A psychedelic portrait of power, politics and Canadian identity reimagines the rise of one of the country’s most influential prime ministers
Filmmaker Matthew Rankin is bringing his latest feature documentary, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, to the Toronto International Film Festival for its World Premiere in the Midnight Madness programme, running September 10–20, 2026. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), the 105-minute documentary takes an unconventional and visually audacious approach to the political career of Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th prime minister.
Described as a “psychedelic doomscroll” through the mind of a master politician, the film uses an expansive collection of archival material to chart Mulroney’s rise from Baie-Comeau to the highest levels of Canadian politics. Rather than presenting a conventional political biography, Rankin transforms the history into a genre-bending collage that combines politics, propaganda, pop culture and a distinctly Canadian visual language.
A Fever Dream of Canadian Politics
At the centre of the documentary is Brian Mulroney, remembered as the charismatic “Boy from Baie-Comeau.” Rankin traces the political figure’s ascent beginning in 1976, when Mulroney launched what the film describes as a charm offensive unlike anything Canada had previously seen. His rise is presented through a mixture of political history, archival imagery and Rankin’s highly stylized filmmaking approach.
The documentary follows Mulroney as he navigates the political establishment, eventually defeating Joe Clark and helping usher in a new form of conservatism during the 1980s. Through this journey, Rankin examines the personality, ambition and political machinery behind Mulroney’s transformation from a figure outside the traditional political establishment into one of Canada’s most powerful leaders.
The film’s distinctive approach is built around an extraordinary archive. Rankin has remixed and reimagined 80,000 pieces of archival material, creating what the NFB describes as a “genre-bending collage of VHS-ravaged Canadiana.” The result promises a political documentary that is as much an audiovisual experience as it is a historical portrait.
Why Midnight Madness Fits Matthew Rankin
The decision to premiere Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney in TIFF’s Midnight Madness section gives the film an unconventional setting. Known for showcasing some of the most boundary-pushing and unusual works in contemporary cinema, the programme provides a natural home for Rankin’s maximalist approach to documentary filmmaking.
Rankin has established a reputation for creating films that blur the boundaries between history, comedy, surrealism and visual experimentation. His previous features include The Twentieth Century and Universal Language, both of which received significant international recognition.
The Winnipeg-born filmmaker’s work has screened at major festivals including TIFF, Sundance, SXSW, Annecy, the Berlinale, Cannes Critics’ Week and Directors’ Fortnight, as well as on the Criterion Channel. His first feature, The Twentieth Century, won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, while Universal Language received the 2024 Chantal Akerman Audience Award at Cannes and the 2024 Best Canadian Discovery Award at TIFF.
His previous work with the NFB includes the acclaimed experimental animated short The Tesla World Light, which received multiple awards following its release in 2017.
Reimagining the “Boy from Baie-Comeau”
Rather than approaching Mulroney solely through traditional political commentary, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney presents his career as a collision between personality, ambition and historical circumstance.
The documentary follows Mulroney’s journey from the backwoods of Baie-Comeau to the backrooms of political power, portraying a politician whose charisma became a central part of his public identity. The film’s description emphasizes his ability to charm opponents and audiences alike while simultaneously confronting the political establishment.
Rankin’s approach also places particular emphasis on the contradictions surrounding Mulroney’s political image. The film portrays a figure who was simultaneously celebrated for his charm and vilified by elements of the political establishment, creating a portrait that is deliberately more complex than a straightforward celebration or condemnation.
Three NFB World Premieres at TIFF
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney is one of three NFB world premieres featured at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
The festival will also present filmmaker Carol Nguyen’s feature documentary Still Night, Burning House, a Metafilms/NFB/Portage Films production. In addition, the NFB and TIFF will launch the short documentary initiative REDEFINED on September 16, featuring work from five next-generation filmmakers from across Canada.
Together, the projects highlight the NFB’s continued presence at TIFF while bringing a range of documentary voices and filmmaking approaches to the festival.
A Distinctive Portrait of a Political Legacy
With its combination of archival footage, political history and experimental filmmaking, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney approaches its subject from an unconventional angle. Matthew Rankin’s decision to transform tens of thousands of archival pieces into a surreal audiovisual collage allows the documentary to explore not only the political career of Brian Mulroney, but also the culture and imagery surrounding an important period in Canada’s political history.
For audiences familiar with Rankin’s distinctive filmmaking style, the documentary represents another opportunity to see the director push the boundaries of conventional storytelling. For those discovering his work for the first time, the film offers an unusual entry point into the story of one of Canada’s most recognizable political figures.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney will have its World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival as part of Midnight Madness. The festival runs September 10–20, 2026.
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