#TIFF26: “IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH”

By Amanda Gilmore

In the Heart of the South follows Yura Ivalu (Anna Lambe), the latest darling of the Toronto art world, whose virtual reality piece about the Residential School System has skyrocketed her to fame. Her popularity has led to the opportunity to develop a film. She decides to write a feature about a traumatic moment in her youth when she and her friend Sesi (Zorga Qaunaq) were lost in the Arctic. But when Sesi mysteriously re-enters Yura’s life, Yura’s polished demeanour in this polite society begins to show cracks.

Nyla Innuksuk’s latest catapults its audience into the Toronto art scene that’s often stuffed with white buyers collecting pieces of art as a form of performative allyship. We watch as Yura listens to white collectors speak about how moved they are by her work. She’s always composed and appreciative. However, when Sesi arrives, we begin to realize that Yura might not be exactly who she appears.

Sesi is the opposite of Yura. She questions nearly every person in Yura’s world and doesn’t shy away from stating uncomfortable truths. That’s precisely why so many people in the art world find her refreshing. She isn’t playing into the privileged’s game that many have before. In doing so, Yura, who’s played that game for years, sees Sesi as a threat to replace or expose her and take away all she has accomplished.

Innuksuk and co-writer Ryan Cavan have crafted a thrilling feature about the decisions we make and the tales we tell, both good and bad, to advance in our careers. Lambe and Qaunaq give outstanding performances as women confronting their past and realizing the frailty of human perception.

In the Heart of the South screens at TIFF ’26:

Thurs. Sept 10 @ 9 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sat. Sept 12 @ 9:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Fri. Sept 18 @ 9 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto