Screening times:
Friday, April 24, 6:30 PM
R. T. Thorne | Canada | 2025 | 113m - director R.T. Thorne will be attending a post-film Q&A live via video-link!
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This event is supported by the Canadian Independent Screen Fund.
Multi-award winning filmmaker R.T. Thorne has emerged as one of the most eclectic visual storytellers since debuting on the music video scene over a decade ago. His debut feature film 40 Acres premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was named one of TIFF’s top 10 films. In addition to film, R.T. is also a prolific television director, known for the critically acclaimed series The Porter and Utopia Falls. As Chair of the Director’s Guild of Canada BIPOC members committee, R.T. is committed to fighting against racism and discrimination, while advocating for equality in the Film and TV industry. R.T. continues to follow his passion for creating and developing commercially viable filmmaking properties from diverse cultural perspectives.
After a series of plagues and wars leaves society in ruins, the Freemans are surviving - even thriving - on a farm in the middle of nowhere... so long as they repel the occasional raiding party. Former soldier Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler) and her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes) fled the collapse along with their children, training them to fight (and, yes, kill). But now Hailey's eldest Emanuel (Kataem O'Connor) is a young man, and when he meets a young woman (Milcania Diaz-Rojas) in the forest beyond the fence, his need for human contact could place the whole family in jeopardy.
Dystopia is a family affair in 40 Acres, a thoughtful thriller given extra heft by provocative themes and a terrific Danielle Deadwyler. An intense apocalyptic thriller furthered by a compelling mother-son relationship.
"A riveting and fiercely political thriller as poignant as a T.S. Eliot poem and as gory as a George A. Romero flick." - Barry Hertz, Globe & Mail
"The strong visual language elevates the film over plenty of other limited-location dystopian survival stories that have come and gone over the years - a good thing, since this is one of the few that actually has something to say." - Christian Zilko, IndieWire
Winner: Outstanding Independent Film - Black Reel Awards, 2026
Winner: Impact Award - Directors Guild of Canada Awards, 2025
Tickets $10.60 ($10 at the door if available)
