Indigenous cinema is having a moment at TIFF. This year, 8 Indigenous feature films from Canada will premiere at the festival’s 50th edition—confirmed by the Indigenous Screen Office  (ISO) as a record-breaking number. 

“As an entity that exists solely to support Indigenous voices and vision, we are deeply proud of the delegation of Indigenous filmmakers attending TIFF this year…these films are a powerful reflection of Indigenous talent, vision, and storytelling, and the impact of the ISO,” said Kerry Swanson, CEO for the ISO.

In their mission to champion Indigenous storytelling on screen, the ISO provided support for all 8 films through their Story Fund, investing a total of $3.5 million in the development and production of the featured titles. 

This is the year to support and celebrate Indigenous storytelling at TIFF. Both emerging creators and established voices alike are featured on this roster of films, representing a range of approaches to Indigenous storytelling and filmmaking.The eight selected films span several TIFF programming streams, including powerful documentaries, moving love stories, and tales of community, friendship, and family. 

Here is an overview of the eight Indigenous films from Canada premiering at TIFF 2025. For more recommendations at the festival this year, check out our TIFF Top Picks guide!

Blood Lines – Gail Maurice

This queer romance and celebration of Métis culture is the second feature from director Gail Maurice. When Chani (Derica Lafrance) arrives in a Métis community in search of her biological family, storyteller and store clerk Beatrice (Dana Solomon) is instantly drawn to her. More info. 

Levers – Rhayne Vermette

In her sophomore feature, Manitoban filmmaker and artist Rhayne Vermette immerses viewers in a small town that is shaken after being plunged into darkness for a day. When the sun returns, the community a must grapple with their shaken sense of stability and mortality. More info. 

Meadowlarks – Tasha Hubbard

This emotional drama follows four siblings separated as babies by the Sixties Scoop as they reunite in Banff over the course of one week. Hubbard herself is a Sixties Scoop survivor, and this film is based on her 2017 documentary Birth of a Family. More info. 

Nika & Madison – Eva Thomas

After a violent encounter with the police, childhood friends Nika and Madison flee their reserve, fearing they won’t be believed. Eva Thomas directs this story of resilience, justice, and survival through the lens of two Indigenous women. More info. 

Aki – Darlene Naponse 

Through the changing seasons, Darlene Naponse documents the natural landscape and soundscape of her home community, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (formerly known as Whitefish Lake First Nation), in this almost entirely wordless visual art documentary. More info. 

Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising – Shane Belcourt & Tanya Talaga

In 1974, a 38-day youth-led armed occupation took over a park in Kenora, Ontario, in protest of the mistreatment of Indigenous people. While only 8 minutes of archival footage of the protest exists, this documentary tells a story of Indigenous power and resilience. More info. 

Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts) – Bretten Hannam

Two Mi’kmaw brothers seek to avenge the ghosts that haunt them from their childhood in this eerie, otherworldly thriller. In order to confront their traumas, the brothers journey through a haunted forest, where their past is revealed to them. More info. 

Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) – Zacharias Kunuk

A love story goes awry in this epic historical drama about an arranged marriage in an Inuit village. Set 4,000 years ago, this film blends the supernatural with both past and present Inuit traditions. More info. 

The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 4-14. See the TIFF website for the full list and schedule of films.