Meet the 2024-2025 TIFF Next Wave Committee!
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. With the guidance of TIFF staff, the Committee is charged with planning some major youth-oriented events at TIFF Lightbox, including the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival.
Neha Hallim
Describe yourself in three words:
Creative and stylish
Who would play you in a movie?:
Zoe Kravitz
What's your theme song?:
Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Spike Lee
A movie that made you feel seen:
Greta Gerwig's Little Women
A Next Wave Film that inspires you:
The Dog Thief
Anita Monteiro Cavalcanti Neiva
Describe yourself in three words:
Funnily fashionably extroverted
Who would play you in a movie?:
Willem Dafoe
What's your theme song?:
Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Fernanda Torres
A movie that made you feel seen:
Everything Everywhere All at Once
A Next Wave film that will make you cry:
Manas
Linc Guo
Describe yourself in three words:
Boy discovers Evangelion
Who would play you in a movie?:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
What's your theme song?:
Ginseng Strio 2002
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Sean Baker
A movie that made you feel seen:
Open Doom Crescendo
A Next Wave film that will make you laugh:
Pools
Sanjali Paruthi
Describe yourself in three words:
Forgot my phone!
Who would play you in a movie?:
Avantika Vandanapu
What's your theme song?:
Messy by Lola Young
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Fawzia Mirzia
A movie that made you feel seen:
Skater Girl
A Next Wave film that will make you think:
Rape Play
Lillie Fauteux
Describe yourself in three words:
Loud, silly, opinionated
Who would play you in a movie?:
1960s Jane Birkin
What's your theme song?:
Making the Scene by Amanaz
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Sarah Polley
A movie that made you feel seen:
Lisa Frankenstein
A Next Wave film that inspires you:
Seaside Serendipity
Jasmine Axolu-Simmons
Describe yourself in three words:
Creative, Ghanian, passionate
Who would play you in a movie?:
Taylor Russell. Not necessarily because we look alike but because I adore her vibe and really just want to be her.
What's your theme song?:
Mia & Sebastian’s Theme (La La Land)
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Denzel Washington because of how humble he is despite being the greatest actor to ever live!
A movie that made you feel seen:
I'm No Longer Here—a perfect coming-of-age story that captures the feeling of missing home, but only having the memories to remember it by.
A Next Wave film that will have you at the edge of your seat:
The Dog Thief
Sebastian White
Describe yourself in three words:
Blonde in hiding
Who would play you in a movie?:
Patti Harrison/Bowen Yang (they can alternate)
What's your theme song?:
Donatella by Lady Gaga
One person in the industry who inspires you:
David Cronenberg
A movie that made you feel seen:
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan
A Next Wave film that will energize you:
Queens of Drama
Andrew Anthonio
Describe yourself in three words:
eye candy visionary
Who would play you in a movie?:
Timothee Chalamet before he reaches twink death
What's your theme song?:
Born Slippy (Nuxx) by Underworld
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Luca Guadagnino
A movie that will ignite your inner teenage angst:
Mysterious Skin
A Next Wave film that will ignite your inner teenage angst:
The Virgin of the Quarry Lake
Roni Harel Haber
Describe yourself in three words:
Girl at best
Who would play you in a movie?:
Rachel Sennott
What's your theme song?:
Teenage Girl by Cherry Glazerr
A Next Wave film that will inspire you:
Seaside Serendipity
Tafadzwa Mangwiro
Describe yourself in three words:
Outgoing, funny, sensational
Who would play you in a movie?:
Michael B. Jordan
What's your theme song?:
Hey Daddy by Usher
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Christopher Nolan
A movie that made you feel seen:
The Karate Kid
A Next Wave film that will make you think:
Where the Wind Comes From
Ambreal Jiang
Describe yourself in three words:
Passionate, spontaneous, carefree
Who would play you in a movie?:
Emma Roberts
What's your theme song?:
One of These Nights by Eagles
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Winona Ryder
A movie that made you feel seen:
Swing Girls and Frances Ha
A Next Wave film that will energize you:
Brides
Daniel Leplae
Describe yourself in three words:
Werewolf by night
Who would play you in a movie?:
Dylan O'Brien
What's your theme song?:
I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred
One person in the industry who inspires you:
Adam Rehmeier
A movie that made you feel seen:
Little Miss Sunshine
A Next Wave film that will inspire you:
Seaside Serendipity