Next Wave › Next Wave Committee 2022
TIFF Next Wave Committee 2021–2022
Founded in 2010, the TIFF Next Wave Committee is a group of 12 students ranging in age from 15 to 18 and selected from a competitive pool of hopeful young film enthusiasts. Hailing from specialized arts institutions, public schools, and private schools across the GTA, the Committee members’ tastes, opinions, and critical voices are as diverse as they are strong. Some are aspiring filmmakers, writers, and actors; some are interested in learning the business of film and festivals; some like planning cultural events; and some just love movies. All have demonstrated a spirit that has impressed TIFF leaders.
We chatted with the Committee about their festival picks, their first movie memory, and the always-crucial question: “Who would play you in a movie?”
Saharla Ugas
Describe yourself in three words:
Sincere, silly, succession
Who would play you in a movie?:
Steve Buscemi
A movie that made you feel seen:
Akeelah and the Bee
Your first movie memory:
Watching the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on VCR with my sister.
What are you looking forward to the most at TIFF Next Wave and why?:
Getting to share the emotions and experiences of watching films with others.
“If you like X…”:
If you like The Diary of a Teenage Girl, you will love 4 Feet High.
Julia Yoo
Describe yourself in three words:
Wears grandma’s clothes
Who would play you in a movie?:
Ellen DeGeneres
A movie that made you feel seen:
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!
Your first movie memory:
It’s 2007, and I’m watching My Neighbor Totoro with my brother at my grandparents’ house.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
“Nostalgia Ultra” is the way nostalgia creeps its way into our lives as we grow older and brings new life and excitement to old things — the kind of excitement that you haven’t felt since childhood.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Daughters of the Dust, you will love Freda.
Sia Mehta
Describe yourself in three words:
Still can’t drive
Who would play you in a movie?:
Natasha Lyonne
A movie that made you feel seen:
20th Century Women
Your first movie memory:
Watching My Neighbor Totoro, Peter Pan, and every single Barbie movie on our tiny minivan screen, back and forth between Montreal and Toronto.
What are you looking forward to the most at TIFF Next Wave and why?
I can’t wait to see people in TIFF theatres. We’ve waited so long for that togetherness; it changes how we experience the film. It makes it even better.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Rocks or Girlhood, you will love The Fam.
Charles Liu
Describe yourself in three words:
Ambitious, creative, loud
Who would play you in a movie?:
Sean Maguire from Good Will Hunting because I am always the therapist in my friend group.
A movie that made you feel seen:
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It was the first time I saw these issues of lack of confidence and impostor syndrome being displayed on the big screen.
Your first movie memory:
Going to the theatres to see Hugo with my family friend as a Christmas gift.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
To me, it’s about feel-good movies that provide a deep sense of relief and comfort to yourself. It’s meant to be something that provides that unique bittersweet feeling when thinking about the past.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Waves, you will love I Don’t Wanna Dance.
Naiya Forrester
Describe yourself in three words:
Kind, stubborn, passionate
Who would play you in a movie?:
Marsai Martin
A movie that made you feel seen:
Scarborough was a film that didn’t necessarily represent me, but more so the kids I grew up around. It made me feel seen in a way because I was in daycare with kids like those in the film, I went to school with them, I was friends with them… it all just felt very familiar.
Your first movie memory:
Watching Mamma Mia! with my mum when I was about three years old.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
To me, it’s fond memories of films from your past, films that really affected you in some way or another. It’s films that take you back to a different time in your life.
“If you like X…”:
If you like tick, tick… BOOM!, you will love The Braves.
Honora Murphy
Describe yourself in three words:
Calm, determined, dreamer
Who would play you in a movie?:
KJ Apa
A movie that made you feel seen:
Frances Ha
Your first movie memory:
Seeing Brave in 3D! I forgot to put my 3D glasses back on after going to the bathroom, and I was so upset that I cried. A lot.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
Friendship, love, pain, growth, all the experiences that have shaped who we are, that allow us to both yearn for the past and eagerly chase the future. As teens and young adults in the process of growing up, it’s the sadness that things will never be the same, but also the excitement for all that is to come.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, you will love It’s a Summer Film!
Ellie Tripp
Describe yourself in three words:
White washed asian
Who would play you in a movie?:
Brigette Lundy-Paine
A movie that made you feel seen:
Little Miss Sunshine
Your first movie memory:
When I was a child, the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz was stuck in many of my dreams and took countless hours of sleep away from me.
What are you looking forward to the most at TIFF Next Wave and why?
I’ve fallen in love with so many of these films we’ve chosen, so I’m really looking forward to sharing these films with family, friends, and a broader audience. I’m excited for people to come out and experience the fascinating impact that these films have.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Attack the Block, you will love Slash/Back.
David Rhomberg-Stevenson
Describe yourself in three words:
Super Duper Cool
Who would play you in a movie?:
I’ve no clue. Maybe I should open a casting call.
A movie that made you feel seen:
The Boxtrolls. Seeing a character (Eggs) who moved about in a similar manner to me was exciting.
Your first movie memory:
Watching How to Train Your Dragon in theatres. I remember it feeling very intense.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
“Nostalgia Ultra” is the feeling that the moment you’re experiencing now will one day be a memory you’re looking back on. It’s a quite simple but poignant concept.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Your Name, you will love It's a Summer Film!
Norah Daudi
Describe yourself in three words:
Manic pixie dreamgirl
Who would play you in a movie?:
Zoe Kravitz
A movie that made you feel seen:
Howl’s Moving Castle
Your first movie memory:
I was six years old and watched The Dark Knight with my older brothers. Long story short, would not recommend watching this as a six-year-old.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
That beautiful, indescribable feeling of being comforted while also transporting you back to a perfectly content time in your life.
“If you like X…”:
If you like Freedom Writers, you will love Casablanca Beats.
Dev Desai
Describe yourself in three words:
Squidward but funnier
Who would play you in a movie?:
Dev Patel
A movie that made you feel seen:
Life of Pi
Your first movie memory:
Witnessing Lightning McQueen fall in love with a blue Porsche.
This year’s Movie Marathon theme is “Nostalgia Ultra.” What does that mean to you?
To me it’s just the importance of throwbacks and memories that have stuck with me as I’ve grown. Everyone has these memories they love looking back at, and this year’s theme of “Nostalgia Ultra” will definitely trigger everything nostalgic-related in our lives… The vibes shall be phenomenal.
“If you like X…”:
If you like 50/50, you will love The Braves.