Next Wave - Official Selection

Person in green t-shirt lying on ground outdoors, gazing thoughtfully into distance against rural backdrop

dir. Paloma Schneideman
New Zealand | Canadian Premiere

In the ambiently homophobic environment of a rural town in the mid-2000s, a 14-year-old girl navigates sexual curiosity and a desire for acceptance over one transformative summer.

Person with short black hair smiling in blue-tinted nighttime scene wearing a hoodie

Burn

dir. Makoto Nagahisa
Japan | Canadian Premiere

A runaway teen (Nana Mori of Kokuho, TIFF ‘25) finds comfort and solace in a group of other young misfits. But she soon discovers that danger can lurk even in what looks like a safe haven.

Dark abstract background with swirling shades of deep blue and black creating a mysterious atmosphere

CAMP

dir. Avalon Fast
Canada | Toronto Premiere

A group of counsellors at a Christian grief camp find catharsis through the occult — but not without consequence.

Low-angle view of a person in a white shirt against a blue sky, with braided hair styled in small knots

If I Go Will They Miss Me

dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández
USA | Canadian Premiere

A 12-year-old who's struggling to connect with the father he idolizes starts seeing ghostly figures of boys around his neighbourhood.

Two teenagers in casual streetwear pose confidently in a black and white outdoor portrait

Ish

dir. Imran Perretta
United Kingdom | Toronto Premiere

A childhood friendship is torn apart after a traumatic interaction with the police in this poetic and poignant drama.

Two people standing outdoors in casual summer clothing with high-rise buildings visible in the background

Isle Child

dir. Thomas Percy Kim
South Korea, USA | Canadian Premiere

An adopted New England teen, played by Ethan Hwang (Riceboy Sleeps, TIFF ‘22), is forced to confront his feelings of otherness when he discovers his Korean birth mother is terminally ill.

Two people lying on floor in purple-lit room, wearing pink and gray outfits, smiling at camera

Niñxs

dir. Kani Lapuerta
Mexico, Germany | Toronto Premiere

Shot over eight years in the small town of Tepoztlán, Mexico, this vibrant documentary follows Karla through an adolescence marked by joy, resilience, and transition.

Two people at an outdoor shooting range, one aiming a rifle while another watches with a smile

Our Hero, Balthazar

dir. Oscar Boyson
USA | Toronto Premiere

In a misguided attempt to impress a crush, a lonely New York teen flies to Texas, where he thinks he can stop a future school shooter — but his plan quickly spirals out of control.

Two nuns in black habits assist a woman in beige dress by lakeside with weeping willows and brick building behind

Thanks for Nothing

dir. Stella Marie Markert
Germany | Canadian Premiere

Four teens living in a Berlin group home have created their own anarchic utopia. But the unhelpful adults in their lives, combined with the harsh realities of the world, threaten to tear it apart

Next Wave - Official Selection

TIFF Next Wave Official Selection