The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is On! Here’s Everything You Need to Know.
A film festival “for the youth, by the youth.” The Underground sat down with the TIFF Next Wave Committee to find out what’s coming up for youthful cinema connoisseurs.
TIFF Next Wave is a film festival that runs April from 14th to the 16th. It is free for people under 25. Located at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, this year’s festival consists of various programming and a line-up of twelve films from around the world that revolves around the theme “Lost and Found.”
To learn more about the Next Wave Film Festival, The Underground spoke with two Next Wave Committee members, Arjun Persaud and Simona Williams.
The Next Wave Committee of 2023 / Photo Courtesy of TIFF
What is the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival?
Persaud: The TIFF Next Wave is a film festival programmed by us, the TIFF Next Wave Committee, which is a diverse group of high school students from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario. We program a line-up of 12 films and the festival consists of special events like Battle of the Scores, which is our opening night party, where we have bands coming in to score over a short film.
We have the Young Creators Co-Lab, where young people can expose themselves to different aspects of the film industry.
We also have a Young Creators Showcase where a bunch of young people can come and show their short films, which is really cool.
Williams: I think the one thing I would add is that Next Wave really exposes today’s youth to films that they might not experience in a daily context. On a personal level, before I really knew about Next Wave,my knowledge of film wasn't very extensive. And through Next Wave, I've been exposed to many different films that I wasn't aware of before and I've been able to interact with a lot of new people.
So, I think Next Wave is really just a place where it's made by [the] youth, for [the] youth. And, it's a place where youth who are really interested in film can interact with people around them who are also interested in the same thing. It's really cool like that.
What makes Next Wave different from other film festivals?
Williams: I think Next Wave is truly different in the sense that, you know, it's a little bit more youth-focused. It's focused on youth stories from around the world that really emphasize different themes. Themes of community, coming of age, intersectionality, diversity. There are so many different things that youth deal with, and we try to find that in the films that we program for Next Wave.
Persaud: A slogan or motto that we use in Next Wave meetings is that it's youth-focused, youth-oriented, but it's not exclusively for [the] youth. Because when we're watching the film, we do think of the general audience. We think of our [overall] audience, that's a component of it.
So, where do you find the grey area that has these great commonalities that make it relevant for everyone, and important for everyone to experience? Just because they happen to have youth protagonists doesn't mean that you can't connect with them. Everyone was a youth. And that's a key component when we're programming our films.
What are some significant differences between this year’s festival from the previous ones?
Williams: This year's Next Wave festival has a different theme than last year's. Last year's theme was “Nostalgia Ultra.” Whereas this year, our theme is “Lost and Found.” So, a lot of the films that we chose for our line-up had to do with the theme [of] feeling lost and found. That's a key focus that differs from last year.
Persaud: We also have a bigger line-up than last year. And we are also offering more events. We have the art exhibit in the atrium lobby area of the TIFF Bell Lightbox, which is curated by Kaya Joan, who is an Afro-Indigenous artist who's just excellent. Her work is really great. And you can see a bunch of her paintings hanging up and just a bunch of cool art there. So, that's one thing that's different.
Williams: I don't think this is different, but we also have a bunch of official selection films playing digitally as well, which is awesome. This also means that they are available for people across Canada. If you would like to watch one of our official selection films, but can't make it to the festival, you could totally watch it online.
What are some things that you're excited about for this year's festival?
Persaud: I'm excited for people to be exposed to a bunch of films that they normally wouldn't have without the Next Wave festival. Especially for youth. I know that in my own life, I haven't watched as many international films without Next Wave. And I think it's gonna be really exciting for some of these young people [to experience]. I know that it's going to be their first exposure to international cinema in a major way, and I'm excited about that aspect of it.
Williams: For myself, I'm really, really excited for the [Young Creators] Co-Lab and the networking content. Not only inside our Young Creators Co-Lab, where young, aspiring filmmakers are able to interact with industry professionals and learn so much in our six-hour time frame. There are so many opportunities to interact with film lovers inside and outside of the theatre. So I'm really, really excited to see the number of new relationships and new networks that come out of our festival. Just seeing those connections blossom, it's going to be really beautiful.
What do you wish for festival-goers to take away from the Next Wave?
Williams: It's great to come into things with an open mind. And this festival, it's truly a celebration of international art that is meaningful not only to the youth but to people of all backgrounds. I believe that audiences will be able to go away with something they can see themselves experiencing through these films.
And I like to say that every film will be able to relate to somebody in some way. Whether it’s that you see yourself in a certain character, or you see yourself in a character's experience, there's always something to take away from that. And I think our film audiences will be able to appreciate that and use that in their further experiences.
Frame from Rocío de la Mañana and Juan Daniel García Treviño / Adolfo (2023) via DP Leo Calzoni
For those who are not close to the film industry, why should they go to Next Wave?
Persaud: I would say that if you're not close to the film industry, this is a great opportunity, if you feel inclined to get closer. I mean, even if you don't attend some of our more industry-focused events like Co-Lab and Young Creator Showcase, I think it's just really cool to watch and experience these films that are about young people, with young people.
And I know that, for myself, when I was watching some of these films, I kind of felt like, ‘Okay, this is a little bit of a beacon of hope.’ It shows you, ‘hey, I can do these things.’ You know, it opens doors. It's a bit of an eye-opener. Not in terms of a huge scale, but it's a really cool little thing that can help you realize there's a lot more out there.
Williams: Yeah, and just adding on to that point, there are so many opportunities to network. I think it's even more important for people who aren’t as invested in film to be able to be in that atmosphere where there are so many people who are interested in film. That way, you can learn more, and you can learn a lot about something that you don't really know a lot about.
Personally, I remember when I came to the festival last year, I did not know a lot. And it was just such an atmosphere that was so welcoming. And so, it's full of people that just really love film, and to be around that [energy] truly made me more inclined to join the committee and be a part of such an amazing initiative. And I feel that people who aren't interested in film would surely benefit from that experience.
How would you suggest festival-goers prepare before going to the festival?
Williams: I would say just come with tickets <laughs>. Come into it with an open mind. Come into it seeking to find something that you've never seen before because, truly, these films all have something that you probably have never seen before. And there's such important messaging. Such impactful messaging in some of these films that I think film-goers will truly be able to enjoy.
So just come into it with an open mind, open heart and be free. Because this festival truly is all about—it's just a celebration of meaningful international art. So, we truly want everyone to have a great experience.
Persaud: And come hydrated and stay hydrated. Because we had to do screening days where we'd sit in a room and, you know, watch films for about ten hours. I know first-world problems <laughs>. You know, just take care of yourself. Make sure you're okay. If you need to just like, stretch your legs, feel free. Just come back and enjoy your movie. And stay hydrated. That's a big one.
How can people access the festival?
Williams: So, tickets are currently available to the general public on tiff.net/nextwave. If you go to our website, you'll be able to find [the festival] schedule. You can [also] buy rush tickets for certain screenings as well the day of. Just make sure to check the availability beforehand.
You'll also be able to purchase an under-25 Pass. If you're under [the age of] 25, you can get free tickets with a free membership. And that membership also gives you access to things like TIFF Cinematheque and some new, year-round programming things as well. And You will also be able to find a list of the committee members there. And learn a little bit more about us, the TIFF Next Wave committee.
And if you're in high school and looking to join the Next Wave committee, you can also find the application form there if you're interested in joining.
Special thanks to Arjun Persaud and Simona Williams for talking with us, and to Sofia Powell Suárez for giving The Underground a chance to interview the Next Wave Committee!
Find the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival tickets and schedule on their website: https://tiff.net/nextwave
