Matilda is a film buff whose high school alumni list includes David Cronenberg, so we’re expecting big things. She’s on the committee for TIFF Nextwave, has great taste in music, and her last birthday cake was a homemade donut from Delux. If she could take her class on a field trip, she would pack everyone into a van and travel across the country. When she grows up, she plans to make a living pursuing her passion—just like her parents. 

What was the school project you liked the most this year? 

So far this year I’ve debated creation vs. evolution, and whether or not the internet was destroying culture as class assignments. At first I was a bit hesitant but in the end it certainly helped me get in touch with my competitive side.

What music are you currently really into?

Currently I’m listening a lot to the Project X soundtrack (despite myself), most would agree the playlist is pretty awesome no matter how ridiculous the movie was. Aside from that I love Fleet Foxes, The Black Keys, Beastie Boys, Elliott Smith, Girl Talk, Karkwa, Simian Mobile Disco, etc, etc…

Right now, everyone in the locker room is talking about:

I stopped taking P.E. as soon as it was possible! But I hope it has something vaguely to do with athletics.

How did you celebrate your last birthday?

I dined out twice in a row! First with my girlfriends at Caplansky’s on College St, then with my parents at Delux on Ossington Ave. They treated me to house-made doughnuts with a birthday candle. Very sweet.

What makes your school unique? 

Besides the fact that it offers a course called ‘Genocide,’ not tons. I guess our alumni is kind of cool, though, David Cronenberg, Keifer Sutherland, Stephen Lewis, Charles Best (the man who co-discovered Insulin), Wayne and Shuster, Max Kerman (lead singer of the band Arkells).

Does your school have any wacky traditions? 

We have our wacky school song that everyone knows only a section of the words to and just hums for the rest. And I guess the students are kind of notorious for their debauchery at parties- if you can call that tradition.

What extracurriculars are you involved with this year? 

I’m part of the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) NextWave committee which screens youth-programmed films and hosts events. We have a film festival coming up in May!

What was the last book you read for school? For fun? 

For school I read Slaughterhouse-Five which I read very non-sequentially, but it was very interesting. On my own time I’ve been reading, in shifts, The Descendants, The Maze Runner series and a book on screenwriting called Save The Cat!.

If you were in charge of planning the next field trip for your school, where would you go? ANYWHERE!

Oddly enough, I would propose a cross-Canada road-trip. Probably because it’s the last place I would think to travel to when it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. Also I’ve always loved snowy northern landscapes. I’m not one for warm weather.

Who is someone you look up to?

I would have to say both my parents. They’ve taught me that you can make a living doing what you love and that, to me, is an invaluable lesson.

What is your favourite way to spend the weekend?

Watching movies and hanging out with friends until the wee hours. When you’re constantly trying to crush your boredom you end up with some pretty funny and outrageous stories.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A filmmaker, whether I’m writing, directing, acting or editing. It’s been decided for a while now!

What are you grateful for?

I’m grateful for my family, my friends and the privilege it’s been to grow up in a place like Toronto!

If you could travel in time, what decade would you like to check out? Why?

I would have to say the late thirties early forties because I think, oddly enough, it would be pretty incredible to see the differences between then and now and get some insight into the way our grandparents might have lived. I think it would give me a very different perspective on the present.