A film by Humber Polytechnic professor Kazik Radwanski has been deemed one of this country’s best of the year.

Matt and Mara by Radwanski, who’s a professor in Humber’s Bachelor of Film and Media Production program, was included in Canada’s Top Ten that’s presented by TIFF. The annual program celebrates the best Canadian films of the year, including both features and shorts.

Other films that made the 2024 list include David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds and Guy Maddin’s Rumours.

"Being named to Canada's Top Ten is an incredible honour,” said Radwanski. “Matt and Mara was such a personal film for our team and collaborators. To see it recognized alongside the best of Canadian cinema for 2024 means so much to us. We are so proud to make movies in Toronto with people who live and work here and it’s amazing to see these stories travel the world. I’m truly grateful to everyone who connected with the film and helped make this moment possible."

Matt and Mara premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and the film went on to have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. It hit cinemas and toured more than 40 theatrical engagements at cities across Canada and the United States this fall.   

It’s now available on Apple TV+ in Canada.

It’s Radwanski’s fifth film to be selected for Canada’s Top Ten after the shorts Princess Margaret Blvd. (2008), Out in that Deep Blue Sea (2009), Cutaway (2014) and the award-winning feature Anne at 13,000 ft (2019), which also co-starred Matt and Mara’s Deragh Campbell (Mara) and Matt Johnson (Matt).  

Radwanski wrote and directed Matt and Mara, and the film follows the surprise reunion of two old friends who were once close in university years ago. Mara is a married creative writing professor with a toddler when Matt, a successful author, finds himself in her classroom. The two reconnect over their shared past and interests. When Mara’s husband unexpectedly cancels plans to drive her to a conference out of town, Matt accompanies her instead and the pressure in their undefined relationship continues to build.  

Radwanski says the film explores the two characters as they navigate a brief but stirring emotional affair. Although it never turns physical, it’s the sort of experience that can haunt those involved long after it has ended.   

He feels Matt and Mara is somewhat less frenetic and more conversational than his previous films and said he wanted the audience to be pulled into the on-screen conversations. The characters might be less troubled than in his other works. They’re still struggling but in a softer way, he said.

But they come across as real people to the audience. He’s heard people leaving the theatre asking each other “are you a Matt or a Mara?”

Radwanski is the co-founder of Toronto-based production company MDFF. His previous films include Anne at 13,000 ft, which was awarded the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association, Tower, and How Heavy This Hammer.