In the past week, the Toronto Arthouse Film Festival marked its return with the eagerly awaited 2025 edition. This year's event featured four screening evenings at the Innis Town Hall, complemented by an engaging online streaming selection. A vibrant assortment of 31 films, curated from both local and international talent, encompassing narrative films, documentaries, experimental gems, and music videos, contributed to the festival's resounding success, drawing a diverse community of indie film enthusiasts. 

 

Festival Curator and Director, Kris De Meester, expressed his delight, stating, "Celebrating the 10th edition of the Toronto Arthouse Film Festival felt like a true milestone. The turnout was fantastic, but what stood out most were the valuable Q&As — genuine, thoughtful exchanges between filmmakers and audiences. It was inspiring to see so many directors present to share their visions in person, reminding us of what makes arthouse cinema so vital: real conversation, curiosity, and connection through film."

 

Today, TAFF takes great pleasure in unveiling the distinguished recipients of the 2025 awards, as determined by our jury panel:

 

Best Narrative Feature Film:

A Hunt For Hedgehogs (Hungary) by Mihály Schwechtje

 

Best Documentary Feature Film:

Ice Breath (Romania) by Leonard Alecu

 

Best Narrative Short Film:

We Who Remain (Norway) by Sindre Mangen Haram

 

Best Documentary Short Film:

Unscarred (Belgium) by Théo Roland

 

Best Animated Short Film

The God Man (Canada) by Andrew Foerster

 

Best Underground Film:

Papier Mâché (Canada) by Simon Madore

 

Best Experimental Film

Nonna's Seeds (Canada) by Patricia Marcoccia

 

Best Poetic Film:

The Lamb (France) by Hélène Matte, Marco Dubé

 

Best Acting:

Cláudia Jardim in  A Mother Goes To The Beach (Portugal) by Pedro Hasrouny

 

Best Canadian Film:

Scarred (Canada) by Zeddy Chevron