The cinema experience is taking a whole different route this year with pandemic restrictions on a high, but it doesn’t mean we are short of any new releases in the up-coming months. 

By, Alya Stationwala

With COVID-19 still taking a toll on events and social life, the movie industry has taken a major hit, with Cineplex cinemas closing around the country for months and major releases getting postponed indefinitely. However, with the release of Wonder Woman 1984 garnering $40 million in the global box office through its simultaneous theatre and streaming platform release, there is still hope that some audiences are thirsting to see new movies in the new year. 

Canadian cinema is facing a particular hardship trying to compete against the major blockbusters in an even smaller streaming market, rather than the usual festival and theatres releases. However, that is not stopping Canadian filmmakers and productions from releasing their work to the public. The following list compiles seven anticipated films to look out for in 2021 straight from Hollywood North. 

North of Albany (Au Nord d’Albany), Marianne Farley

Filmed in the midst of the pandemic towards the end of 2020, North of Albany is the feature length directorial debut for Academy Award nominated director Marianne Farley (Marguerite). It tells the story of a single mother fleeing Montreal with her two kids after one of them attacks their harasser. . However, getting stranded in Adirondacks, the mountains in northeastern New York, the psychological thriller takes a new turn. While the exact release date has yet to be promoted, it is set to be distributed by Maison 4:3 on digital streaming. 

Archipelago (Archipel), Felix Dufour-Laperriere

Directed by Quebecois Felix Dufour-Laperriere, Archipelago is an animated film featuring drawings and speeches that delve into the real and imagined islands of Quebec along the Saint Lawrence river, as well as  what makes those lands into a community. Competing in the Big Screen Competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in February 2021, this is Dufour-Laperriere’s second feature length documentary film of his career. 

Babysitter, Monia Chokri

Taking on her second feature length film, Monia Chokri finished filming Babysitter in Montreal in October 2020. The film is a comedy-drama about the feminism of  the #MeToo-era, where Chokri herself plays one of the lead characters in a story about an unemployed man who publishes a book of apologies to the women in his former workplace as a way to repent. Based on a play by Catherine Léger, the film is set to be released in June 2021. 

The Time Thief (L’Arracheuse de temps), Francis Leclerc

Director Francis Leclerc teams up with musician and author Fred Pellerin in a film adaption of Pellerin’s book, The Time Thief. Previously working together on the screenplay for Barefoot at Dawn (2017), the film is set to have a second round of filming in spring 2021 should pandemic restrictions allow, and set to be released in late 2021. The movie follows the story of a grandmother on her deathbed consoling her grandson by convincing him that death no longer exists. 

Man from Toronto, Patrick Hughes

While Man From Toronto may have Toronto in the name and filming locations in the titular city, it surprisingly tells the story of the world’s deadliest assassin being mistaken for New York’s biggest screw up at an Airbnb. Nevertheless, this Toronto production has been filming action scenes in downtown Toronto, Mississauga, and more throughout the pandemic. The comedy film is set to be released in September 2021, 

Sneakerella,  Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum

Yet another Cinderella adaptation, Sneakerella is a modern take on a classic Disney film that takes place in New York City’s sneaker culture. Filmed in Toronto, the movie is set to be released on Disney+ in 2021 as one of the many straight-to-streaming film releases that are gaining popularity in the midst of the pandemic. The movie is a musical comedy that will have a heavy focus on choreography and features scenes in famous Toronto locations like High Park. 

Nightmare Alley, Guillermo del Toro

Toronto’s favourite Guillermo del Toro is using the city yet again for another one of his monster-driven films. This time, this psychological thriller tells the story of a manipulative carny getting together with an even more dangerous psychiatrist in an adaption of a novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. Currently, in post-production, this study of the corrupt world of show business is set to be released in December 2021.

With Hollywood being one of the many places hit with COVID-19 shutdowns across the United States , Canada is stepping up its productions during the pandemic, creating safe spaces with staggered filming, lunch breaks, and limited crew on set. With these precautions taken, these are just some of the many films that have been able to continue production and confirm release dates for the upcoming year.

Though they are facing less space for productions and less audience viewership than usual, streaming and the film industry are some of the few things that have been a consistent form of entertainment and comfort while we continue to deal with the pandemic. Supporting these new releases are just one way to keep the industry afloat during this time, so keep an eye out for Canadian films in 2021.