A landmark year for Toronto’s film showcase

The Toronto International Film Festival celebrates its 50th edition this September, a milestone that cements its reputation as the world’s premier launchpad for global cinema. Over the past half century, TIFF has shaped the trajectory of countless films — from Slumdog Millionaire to Nomadland — transforming premieres into Oscar campaigns and unknown directors into household names. This year’s lineup continues that tradition of discovery and prestige, presenting an electric mix of auteurs, breakthrough voices, and stories that reflect both the anxieties and hopes of the present moment.

Part I of our TIFF 50 watchlist highlights some of the festival’s most anticipated titles, spanning world premieres, international showcases, and bold auteur visions. Whether it’s Guillermo del Toro reimagining Frankenstein or Elizabeth Olsen starring in David Freyne’s metaphysical Eternity, these films will set the tone for not only TIFF but also the awards season ahead.

Gala & Special Presentations

Eternity — Dir. David Freyne (World Premiere)

David Freyne’s Eternity promises to be a surreal meditation on grief, identity, and the afterlife, set in a hauntingly imagined liminal space known as The Junction. The film stars Elizabeth Olsen alongside Miles Teller and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, combining Freyne’s knack for emotional intimacy (Dating Amber) with an ambitious narrative scale. Early buzz suggests a deeply moving story that blends genre-bending fantasy with an achingly human core, likely to leave audiences contemplating life’s most elusive questions.

Frankenstein — Dir. Guillermo del Toro (North American Premiere)

Few filmmakers are as synonymous with gothic storytelling as Guillermo del Toro, and with Frankenstein, he takes on perhaps the most iconic monster of all. Del Toro’s vision promises both operatic grandeur and heartbreaking pathos, honoring Mary Shelley’s novel while expanding it into a sweeping meditation on creation and cruelty. Featuring an ensemble led by Oscar Isaac, Andrew Garfield, and Mia Goth, this is not only one of TIFF’s hottest tickets but also one of the fall’s most essential cinematic events.

Good Fortune — Dir. Aziz Ansari (World Premiere)

Aziz Ansari makes his directorial debut with Good Fortune, a high-concept comedy that balances sharp observational humor with philosophical undercurrents. Starring Keanu Reeves in a rare comedic turn, the film asks how far chance and karma can push a man given a second shot at life. TIFF’s Gala slot positions it as both a crowd-pleaser and a statement of intent for Ansari’s new career chapter.

Swiped — Dir. Rachel Lee Goldenberg (World Premiere)

Rachel Lee Goldenberg takes on dating apps with biting wit in Swiped, a satire about intimacy, algorithms, and the digital age of curated identity. By skewering the endless scroll of romance and rejection, Goldenberg blends humor with a sting of truth. Its Gala premiere ensures Swiped will be one of the festival’s buzziest talking points.

Adulthood — Dir. Alex Winter (Gala Presentation)

Alex Winter turns middle age into both comedy and quiet tragedy in Adulthood, exploring a generation unwilling to grow up even as life barrels forward. With wit and melancholy in equal measure, the film reflects on ambition, identity, and the shifting line between youth and maturity. TIFF gives it a Gala showcase, cementing its relevance and reach.

Bad Apples — Dir. Jonás Trueba (World Premiere)

Saoirse Ronan leads Jonatan Etzler’s satirical thriller as Maria, an elementary school teacher at an elite private academy pushed to a moral breaking point by one violently disruptive student. After a brutal incident forces her to act and the boy suddenly stops showing up, Maria watches in disbelief as parents and administrators choose willful blindness to preserve “harmony” and a false sense of safety. Etzler turns the screws with unnerving precision, using Ronan’s most daring, nerve-frayed work to probe communal complicity, class anxiety, and the stories institutions tell to keep the peace. TIFF is positioning it as a sharp conversation-starter with real social bite.

The Lost Bus — Dir. Paul Greengrass (World Premiere)

Paul Greengrass returns with a grounded survival tale that blends his signature cinéma vérité style with a suspenseful narrative ripped from real life. Centered on a group of strangers trapped during a catastrophic storm in middle America, The Lost Bus is expected to combine high-stakes tension with deeply human storytelling. Greengrass has long excelled at dramatizing crisis (United 93, Captain Phillips), and TIFF could see him once again at the height of his powers.

The Smashing Machine — Dir. Benny Safdie (North American Premiere)

Benny Safdie’s solo directorial effort examines the turbulent career of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, with Dwayne Johnson in what may be his most transformative role to date. Produced by A24, The Smashing Machine is expected to be raw, visceral, and emotionally harrowing — a portrait not only of athletic endurance but also of addiction, vulnerability, and redemption. After the Safdie brothers redefined modern anxiety cinema with Uncut Gems, this film carries massive anticipation.

Sentimental Value — Dir. Joachim Trier (North American Premiere)

Following the acclaim of The Worst Person in the World, Joachim Trier reunites with Anders Danielsen Lie for Sentimental Value, a delicate exploration of family, loss, and memory. Trier’s films thrive on emotional honesty and piercing observation, and this one is rumored to be among his most personal works yet. With TIFF audiences historically embracing Trier’s intimate storytelling, this may be one of the festival’s most celebrated screenings.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — Dir. Rian Johnson (World Premiere)

Daniel Craig reprises Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the latest entry in Rian Johnson’s star-studded mystery franchise. Packed with twists, razor-sharp dialogue, and cultural bite, it’s poised to be TIFF’s ultimate pop-culture event. A Gala highlight that bridges prestige with pure entertainment.

World Premieres and Centrepieces

Carolina Caroline — Dir. Adam Carter Rehmeier (World Premiere)

Rehmeier’s latest blends anarchic energy with Americana grit, a violent yet oddly tender road movie that has drawn comparisons to Natural Born Killers. Known for his cult hit Dinner in America, the director thrives on subversive humor and chaotic character dynamics. TIFF’s premiere of Carolina Caroline is poised to cement Rehmeier as one of indie cinema’s boldest voices.

Couture — Dir. Alice Winocour (World Premiere)

French filmmaker Alice Winocour brings her eye for human drama into the glittering, cutthroat world of Parisian fashion. Starring Angelina Jolie and Tahar Rahim, Couture examines artistry, ambition, and the cost of reinvention. With Winocour’s blend of intimacy and grandeur (Proxima, Disorder), the film is set to dazzle both critics and audiences.

Motor City — Dir. Potsy Ponciroli (World Premiere)

Alan Ritchson stars in Motor City, a near-wordless revenge thriller set in gritty 1970s Detroit. Visceral and unrelenting, it emphasizes raw physical performance and bold visual storytelling. TIFF champions it as a daring Centrepiece premiere with breakout potential.

Blue Moon — Dir. Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater crafts an ode to French New Wave with Blue Moon, shot in luminous black-and-white and starring Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott. Philosophical yet intimate, it balances existential prose with everyday humanity. TIFF elevates it as a cinephile centerpiece sure to spark dialogue.

Train Dreams — Dir. Clint Bentley

Clint Bentley adapts Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams into a sweeping meditation on solitude and memory, with Robert Redford in a late-career role. Capturing the fading frontier with lyrical intensity, it honors Johnson’s elegiac spirit. TIFF’s Centrepiece slot marks it as a prestige discovery.

Steve — Dir. Tim Mielants (World Premiere)

Cillian Murphy takes on one of his most challenging roles in Tim Mielants’ Steve, an intimate character portrait steeped in quiet melancholy. Mielants, who has worked on Peaky Blinders and Patrick, crafts a meditation on mentorship, loneliness, and self-discovery. TIFF has a history of platforming deeply felt, performance-driven dramas, and Steve looks to fit squarely into that tradition.

Roofman — Dir. Derek Cianfrance (World Premiere)

Derek Cianfrance returns with Roofman, a character-driven story of obsession and reinvention that recalls the bruised intimacy of Blue Valentine. Known for his ability to capture human fragility on screen, Cianfrance delivers one of the festival’s most intriguing premieres — a drama likely to resonate long after credits roll.

International & Auteur Spotlights

Ballad of a Small Player — Dir. Edward Berger (Canadian Premiere)

Edward Berger follows his Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front with an adaptation of Lawrence Osborne’s novel, starring Colin Farrell as an aging gambler in Macau. Shot against neon-drenched skylines and shadowy casinos, Ballad of a Small Player blends noir intrigue with an aching portrait of self-destruction. TIFF audiences can expect a performance showcase and a meditation on chance, risk, and regret.

Nuremberg — Dir. James Vanderbilt (North American Premiere)

Rami Malek and Russell Crowe headline Nuremberg, a courtroom epic revisiting one of history’s most consequential trials. Blending moral urgency with cinematic gravitas, it re-examines justice at a turning point for humanity. TIFF’s North American premiere positions it firmly in awards-season contention.

No Other Choice — Dir. Park Chan-wook (North American Premiere)

Based on Donald Westlake’s novel The Ax, No Other Choice is a piercing dark comedy about a man laid off after decades of loyalty, who turns his desperate job search into something far more brutal. Starring Lee Byung‑hun and Son Ye‑jin, Park Chan‑wook blends merciless satire with uncanny restraint, turning ordinary workplace anxiety into a chilling moral minefield. TIFF places it firmly in its Special Presentations lineup, signaling its place as both a festival highlight and a provocative character study.

Christy — Dir. David Michôd (World Premiere)

Sydney Sweeney transforms into boxer Christy Martin in David Michôd’s Christy, a biographical drama exploring both triumph and trauma. Anchored by Sweeney’s powerhouse turn, the film reframes sports cinema with raw intimacy. TIFF introduces it as a major world premiere.

Sacrifice — Dir. Romain Gavras (World Premiere)

Set in majestic marble quarries, Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice is a visual and political spectacle of operatic scope. Grappling with power, duty, and surrender, it weds grandeur to personal stakes. TIFF’s Special Presentation signals its daring ambition.

Rose of Nevada — Dir. Mark Jenkin

Mark Jenkin trades Cornwall for the Nevada desert in Rose of Nevada, a tactile, dreamlike meditation on identity and isolation. Using his signature handmade aesthetic, Jenkin turns the western landscape into an eerie psychological canvas. TIFF spotlights it as an auteur-driven Special Presentation.

The Wizard of the Kremlin — Dir. Olivier Assayas (North American Premiere)

Olivier Assayas directs Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, and Paul Dano in The Wizard of the Kremlin, a timely political thriller inside corridors of Russian power. Sharp and chilling, it interrogates manipulation at the highest level. TIFF’s premiere ensures global headlines and critical debate.

Nouvelle Vague — Dir. Richard Linklater (Canadian Premiere)

Richard Linklater shifts gears once again with Nouvelle Vague, a playful and self-reflexive tribute to French New Wave cinema. Shot in luminous black and white, the film examines the ways cinematic language has shaped culture across decades. Cinephiles will no doubt embrace this as a love letter to film history, while casual viewers may find themselves drawn into Linklater’s uniquely charming storytelling.

Elenor the Great — Dir. Scarlett Johansson (North American Premiere)

Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with Elenor the Great, a tender, character-driven exploration of aging and memory. TIFF has long been a platform for actors-turned-directors (from Ben Affleck to Greta Gerwig), and Johansson’s leap behind the camera arrives with both curiosity and high expectations.

Rental Family — Dir. Hikari (World Premiere)

Hikari (37 Seconds) directs Rental Family, an intimate story about connection and identity rooted in the real-world Japanese practice of “hired family” services. Brendan Fraser stars in what could be one of the year’s most empathetic and unconventional dramas. With TIFF audiences embracing global stories that challenge cultural boundaries, Rental Familyseems destined to resonate.

Docs and Beyond

Cover-Up — Dir. Laura Poitras & Mark Obenhaus (Canadian Premiere)

Oscar-winner Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) joins forces with Mark Obenhaus for Cover-Up, a documentary uncovering hidden truths behind political corruption. Poitras’ work is synonymous with urgency and courage, and this project promises both timely revelations and a searing critique of systemic power.

The 50th Edition Of TIFF, Presented By Rogers, Runs September 4–14, 2025, And Continues To Be Supported By Long-Time Sponsors Including RBC, Visa, Telefilm Canada, And The City Of Toronto . Beyond Its Festival Showcase, TIFF Generates Over $240 Million CAD Annually In Economic Impact And Remains One Of The World’s Most Influential Cultural Organizations .

TIFF 50 is more than just an anniversary — it’s a statement of intent. By showcasing a balance of bold auteur visions, commercial prestige, and international discoveries, the festival reminds us why it has become a launchpad for awards campaigns and a beacon for global cinema. From Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein to Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, this first wave of announcements sets the stage for what promises to be one of the defining festivals of the decade. And with more films still to be revealed, TIFF 2025 is already writing itself into cinema history.