It’s that time again: the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival is just around the corner. While we wait with baited breath for our favourite movie-watching/star gazing/after-party marathon to commence, here’s a recap of what we loved from last year’s fest.

You probably saw the films that went on to win big at the Oscars: Argo, Silver Linings Playbook and Amour — but what about all those indie darlings that quietly wowed audiences? The following is a list of the must sees from TIFF 2012; while they may not have had a massive impact at the box office, they hit hard where it counts.

Much Ado About Nothing

Joss Whedon’s rendition of Shakespearean hilarity: filmed in black and white and set in the present day, the cast brilliantly delivers the Shakespearean verse in both spoken word and in song. Filmed in Whedon’s own home during his off time while making The Avengers, this passion project is a true gem.

Read more here.

The Place Beyond the Pines

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper square off in Derek Cianfrance’s (Blue Valentine) film which centers around a Shakespearean-like conflict spanning generations. Father-son relationships are forefront in this beautifully told, poetically paced and unexpected story.

Read more here.

Rebelle (a.k.a. War Witch)

This Oscar-nominated Canadian film cleaned up at the Canadian Screen Awards, taking home 10 Genies by the end of the night. Rebelle a.k.a. War Witch, is the life story of fourteen-year-old child-soldier living in conflict-torn Africa, as retold by her to her unborn child.

Read more here.

The Hunt

Thomas Vinterberg’s dark drama explores the events and community reaction after Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is accused of child abuse by a six-year-old girl. The story unfolds from the perspective of the accused, and Vinterberg deals masterfully with this extremely sensitive subject.

Read more here.

Francis Ha

This delightful indie comedy about twenty-something life in NYC (á la HBO’s Girls) is a sure cult classic. Greta Gerwig’s enchanting performance and sharp comedic timing make this the perfect summer movie to see with your girlfriends.

Read more here.