Short films are enjoying a popular resurgence of late.

Many filmmakers credit the diminished attention spans of our fast-paced digital era.

The beauty of being able to tell a story in a short amount of time and capture attention through a compelling storyline or aesthetic effects are some reasons filmmakers are drawn to this uniquely challenging format. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is showcasing some incredible Canadian short films this year. If you have a little bit of time, here are our recommendations:

This Ink Runs Deep
This CBC Arts short, directed by Asia Youngman, profiles Indigenous tattoo artists on the east and west coasts, in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. It’s a fascinating look at how heritage and cultural identity are honoured through the art of the tattoo.

Volcano
A compelling story of two old friends catching up and encountering uncomfortable truths is screenwriter Karen Moore’s directorial first; she’s one of the TIFF 2019 Canadian directors to watch.

I’ll End Up In Jail
A woman in despair looking to escape from the confines of her life winds up in an entirely unexpected situation in this Alexandre Dostie film that demonstrates the power of the short film. Dostie received the Best Canadian Short Film award at TIFF 2016 for his work Mutants.

The Physics of Sorrow
Adapted from a 2011 novel by acclaimed Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov, this short tells its story through an animated painting technique, resulting in stunning and unexpected visual effects.

Paseo
Part of the Canada’s Top Ten Shorts program, Paseo tells the story of a woman seeking change in unexpected places on a visit to Barcelona. TIFF 2019 feature Canadian actor Sarah Gadon’s stunning performance is directed by Matthew Hannam.

Brotherhood
Protagonist Mohamed is stunned when his estranged son returns to the family home in rural Tunisia with his new wife in this joint production from Canada, Tunisia, Qatar and Sweden. Directed by Meryam Joobeur.

Veslemoy’s Song
A young woman takes a step into the past when her grandmother asks for help cleaning out her storage locker in this short directed by Sofia Bohdanowicz.

The Subject
Not for the faint of heart, The Subject uses stop-motion and pixilation animation to document the animator’s dissection of his own body. Directed by Patrick Bouchard.

These Canadian short films let filmgoers experience a small slice of life in cinematic style. If you’re coming to Toronto for TIFF, take advantage of a great deal on a hotel so you have more to spend at the city’s best restaurants. And for more about the festival films and events, visit the official TIFF website.