t yet. They still fight against the same issues. The film is engaging and beautifully crafted, amping the tension while embracing the beauty and power young women possess.

How to Have Sex dir. Molly Manning Walker

How To Have Sex is not for the faint of heart. Writer-director Molly Manning Walker does not hold back with a twisty, intoxicating, neon-drenched drama that follows a teenage girl wanting to lose her virginity. Influenced by her party-hard friends, the timid Tara finds herself on a whirlwind journey with unexpected consequences. The film stands in stark contrast to the usual teen dramas that speak of the dangers of sex education, informed consent, and bodily autonomy. How To Have Sex hits hard, taking massive swings with its tone, capturing the rapidly changing, conflicting, and contradictory nature of being young and in love.

How To Have Sex will be released in Canada on February 4.