Films We Like

Overview

Films We Like is a Toronto-based independent film distribution company founded in 2008. The company distributes arthouse and quality international films theatrically and digitally across Canada, occupying the adventurous end of the Canadian specialty distribution market. 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.

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

TIFF Relationships

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 its TIFF relationships give it early access to international films that premiere at the festival and that fit its arthouse programming identity.

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.

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 through aggregator relationships covering the 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.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Films We Like is an accessible acquisition target for international filmmakers seeking Canadian theatrical distribution for arthouse 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 identity, Films We Like provides domestic Canadian distribution alongside connections to international sales agents who can place the film internationally.

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.