NFMLA Presents InFocus: Canadian Cinema Program

      Impersonation on dating apps, a mother’s posthumous video, and a goth-metal sister who appears to be possessed were some of the themes presented at the recent NewFilmmakers Los Angeles festival, which hosted a special InFocus: Canadian Cinema program.

      The festival in July highlighted independent Canadian storytellers, supported by Telefilm Canada, the Québec Government Office in Los Angeles, and ACTRA Toronto, in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles. The event also included July Shorts, showcasing a selection of highlights from NFMLA’s ongoing programming, and featured the Los Angeles premiere of An Arrangement, the debut feature film directed by Noree Victoria.

      The day commenced with July Shorts, which presented a mix of short comedy, drama, and horror films designed to entertain, provoke thought, and explore complex human relationships.

      Following this, InFocus: Canadian Cinema showcased a variety of works by emerging Canadian filmmakers, delving into themes of battling inner turmoil, finding romantic bravery, coping with loss, addressing trauma, and discovering one's voice.

      The evening wrapped up with the Los Angeles premiere of An Arrangement, a contemporary psychological thriller rich with layers. Having premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, it provides viewers with ample opportunity for self-reflection. “An Arrangement explores what occurs when we try to compress our lives into metaphorical boxes confined by the moral and physical limits set by others,” explained Victoria.

      Throughout the year, NFMLA features films by creators from all backgrounds as part of both general and InFocus programming. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit their projects for future NFMLA Festivals, irrespective of the InFocus programming schedule, which emphasizes representation by highlighting diverse communities of filmmakers as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. The initiative is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

      **“The Colour of My Room” directed by Jake Alden Falconer**

      **About Jake:** Jake is an independent film producer who has collaborated with talented filmmakers and writers such as Julian Fellowes, Isabel Allende, and Brady Corbet, as well as actors like Harvey Keitel, Sonia Braga, and Haley Lu Richardson. He produced the horror film 1 BR (2020), which debuted at the Fantasia Festival and ranked No. 1 on Netflix USA. Previously, he served as the producer's assistant on Paul Schrader’s Oscar-nominated First Reformed (2017), in which he also performed. After directing music videos and short films featured in Vice magazine, Dazed & Confused, i-D, and Clash, Jake won The Pitch Film Fund national competition in 2023 for his first funded short film, “Alice” (2024), followed by “The Colour of My Room” (2024), showcased at BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals. He has also written for The Independent newspaper, having studied at the University of Cambridge and Harvard University under the mentorship of Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin.

      **About “The Colour of My Room”:** Sylvie’s best friend visits her on the coast, revealing the widening gap in their lives.

      **Watch the NFMLA interview with Jake Alden Falconer, Director and Writer of “The Colour of My Room.”**

      **“Something’s Phishy” directed by Chase Lo**

      **About Chase:** Chase Lo (they/them) is a queer nonbinary actor, writer, and director active in Toronto, Montreal, and Taipei. Their directorial debut, “Something’s Phishy,” which they co-wrote and starred in, won outACTRAto’s Queer Your Stories Pitch and premiered at the 2024 InsideOut 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival. They are currently part of the Reelworld Screen Institute’s Emerging 20 Program, working on their first feature film, Glimmer — a neo-noir dark comedy about a people-pleasing banker who ventures into sex work and becomes a vigilante when a friend goes missing. As an actor, Chase lends their voice to Okul in Ubisoft’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

      **About “Something’s Phishy”:** Bex takes on the identity of her heartbroken best friend, Danny, on a dating app to demonstrate their allure, but this leads to unintended consequences.

      **Watch the NFMLA interview with Chase Lo, Director and Writer of “Something’s Phishy.”**

      **“Strangers” directed by Leah Doz**

      **About Leah:** Leah Doz is a rising Canadian filmmaker. “Strangers” marks her first auteur short and won both the Grand Jury Prize and Future of Film is Female Prize at Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Shorts Festival. Her short “Tips” was licensed for broadcast in Canada. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Leah has gained international experience as an acclaimed stage and screen actor, including in the Sundance and SXSW 2025 Official Selection Dead Lover. She's a fellow of Canada’s Black Screen Office, Reelworld Screen Institute, and