The Degrassi doc is premiering at TIFF—and yes, Drake talks about his first kiss

TIFF 50 brings back the show that raised us, broke barriers, and made Canadian TV cool

Aubrey Drake Graham. Adamo Ruggiero. Amanda Stepto. Shenae Grimes-Beech. If these names (or their Degrassi alter-egos) defined your coming-of-age era, you’re not alone. And now, the show that raised a generation is finally getting the spotlight it deserves—on the big screen.

Premiering September 13 as an Official Selection of TIFF 50, Degrassi: Whatever It Takes is a brand-new documentary that pulls back the curtain on one of Canada’s most iconic television franchises. Directed by Lisa Rideout and produced by WildBrain and Peacock Alley Entertainment, the film promises an emotional, unfiltered, and overdue love letter to the teen drama that made Toronto famous.

The doc that had us screaming “whatever it takes!”

Degrassi: Whatever It Takes dives deep into the behind-the-scenes story of the long-running franchise, from its earliest days on CBC in the ’80s (The Kids of Degrassi Street) to its breakout run with Degrassi: The Next Generation—a series that became a pop culture touchstone not just in Canada, but around the world.

In the just-released trailer, Drake (aka Jimmy Brooks to OG fans) reflects on how his real-life first kiss happened on set.

“Damn, I never thought about it like that,” he says, with a rare moment of reflection.

Meanwhile, fellow castmate Shenae Grimes-Beech admits the experience was, at times, out-of-body. And Adamo Ruggiero, who played Marco, opens up about the backlash he received for portraying a gay teen on screen—an important reminder that representation often comes with risk.

Queer, raw, and way ahead of its time

As director Lisa Rideout puts it:

“Degrassi changed the landscape of television with real, unvarnished storytelling and did it unapologetically from a teenage perspective.”

At a time when glossy teen soaps dominated U.S. networks, Degrassi stood out by being messy, honest, and deeply relatable. It didn’t shy away from abortion, drug use, gender identity, or teen mental health. It didn’t sugarcoat anything. And that’s exactly why it mattered.

The doc captures those highs and lows while peeling back the curtain on what it meant to live it—as a young actor, a queer character, or a kid simply growing up in front of the camera.

A cultural export, a Canadian rite of passage

Executive producer Carrie Mudd said it best:

“Degrassi is more than a TV show—it’s a time capsule of growing up… Nothing then, or now, has captured the teenage experience in a more raw, authentic or unfiltered way.”

And she’s right. For four decades, Degrassi didn’t just reflect youth culture—it shaped it. And whether you watched Emma get slimed in health class, cried through JT’s goodbye, or rooted for Paige and Alex to figure it out, you felt like the show saw you.

The doc features interviews with Linda Schuyler (creator), Stephen Stohn (executive producer), cast members across generations, and superfans like Kevin Smith. Also featured: Dayo Ade, Stefan Brogren, Jake Epstein, Miriam McDonald, Melinda Shankar, Amanda Stepto, Shane Kippel, Stacie Mistysyn, and more.

The 411: Degrassi: Whatever It Takes doc to World Premiere at TIFF 50

• What: Degrassi: Whatever It Takes (documentary feature)
• When: World Premiere on September 13, 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival
• Directed by: Lisa Rideout (Sex with Sue, This Is Pop)
• Produced by: WildBrain and Peacock Alley Entertainment
• Cast & interviews: Drake, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Adamo Ruggiero, Linda Schuyler, Kevin Smith, Amanda Stepto, Jake Epstein, and more
• Why it matters: It’s a nostalgic deep-dive, a cultural reckoning, and a celebration of a show that made Canadian TV unapologetically real
• Tickets & screenings: Visit TIFF.net

Whether Degrassi was your Friday night ritual or your secret after-school binge, there’s no denying the franchise’s impact. It made space for difficult conversations before it was cool. It let kids of all backgrounds see themselves reflected. And it quietly gave Canadian teens a seat at the global table.

With Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, TIFF 50 celebrates not just a show, but a movement.

And yes, Jimmy Brooks aka Drake, had his first kiss on camera—and we’re still not over it. Make sure to catch it at TIFF, if you can.