ACTRA Toronto members are in the spotlight at the 14th annual Breakthroughs Film Festival (BFF) – the only Canadian film festival dedicated to presenting short films by emerging women and non-binary filmmakers.
From November 21 to 23, 2025, BFF will showcase four ACTRA Toronto shorts.
Below you’ll find a round-up of ACTRA Toronto productions at this year’s festival and the talented casts of ACTRA Toronto members who bring these stories to life.
(2-minute read)
ALICE IS FINE
Forced to reckon with doctors who treat her debilitating pain as though it’s all in her head, what will it take for Alice to get the care she needs?
Featuring: Sarah Hime, Matthew Edison, Natasha Bromfield, Ben Steele Caldwell
Shorts Program: The Truth Bleeds; premieres Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
I’LL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT
When a lesbian filmmaker is haunted by a recurring dream of her high school ex-boyfriend, she embarks on a documentary to reenact the dreams, awakening uncomfortable truths about her complicated relationship with men.
Featuring: Benjamin T. Butterfield, Iyin Ajagunna
Shorts Program: The Truth Bleeds; premieres Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
UNDER THE KASAYA
After an unexpected interaction with her Buddhist mentor, Jean faces a terrifying dilemma: to stay silent, or to risk it all by confessing the ugly truth to her deeply devout Buddhist mother.
Featuring: Angel Lo
Shorts Program: The Truth Bleeds; premieres Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
MAWTINI (MY HOMELAND)
Nawal, a young grieving Palestinian woman, forms an unlikely friendship with Tanya, an older Indigenous woman, becoming an accomplice to her guerilla gardening on the lawn of their apartment building. Together they battle with middle management to make it to harvest.
Featuring: André L.A. Blissett, Edsson Morales, Monique Mojica
Shorts Program: Too Much, Not Enough; premieres Saturday, November 22 at 7 p.m.
Photos and descriptions courtesy of Breakthroughs Film Festival.
ACTRA Toronto is a proud sponsor of the Breakthroughs Film Festival.
