The Heirloom

As many of us know firsthand, the enforced proximity caused by the pandemic had some unpredictable effects on our closest relationships. Yet for the characters in this nervy combination of psychological thriller and mutant rom-com, the claustrophobic conditions provoke behaviour that may be more than concerning. Played by real-life couple Ben Petrie and Grace Glowicki — whose past collaborations include Petrie’s ingenious 2016 short HER FRIEND ADAM and Glowicki’s edgy 2019 feature debut TITO — Eric and Allie get stuck on the idea of adopting a dog. Needless to say, the intensity of this obsession may not benefit anyone in this household, whether human or animal. With elements like Matt Johnson’s cameo further heightening the absurdity at hand, Petrie’s feature debut makes for a bracing and very memorable study of partners under extreme duress.

Director: Ben Petrie

Cast: Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Matt Johnson, Leah Doz

Language: English

Runtime: 87 minutes

Guests will only be in attendance for the Saturday 9:30 pm screening

Ben Petrie, director

Ben Petrie is a Canadian actor and filmmaker, best known for directing the short film Her Friend Adam, which was named to TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten list in 2016. His directorial work includes the short films Sanctuary (2012), Bananas (2012, 2014), Nice Is Cool (2013), and Man in Condo (2015). His feature debut, The Heirloom, premiered at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam. As an actor, Petrie has appeared in short films such as Local Commercial, Her Friend Adam, You Say Yes, and August 22, This Year, as well as the feature films Tito and BlackBerry. In 2025, he stars in Honey Bunch, directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, set to premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Petrie frequently collaborates with filmmaker Grace Glowicki, with whom he is in a relationship.

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