A WOLF IN THE SUBURBS — Q&A Hot Docs 2026


Posted in Festival Coverage by Hillary Butler – May 03, 2026

“Former Olympian, 79-year-old Wolf Ruck lives in a house in Mississauga where his efforts to “re-wild” his front lawn are met with protest from his neighbours and the city.

The film blends archival footage, fantasy and thriller genres, humour and nature documentary seamlessly.  An exceedingly informative and entertaining way to highlight one man’s fight to support the local ecosystem and do his part to support the climate. 

This film will have you looking at your lawn in protest of its symbolism.  As Ruck says, “A little chaos never hurt anyone, in fact it’s in the tangled mess that life actually happens.” 

Heading out to buy wildflower seeds now.  5/5”

OVERVIEW

Directed by Amélie Hardy, and produced by Rosalie Chicoine-Perreault of Metafilms, the film A Wolf in the Suburbs (2026), is a short art film / documentary about a Mississauga man’s fight to keep his naturalized lawn. The world premiere screened at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas and was chosen to represent Québec Films at the Clairmont-Ferrand Short Film Market in France.

A Wolf in the Suburbs won the Canadian Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI International Critic Award at the 2026 REGARD Festival in Chicoutimi, Québec and was included in the 2026 Hot Doc’s True North Shorts program.

Key awards and recognition as at May 3, 2026 include:

  • SXSW Film Festival 2026: Nominated for the Grand Jury Award in the Documentary Short category.
  • 2026 REGARD Festival (Chicoutimi, QC): Won the Canadian Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI International Critic Award.
  • Hot Docs Festival 2026: Featured in the official lineup.
  • Oscar®-Qualification: The film’s win at REGARD qualified it for consideration for the Best Documentary Short at the 99th Academy Awards.
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