Canadian director Paul Sam Johnston, who is known for NOWNESS series A Kid From Nowhere and The Last Salonnier, returns with an intimate and hedonistic look at Toronto’s late-night clubbing scene. “I hope in this time it can act as a reminder of what we all once shared and what we will all share again, as things are always better when we can dance and find a sense of freedom together.”

The film takes its name from a composition by local musician Prince Josh, who attempted to distil the euphoria of being on the dance floor in the small hours of the morning into an evocative, electronic soundtrack. The record, much like the feeling Prince Josh was trying to recreate, is simply called The Joy. 

“As there were no lyrics in the song, my initial idea was to pair it with the voices of real party kids; dancers and DJs talking about what ‘the joy’ is to them,” says Johnston. “It’s something I've always struggled to express without falling into clichés or self-deprecating jokes. Toronto is not an easy place to throw parties where people can be themselves, so I wanted to hear people talking from the heart about what they find joy in.”

The film features a cross-section of characters, including local and internationally-recognized musicians, young boys trying to forge a new identity for themselves, and a veteran DJ who has stepped away from the limelight to raise his daughter.

“Many video projects capture the world of raving with a sense of fantasy, but I took this as an opportunity to express it in a more grounded and honest way,” says Johnston. “While each person has a unique background and perspective, their shared emotional experience is what becomes the focus of the film. The Joy is about fellow misfits coming together to find freedom, community, and belonging.”