The Toronto International Film Festival revealed its programming for the upcoming September edition, showcasing a diverse slate of world premieres across multiple genres. The festival, which follows the Venice Film Festival on the international calendar, has established itself as a significant launching platform for films that go on to achieve major recognition, with previous editions featuring Oscar-winning titles.
Several high-profile actors will premiere films at the festival. Helen Mirren stars in A Talent for Murder, a thriller directed by Anton Corbijn that casts her as author Patricia Highsmith opposite Tony Award winner Alden Ehrenreich. Seth Rogen returns to the festival alongside Anna Kendrick in Babies, a comedy-drama written and directed by Lauren Miller Rogen that explores themes of unexpected parenthood. Chris Rock will present Misty Green, a Hollywood-centered comedy he wrote and directed, featuring ensemble cast members including Adam Driver and Daniel Kaluuya.
The festival will also showcase films helmed by performers making their directorial debuts or returning to the role. Courteney Cox’s Evil Genius adapts a true crime docuseries focused on the case of Brian Wells, while Rebel Wilson’s Girl Group follows a singer attempting a comeback through an unconventional path. Director John Madden will premiere Onwards and Sideways, a drama starring Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans. Additional notable entries include a film about the creation of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly, and a stage-to-screen adaptation of Prima Facie featuring Cynthia Erivo.
The programming encompasses a range of genres including comedies, dramas, thrillers, and supernatural stories, with additional premieres announced from filmmakers such as Takashi Miike and Wayne Wang. The festival runs from 10 to 20 September and continues its track record of introducing films to audiences that later achieve widespread commercial and critical success.