Films We Like

Overview

Films We Like is a Toronto-based boutique film distribution company founded in 2003 by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) and music promoter Gary Topp. The company distributes documentary, independent, and international films theatrically and digitally across Canada. After 14 years and 444 films, Films We Like has established itself as Canada's leading niche distributor of alternative and arthouse cinema.

The company's name reflects its curatorial philosophy: distributing films that the team genuinely believes in rather than applying a purely commercial filter to acquisitions. This approach gives Films We Like a distinct identity in the Canadian market, where larger distributors like Mongrel Media and Elevation Pictures prioritize broader commercial appeal.

Toronto's position as Canada's largest city and home to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) gives Films We Like natural access to international films premiering at one of the world's most important film festivals. TIFF is a primary acquisition platform for Canadian distribution rights, and a Toronto-based distributor with consistent TIFF engagement has a structural advantage in accessing these acquisitions.

Leadership and Team

Ron Mann, the founder, is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker in his own right. His films include Grass (1999), Comic Book Confidential (1988), Carmine Street Guitars (2018), and Clairtone (2025). Mann's dual role as both filmmaker and distributor gives Films We Like a filmmaker-centric perspective on distribution that is rare among Canadian distributors. Mercy Lam serves as Manager, Acquisitions, Marketing and Publicity.

TIFF Relationships and 2025 Acquisitions

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most important public film festivals in the world, attracting both industry professionals and large general audiences. For Canadian distributors, TIFF provides an annual concentrated acquisition opportunity for international films seeking Canadian distribution.

Films We Like's Toronto base and TIFF relationships give it early access to international films that premiere at the festival and fit its arthouse programming identity. At the 50th TIFF in 2025, the company acquired two films:

A Poet (Un poeta) by Simon Mesa Soto: A darkly comic Colombian feature that premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. The film had its North American premiere at TIFF 2025 in the Special Presentations section.

Miroirs No.3 by Christian Petzold: The latest film from the acclaimed German director (Phoenix, Barbara, Afire), which had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in Directors' Fortnight and its North American premiere at TIFF 2025 in the Centrepiece programme.

Recent and Upcoming Releases

Films We Like's recent releases include:

• Flow: The Academy Award-winning animated film (Best Animated Feature, 2025), demonstrating Films We Like's ability to handle commercially successful titles alongside niche arthouse fare
• Cloud: Recent theatrical release
• Caught by the Tides: Recent theatrical release
• Samia: Recent theatrical release
• Urchin: Recent theatrical release
• Koln 75: Music-drama from director Ido Fluk, which debuted in the Special Gala section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival
• Clairtone: Ron Mann's latest pop-culture documentary, opening in theatres across Canada beginning December 5, 2025, with Q&A screenings in Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston
• Peter Asher: Everywhere Man: Feature documentary about British music legend Peter Asher, directed by Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller (Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song), world premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival
• Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other: Intimate portrait by Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter, from the producers of The Act of Killing, Flee, The End, and Nickel Boys

Upcoming theatrical releases scheduled through 2026 and into 2027 include titles starting in August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, February 2027, and March 2027, indicating an active and growing release calendar.

Distribution Model

Films We Like distributes theatrically across Canada through partnerships with arthouse cinemas in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and other major cities. Digital distribution follows the theatrical window through Canadian VOD platforms and aggregator relationships covering major digital storefronts.

The company's accessible acquisition threshold, relative to the larger Mongrel Media and Elevation Pictures, makes it a realistic option for international films that have strong critical credentials but more limited commercial appeal. Films We Like typically handles 15 to 25 acquisitions per year, a volume that reflects its boutique scale and curatorial approach.

For documentary films, Films We Like has particular strength. Ron Mann's own filmmaking background gives the company deep connections in the documentary community, and the company has distributed documentaries from major documentary festivals including Sundance, IDFA, Hot Docs, and CPH:DOX.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Films We Like is an accessible acquisition target for international filmmakers seeking Canadian theatrical distribution for arthouse, documentary, and adventurous cinema. The company's genuine commitment to the films it distributes gives it more sustained advocacy for each release than higher-volume distributors can provide.

For Canadian filmmakers with projects that fit the adventurous arthouse or documentary identity, Films We Like provides domestic Canadian distribution alongside connections to international sales agents who can place the film internationally. The company has also produced its own titles, including Clairtone (2025) and September Songs (2026).

Filmmakers should approach Films We Like with completed films that have festival credentials or clear audience targeting within the arthouse or documentary space. The company values films with strong critical reception potential and formal ambition. Submit through the company's website at filmswelike.com or through a sales agent or entertainment lawyer.

For international filmmakers premiering at TIFF, Films We Like is among the Canadian specialty distribution contacts worth engaging during the festival period. The company's adventurous programming identity makes it particularly receptive to formally ambitious and unconventional international work.

See Also

For larger Canadian theatrical distribution, see Mongrel Media and Elevation Pictures in this directory. For TIFF's role as Canada's primary acquisition platform, see the Film Festivals Directory. For how Canadian distribution deals are structured, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue from a Canadian theatrical and digital release, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.