This September, a trailblazing story about courage, systemic resistance, and female empowerment takes center stage at TIFF. Out Standing, the latest offering from Canada’s Sphere Films, is set to make its world premiere on September 9th, 2025. Directed by Mélanie Charbonneau (Fabulous, Seule, Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous), this fierce, female-led drama pulls no punches in depicting the turbulent journey of Sandra Perron, Canada’s first female infantry officer.
Helmed by Charbonneau and based on Perron’s critically acclaimed memoir Out Standing in the Field, the film chronicles Perron’s unrelenting fight against institutionalized sexism within the Canadian Forces. Portrayed by SAG nominee Nina Kiri (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Perron is a determined young woman who shatters military barriers, only to face the worst kind of opposition: the deep-seated prejudice of her own comrades.
Set in the 1980s, Out Standing unveils the inner turmoil of a young woman raised in a military family who dares to pursue her dream of serving her country. But as she trains to become Canada’s first female infantry officer and joins the elite Royal 22e Régiment (the Van Doos), her most brutal battle is not the physical toll of military life—it’s the harassment, abuse, and institutional sexism that await her.
Charbonneau’s direction, alongside co-writer Martine Pagé (Taking the Plunge, Lac-Noir), takes the audience deep into the raw, unapologetic realities of military life. It’s a story of fierce ambition, a broken system, and the indomitable spirit of a woman who refused to back down, even when faced with overwhelming opposition.
Perron’s story is as urgent now as it was then. In the #MeToo era, her initial hesitation to speak out against the harassment she endured may seem perplexing, but it reflects a time when women had little to no institutional support. The film raises powerful, timeless questions: What is true courage? Can we change corrupt systems from within, or is speaking out the only path forward? It’s a deeply relatable tale that resonates across industries and societies still grappling with gender inequality.
The film’s ensemble cast also includes Adrian Walters, Antoine Pilon, Vincent Leclerc, and Enrico Colantoni. Produced by Marcel Giroux and Julia Rosenberg, the film is backed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Ontario Creates, the Canada Media Fund, Crave, and CBC Films.
Out Standing‘s unflinching look at the struggles that continue to shape the path toward gender equality is sure to make waves at TIFF, with screenings on Tuesday, September 9th, and Thursday, September 11th, both at Scotiabank Theatre.
