Babajide Fadoju
The microbudget short, shot on the Toronto Islands with just $1,500, marks A.C. Birch’s screen debut and explores intimacy, identity, and the bonds between gay trans men.
On a sweltering summer day, two trans men escape to the Toronto Islands, collect driftwood in their underwear, and confront something they can barely name: the quiet, complicated desire to be fully seen.
That is the heart of Driftwood, a 10-minute short film set to make its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in the Short Cuts 5 Programme.
Written, directed, and starring A.C. Birch, marking his screen debut, the film follows Tyler (Birch) and his best friend CJ (Breton Lalama) as they flee the city after a bad hookup leaves Tyler scrambling to retrieve a forgotten packer. Instead of facing the question head-on, the pair take a ferry to Hanlan’s Point, where they wander the shoreline, collect pieces of driftwood, and size them up against the possibility of phalloplasty, a conversation neither is quite ready to have.
“At its core, the film is about the kind of intimacy in which you are fully seen by someone you love,” Birch said in a statement. “It catches Tyler at a moment of nakedness and disconnection, and there is no neat and tidy resolution, but none is needed, because he is able to turn to CJ, who sees him for everything that he is.”
Birch drew inspiration from his own friendship with Lalama, who co-stars in the film. “I wanted to create a film in which the wholeness of these characters can be seen by audiences, in the same way Tyler is seen by CJ, and I am seen by Breton,” he said.
The film also stars Adrian Rebucas (Workin’ Moms, Skymed) and features cinematography by Kurtis Watson (My Dad’s Tapes), production design by Leo Dean (Boygirl), editing by Olive Reed, and sound design by Jesse Lawrence (Priscilla).
Produced by Birch, Emmett McCourt, and Michal Heuston, Driftwood was shot entirely on location in Toronto and on the Toronto Islands. It is a true microbudget Canadian production, supported by just $1,500 in crowdfunding, with post-production completed through the National Film Board of Canada’s Filmmaker Assistance Program.
“Driftwood takes place over one day on the Toronto Islands, so it is especially meaningful to have our world premiere here at home, and at TIFF no less,” Birch added. “I am so honoured to be included in this year’s cohort of Canadian filmmakers.”
The film’s synopsis reads: “Scrambling to leave the apartment of a bad hookup, trans man Tyler fails to notice he has left his packer behind. He wakes up the next morning in the bed of his best friend and fellow transfag, CJ. Their groggy heatwave morning is interrupted by a text from the hookup: would Tyler like to come back and pick up his dick?”
What follows is a tender, humorous, and quietly profound meditation on longing, euphoria, and the things we carry, even the ones we are afraid to name.
Screenings:
World Premiere: Monday, Sept 14 – 11:30 AM, Scotiabank 11
2nd Public Screening: Friday, Sept 18 – 2:45 PM, Scotiabank 9
Press and Industry: Monday, Sept 14 – 8:55 AM, Scotiabank 8
For press materials and screening links, visit www.inkcapmedia.com/driftwood.
Driftwood is produced by Ink Cap Media Inc. and Vicarious Playground Productions.