40 Acres is a 2024 Canadian post-apocalyptic thriller film written and directed by R. T. Thorne. The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as a matriarch of descendants of African-American farmers who settled in 1875 in rural Canada after the American Civil War. Two hundred years later, they are trying to survive in a decimated future.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024, and was theatrically released in Canada on July 4, 2025 by Mongrel Media. It received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving nominations at the Black Reel Awards, NAACP Image Awards and winning three Directors Guild of Canada Awards, including the Impact Award for Thorne.
Cast Danielle Deadwyler as Hailey Freeman Kataem O'Connor as Emanuel Freeman Jaeda LeBlanc as Danis Freeman Michael Greyeyes as Galen Milcania Diaz-Rojas as Dawn Leenah Robinson as Raine
Production The first news of project developing by R. T. Thorne was released during the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. On October 17, 2023, it was reported that Danielle Deadwyler would star in the independent post-apocalyptic film directed and written by R. T. Thorne. Also cast Kataem O'Connor, Michael Greyeyes, Milcania Diaz-Rojas and Leenah Robinson. The film was produced by Jennifer Holness with Hungry Eyes Film & Television.
Principal photography began in September, 2023 in Sudbury, Ontario, and wrapped on October 26.
The film has faced allegations of unpaid invoices to crew, employees, and local vendors in the Sudbury area. As of October 2024, IATSE confirmed that all outstanding money owed to the film's crew had been paid, while producer Jennifer Holness was still working to pay the vendors.Kate Rutherford, "Production company for TIFF film 40 Acres pays outstanding amounts to Sudbury crew, union says" . CBC News Sudbury, October 15, 2024.
Release 40 Acres had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6, 2024. It was released in theaters on July 4, 2025.
Reception Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. John Serba at Decider wrote: "40 Acres is an engrossing, well-crafted gem of a thriller, as smart as it is entertaining." Sarah Gopaul at Digital Journal wrote: "Writer-director R.T. Thorne’s debut feature tackles a variety of subjects, but the Freemans are the heart of the story, whether they’re tending the land or fighting off marauders."
The film was named to the annual Canada's Top Ten list by TIFF for 2024.Carlos Diaz, "Canada’s Top Ten: TIFF Celebrates the Best in Cinema for 2024" . That Shelf, January 8, 2025.
It was nominated for Best Direction in a Feature Film at the 2025 Directors Guild of Canada awards.Connie Thiessen, "DGC unveils film, doc nominees; Discovery Award short list". Broadcast Dialogue, September 22, 2025.
Accolades
Award / Film Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Black Reel Awards February 16, 2026 Outstanding Independent Film 40 Acres Outstanding Lead Performance Danielle Deadwyler Outstanding DirectorR.T. Thorne Outstanding Emerging Director Outstanding Screenplay Outstanding First Screenplay Outstanding Ensemble Stephanie Gorin Outstanding Costume DesignCharlene Akuamoah Outstanding Hairstyling & MakeupAntonio Hines and Chancelle Mulela Canadian Screen Awards 2026 Best Motion Picture Jennifer Holness Jamie Casemore, "CSAs ’26: R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres leads film nominees". Playback, March 25, 2026. Best Direction R. T. Thorne Jamie Casemore, "CSAs ’26: R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres leads cinematic arts winners". Playback, May 28, 2026. Best Original Screenplay R. T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor John Dunning Best First Feature R. T. Thorne Best Art Direction/Production Design Peter Cosco Best Cinematography Jeremy Benning Best Sound Editing Ed Douglas, Dermain Finlayson Best Original Score Todor Kobakov Best Casting in a Film Stephanie Gorin Stunt Coordination Angelica Lisk-Hann Directors Guild of Canada Awards2025Best Direction in a Feature FilmR. T. Thorne Jamie Casemore, "North of North claims five honours at 2025 DGC Awards". Playback, November 10, 2025. Impact Award Best Production Design in a Feature Film Peter Cosco Best Picture Editing in a Feature Film Dev Singh and Sandy Pereira Best Sound Editing in a Feature FilmEd Douglas and Dermain Finlayson Best Crew in a Feature Film 40 Acres NAACP Image Awards February 28, 2026Outstanding International Motion Picture40 Acres Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Outstanding Directing in a Motion PictureR. T. Thorne Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Danielle Deadwyler
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