THE BEST OF TIFF 2021

2021 marks the return of the Toronto International film Festival to in-persons screenings after the Pandemic limited last year’s TIFF to on-line only.  Yet the cinemas were empty due to capacity restrictions.  As would be expected, the quality of films this year is lacklustre, yet there are sufficient outstanding films that can make the Top 10 of any critics’s list.

Below are my TOP 10 of TIFF 2021.  For complete capsule descriptions of these films, please click on the link below:

https://afrotoronto.com/content/articles/67-movies/2172-toronto-international-film-festival-2021-capsule-reviews

My TOP 10 Films: 

(in order)

1. ALI & AVA

2. PETITE MAMAN

3. HUDA’S SALON

4. BENEDICATION

5. ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

6. AS IN HEAVEN

7. LE BAL DES FLLES (THE MADWOMAN’S BALL)

8. NOBODY AHS TO KNOW

9. .SALOUM

10. TERRORIZERS

Below are other awards given for ‘Best’ Films:

Festival Awards 2021

FRIPSECI:

ANATOLIAN LEOPARD

Runner-up:
PAKA: RIVER OF BLOOD

People's Choice Awards

A long-standing tradition at TIFF, the People’s Choice Awards is marking its 44th year. The awards consist of the People’s Choice Award, the People’s Choice Documentary Award, and the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award.  All feature films in Official Selection must screen both in-person and on digital TIFF Bell Lightbox to be eligible.

2021 Winners

People’s Choice Award: 

BELFAST

First Runner Up: SCARBOROUGH

Second Runner Up: THE POWER OF THE DOG

People’s Choice Documentary Award: 

THE RESCUE 

People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award: 

TITANE

Platform Prize

2021 Platform Prize Recipient

YUNI: dir. Kamila Andini

Honourable mention: Mlungu Wam (Good Madam), dir. Jenna Cato Bass