TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival returns this week, with a diverse selection of coming-of-age titles helmed by young directors. From April 10 to 13, emerging filmmakers and cinephiles will come together at TIFF Lightbox to watch boundary-pushing shorts and feature films, as well as participate in collaborative events catered to the next generation of creatives. Kicking things off with a Battle of the Scores — featuring four grunge bands competing to score a short film — followed by an opening night party, the weekend celebration is bound to be vibrant and filled with youthful energy. 

The festival is curated by a committee of 12 students, ranging in age from 15 to 18, who are either passionate about film or would like to develop stories for the screen in the near future. Although the committee plans events year-round, Next Wave is their biggest undertaking, with members watching several titles from around the world before deciding which films to feature at the festival. 

Brides, Seaside Serendipity, and Rape Play are only a few of this year’s picks that revolve around themes like grief, identity, and mental health. According to Lillie Fauteux, one of the festival’s youth organizers, Sam Hayes’ feature debut Pools is a culmination of all three. The film is centered on Kennedy, a teen who has one day to get herself together until she is kicked out of school. Deciding to spend those 24 hours pool-hopping with friends, the protagonist embarks on a freeing, self-discovery journey.

“We all really liked it and Odessa A’zion, who’s the lead actress in it, is fantastic and a really celebrated member of the online community, so we were really excited to have a film with her featured in it,” Fateux says. 

Hayes will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A and will join director Chandler Levack in hosting the Young Creators Co-Lab: Coming-of-Age Confrontations, where the two will revisit key scenes from their respective films and break down their characters’ paths to growing up. 

Emma Seligman, a notorious Next Wave alum who gained prominence for their queer dramedies Shiva Baby and Bottoms, will return for the TIFF 50 Alumni Spotlight. The director will join in virtually to answer questions about both of their films and share their advice for prospective filmmakers. 

“I think it is inspiring to have a mentor or alumni that made it so far in the industry. It’s just exciting to see a woman in comedy killing it, especially from Toronto. If you watch those two films together, you can see the line through their work, which is really nice, especially with somebody who doesn’t have a lot of films out yet. It’s nice that we’re already getting to see that connection,” Fauteux says. 

In addition to a lineup of 10 feature films, Next Wave will also present a Young Creators Showcase, featuring 13 genre-spanning shorts made by and for young people. Committee member Ambreal Jiang believes that the showcase is a festival highlight, with attendees getting to see works by talented Canadians who are just getting started. 

“Shorts are one of the main ways that we can really showcase ourselves. It’s also the way for many young creators and young filmmakers to get their work out there and get it seen by the entire city,” she says. 

Other festival events to note are Actors in Focus (a mentorship opportunity for young actors looking to land their next audition), Expanded Cinema (a session on cinema beyond traditional spaces), and Let’s Get Weird! with New Toronto Bizarre (a panel dedicated to absurdist, DIY filmmaking).

TIFF Next Wave runs from April 10-13 at the TIFF Lightbox. Secure tickets to screenings and events here.