Having finally returned from my annual hinterland hiatus (does Muskoka count as hinterland?) the festival is now fast approaching.  With only scant weeks to go, it's time to start talking movies.

Let's start with Canada First!  It's a rather diverse program this year, animation, drama, comedy, you name, we've got it. 

The film that, rather naturally struck me as soon as we saw it is the stunning Before Tomorrow.  Produced by the team that brought Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner and The Journals of Knud Rasmussen to TIFF, this is an amazing film about two Inuit elders who can see the future from a remote island where they dry fish with one of their grandchildren.  Visually breathtaking (pictured), the film's also deeply emotional and intimate.  Created by a women's film making collective, it's a stunning achievement, especially considering it's the first feature film made by this group.

It's of course,  particular meaningful to see this film for me, since, as an Aboriginal person, I seldom see movies like this made anywhere, let alone in Canada.  Before Tomorrow is an indication of how for Aboriginal film making has come, not just in Canada, but around the world, and it show's real progress in terms of how the medium is being used.  This is new cinematic language being created, and it displays the potential of cinema for the telling of Aboriginal stories in a distinctly indigenous manner.  I can hardly wait for the screening.