A mellow indica strain may be good for the Joker, but you don’t want to risk falling asleep in Endings/Beginnings

Joaquin Phoenix, seen at the 2018 TIFF, stars in Joker at this year’s TIFF. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images

For the first time ever, film fest-goers can legally indulge in a bit of bud before catching a film at Toronto’s world-renowned festival.

“With weed now legalized, it’s a perfect opportunity to have a night out on the town and buzz-out during one of the festival’s many exciting films,” said Jordan Watts, a budtender for The Hunny Pot Cannabis Co.

TIFF runs from Sept. 5 to 15, and The GrowthOp asked five cannabis aficionados what film they would like to see high, and their preferred cannabis pairing

Here are their recommendations:

Joker

The person Jordan Watts, budtender at The Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. 

The film Watts recommends the new Joker film directed by Todd Phillips, and starring Joaquin Phoenix as Gotham’s clown prince. “This film will be different than previous Joker movies because it is an origin story,” Watts said. “The film follows Arthur Fleck’s journey into insanity as he transforms into Gotham’s most feared criminal.”

Cannabis pairing Houseplant indica offers a great body high, but it is mellow enough to handle the drama onscreen. Canadian movie star Seth Rogan and screenwriter Evan Goldberg are behind the Houseplant brand, launched with Canopy Growth Corporation this spring. Watts also has a favourite movie snack to tackle the munchies: popcorn and M&M’s mixed together. “It’s a little crazy, but so is the Joker.”

Color Out of Space

The person Nina Caputo, educator and key lead at Tokyo Smoke 333 Yonge St. in Toronto. Caputo has been working in the cannabis industry since legalization in October 2018.

The film Color Out of Space is director Richard Stanley’s adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic horror short story about a meteor that lands on the property of a New England family. Nicolas Cage stars as the family’s unhinged patriarch. “Stanley, Lovecraft and Cage. Need I say more? Itching to see this cosmic horror at Midnight Madness [The first screening is a Midnight Madness on Sat. Sept. 7 at Ryerson Theatre]. It’s going to be a wild one.”

Nicolas Cage attends the 2017 TIFF. He stars in Color Out of Space. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Cannabis pairing 48North’s Granddaddy Purple Pre-Rolls are a classic indica, described as a fusion of a heavy body high and a dreamy, euphoric and cerebral effect. “Keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time,” says Caputo. “Plus, it’s perfectly rolled for you, which makes it convenient for a night out.”

The Lighthouse
The person Michael Leach, creative director and partner of Dynasty Cannabis in Toronto. Leach studied film and directed music videos earlier in his career. Dynasty Cannabis grew out of his passion for cannabis cultivation.

The film The Lighthouse, a Robert Eggers film staring Willem Defoe and Robert Pattinson. Leach said visually The Lighthouse reminds him of a favourite filmmaker Béla Tarr. The Lighthouse is a psychological thriller shot on 35 mm black and white film. The storyline “follows the slow descent into madness of two lighthouse keepers on a remote New England island at the turn of the 19th century.

Robert Pattinson stars in The Lighthouse. FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images

Cannabis pairing Leach describes himself as “a bit of an old man” when it comes to cannabis, and he likes to stick to earthy, home-grown cannabis with a lower TCH. When entering a dark theatre, it is important to keep paranoia to a minimum. “I don’t want to freak out.” He chose two Flowr strains—BC Diesel or BC Delahaze.

Endings/Beginnings

The person Jessica Nudo, a consultant and media strategist. Two years ago, Nudo went on a women’s cannabis retreat called the Ganja Goddess Getaway (now known as Glowing Goddess Getaway), which increased her understanding of cannabis. “Since then, I’ve become a firm believer that you can sprinkle a bit of weed on any regular activity to enhance it, spice things up or just to become a little more present.”

The film Endings/Beginnings, from writer-director Drake Doremus, stars Shailene Woodley, one of Nudo’s favourite actors. Endings/Beginnings follows Daphne (Woodley) who, while getting over a bad break-up, gets caught in a love triangle with a free-spirited bad boy (Sebastian Stan) and his more stable, scholarly best friend (Jamie Dornan).

Shailene Woodley stars in Endings/Beginnings. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Cannabis pairing Tangerine Dream by San RafaelDancehall by Spinach or a Super Silver Haze will keep Nudo focused on the film. “I’d refrain from anything on the heavy indica, canna-spectrum because I wouldn’t want to risk falling asleep.”

Parasite

The person Kendra Nicholson, content strategist, working in the cannabis industry since legalization.

The film Parasite is described as “a comedy without clowns and a tragedy without villains” from Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. Parasite explores the social inequality of the haves and the have-nots in a dark comedy when one wealthy family opens up their home up to a family of grifters masquerading as the help.

Cannabis pairing Nicholson recommends Blue Dream, a strain high in myrcene, “which can open your mind; but is also cerebral enough to keep you reading between the lines in this subtitled masterpiece.”


This article was originally published on https://www.thegrowthop.com/cannabis-culture/toronto-international-film-festival/cannabis-panel-picks-this-years-top-five-tiff-films-to-see-high-and-the-best-bud-to-watch-them-with and https://windsorstar.com/cannabis-culture/toronto-international-film-festival/cannabis-panel-picks-this-years-top-five-tiff-films-to-see-high-and-the-best-bud-to-watch-them-with/wcm/c0a31bfc-a920-434f-bc10-2cfd1f4d3536/amp/

Author

Jessica Nudo

Editor, photographer, storyteller.