TIFF is thrilled to announce the 2025 Docs programme presented by A&E IndieFilms, featuring 23 titles from 18 countries and 16 World Premieres. Audiences will encounter a wide range of real-life characters, including explorers, journalists, sex workers, activists, soldiers, and champion whistlers. This yearâs lineup includes new work by celebrated directors such as Jimmy Chin, Billy Corben, Tamara Kotevska, Lucrecia Martel, Raoul Peck, Laura Poitras, Ben Proudfoot, Gianfranco Rosi, MichĂšle Stephenson, Peter Mettler, and Chai Vasarhelyi. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4â14, 2025.
The TIFF Docs programme features attention-grabbing non-fiction cinema from around the world. The programme will open with Academy Awardâwinning Canadian director Ben Proudfootâs The Eyes of Ghana, which profiles the filmmaker Chris Hesse and is backed by executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama. High-profile World Premieres coming to TIFF as sales titles include: The Balloonists, directed by John Dower, capturing adventurers who set out to circle the globe in a balloon; A Life Illuminated, directed by Tasha Van Zandt, following marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder on a stunning journey to the ocean depths; Whistle, directed by Christopher Nelius, portraying a competition of champion whistlers; Nuns vs. the Vatican, directed by Lorena Luciano and executive produced by Mariska Hargitay, exposing new allegations of abuse inside the Catholic Church; Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, directed by Billy Corben, which re-investigates the scandal of a celebrity chef; and Modern Whore, directed by Canadian Nicole Bazuin, which explores the sex industry and is based on the book of the same name by Andrea Werhun and Bazuin.
Other World Premieres include Vasarhelyi and Chinâs LOVE+WAR, Stephensonâs True North, Sky Hopinkaâs Powwow People, Zahraa Ghandourâs Flana, and a notable cluster of Canadian titles including Jamal Burger and Jukan Tateisiâs Still Single, Darlene Naponseâs Aki, Shane Belcourtâs Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, Min Sook Leeâs There Are No Words, and Mettlerâs While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts.
These TIFF Docs titles join a number of documentaries already announced for TIFF 50, including the World Premieres of John Candy: I Like Me and Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery in the Gala programme; Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution⊠in Special Presentations; and Palimpsest: the Story of a Name, announced yesterday in the Centrepiece programme.
Hear more from Docs Lead Programmer Thom Powers:
2025 TIFF Docs programme (in alphabetical order):
A Life Illuminated | Tasha Van Zandt | USA
World Premiere
A Simple Soldier | Juan Camilo Cruz, Artem Ryzhykov | Ukraine
North American Premiere
Aki | Darlene Naponse | Canada
World Premiere
Below the Clouds | Gianfranco Rosi | Italy
International Premiere
Canceled: The Paula Deen Story | Billy Corben | USA
World Premiere
Cover-Up | Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus | USA
Canadian Premiere
Flana | Zahraa Ghandour | Iraq/France/Qatar
World Premiere
LOVE+WAR | Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin | USA
World Premiere
Modern Whore | Nicole Bazuin | Canada
World Premiere
Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising | Shane Belcourt | Canada
World Premiere
Nuestra Tierra | Lucrecia Martel | Argentina/USA/Mexico/France/Denmark/Netherlands
North American Premiere
Nuns vs. The Vatican | Lorena Luciano | USA
World Premiere
Orwell: 2+2=5 | Raoul Peck | USA/France
North American Premiere
Powwow People | Sky Hopinka | USA
World Premiere
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk | Sepideh Farsi | France/Palestine/Iran
North American Premiere
Still Single | Jamal Burger, Jukan Tateisi | Canada
World Premiere
The Balloonists | John Dower | USA/UK/Austria
World Premiere
The Eyes of Ghana | Ben Proudfoot | USA | Opening Film
World Premiere
The Tale of Silyan | Tamara Kotevska | North Macedonia
North American Premiere
There Are No Words | Min Sook Lee | Canada
World Premiere
True North | MichĂšle Stephenson | USA/Canada
World Premiere
While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts | Peter Mettler | Canada/Switzerland
World Premiere
Whistle | Christopher Nelius | Australia
World Premiere
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025
It’s giving a bit of LOST IN TRANSLATION energy! Brendan Fraser stars in TIFF ’25 selection RENTAL FAMILY. Today, we get a new Trailer for this Hikari film!
Set against modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clientsâ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexitiesof his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
Directed by: HIKARI
Screenplay by: HIKARI, Stephen Blahut
Produced by: Eddie Vaisman, p.g.a, Julia Lebedev, p.g.a, HIKARI, p.g.a, Shin Yamaguchi, p.g.a
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman, and Akira Emoto
TIFF is proud to announce this yearâs Centrepiece programme, the Festivalâs global showcase of compelling cinema from around the world. This year, there are 55 titles from filmmakers representing nearly fifty countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chad, Colombia, CĂŽte dâIvoire, France, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, reflecting TIFFâs commitment to global cinema. Centrepiece provides a platform for internationally recognized films, acclaimed titles from other festivals around the globe, and highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents. This yearâs slate includes the latest work from influential filmmakers Hubert Davis, Mathieu Denis, Hasan Hadi, Chie Hayakawa, Anders Thomas Jensen, Jan Komasa, Richard Linklater, Sergei Loznitsa, Pietro Marcello, Christian Petzold, Potsy Poncirol and Ălvaro Olmos Torrico.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4â14, 2025.
Hear from Jason Anderson: TIFFâs new Lead Programmer, Canada:
Centrepiece has 19 world premieres including:
Blood Lines, Gail Mauriceâs sophomore feature, a pastoral drama of family and reconnection
Carolina Caroline, directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier, an outlaw romance starring Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner (still seen above)
Erupcja, directed by Pete Ohs, features a combustible chemistry between a Polish florist (Lena GĂłra) and a British tourist (Charli xcx)
Good Boy, by Jan Komasa, a twisted thriller about freedom and identity, starring Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Anson Boon
I Swear, from Kirk Jones, the inspirational true story of John Davidson, a trailblazer whose honesty and humour helped the world better understand what it means to live with Tourette Syndrome
Nomad Shadow, Eimi Imanishiâs poignant debut feature about a refugee to Spain whoâs forced to return to Western Sahara
Palimpsest: the Story of a Name, from Mary Stephen (Shades of Silk), a deeply personal story about her familyâs complicated history and their Western surname
Saipan, from filmmakers Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros DâSa, about a rift between star player Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy on the eve of the 2002 World Cup, starring Ăanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan
The Condor Daughter, from Ălvaro Olmos Torrico, about a young woman who inherits the sacred art of midwifery but dreams of conquering the city with her voice
The Cost of Heaven, a film from Quebecâs Mathieu Denis (whose TIFF â16 film Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Dig Their Own Graves was awarded that yearâs Best Canadian Feature), starring French actor Samir Guesmi
The Presidentâs Cake, from a multiple award winner at Cannes, Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi, a heartbreaking and unforgettable look at a country crushed by poverty and international sanctions â and ruled by a sadistic, greedy and vain tyrant
Unidentified, the latest from Saudi Arabian director Haifaa Al Mansour (Wadjda), an iconoclastic crime thriller that questions our collective fascination with tales of femicide
Wasteman, Cal McMauâs debut feature, which peels back the conventions of the prison drama, featuring rising star David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus)
Whitetail, from Dutch filmmaker Nanouk Leopold, a slow-burn thriller with a haunting performance from Natasha OâKeeffe (Peaky Blinders)
Youngblood, directed by Hubert Davis, starring Blair Underwood and Shawn Doyle, and co-written by the late Charles Officer, is a powerful tribute to the Toronto filmmaker, and a reimagining of the original 1986 film
Hear from Diana Cadavid, International Programmer Latin America, Spain, Portugal:
Notable North American premieres include: French animation director Ugo Bienvenuâs Arco,Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachokeâs A Useful Ghost, Barrio Triste, from music video director STILLZ, Richard Linklaterâs Blue Moon, Chadian director Achille Ronaimouâs surprising debut feature Diya, Genki Kawamuraâs Exit 8, Quebec screenwriter, actor and director Eric K. Boulianneâs Follies, Taiwanese actor and director Shu Qiâs Girl, Iraqi filmmakerâs Mohamed Jabarahâs Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream, Shih-Ching Tsouâs Left-Handed Girl, co-written by Sean Baker, Lucky Lu by Korean-Canadian writer-director and 2025 TIFFâCBC Films Screenwriter Award recipient Lloyd Lee Choi, German auteur Christian Petzoldâs Miroirs No. 3, Italian filmmaker Francesco Sossaiâs The Last One for The Road, Danish filmmaker Anders Thomas Jensenâs The Last Viking, Diego CĂ©spedesâ The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo. Hafsia Herziâs The Little Sister, and other Centrepiece standout selections are: Duse, an International Premiere from visionary Italian auteur Pietro Marcello (whose Martin Eden won TIFFâs 2019 Platform prize) and Hamlet, a Canadian Premiere from director Aneil Karia.
Centrepiece is programmed by Jason Anderson, Kelly Boutsalis, Diana Cadavid, Robyn Citizen, Claire Diao, Giovanna Fulvi, June Kim, Dorota Lech, Anita Lee, Peter Kuplowsky, Andréa Picard, and Jason Ryle.
2025 CENTREPIECE PROGRAMME (in alphabetical order)
A Useful Ghost | Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke | Thailand/France/Singapore/Germany
North American Premiere

Arco | Ugo Bienvenu | France
Produced by: Natalie Portman, Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas
In 2075, a ten year old girl, Iris, witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit fall from the sky. Itâs Arco. He comes from an idyllic far future where time travel is possible. Iris shelters him and will do whatever it takes to help him return to his timeNorth American Premiere
Barrio Triste | STILLZ | Colombia/USA
North American Premiere

Blood Lines | Gail Maurice | Canada
Directed by: Gail Maurice
Starring: Dana Solomon, Derica LeFrance, Mélanie Bray, Bertha Durocher, Maggie Maurice, Mary Burnouf, Tamara Podemski, Gail Maurice
An estranged Métis mother and daughter struggle to overcome their differences, but their world comes crashing down when an alluring woman enters their lives.World Premiere
Blue Heron | Sophy Romvari | Canada/Hungary
North American Premiere
Blue Moon | Richard Linklater | USA/Ireland
North American Premiere
Carolina Caroline | Adam Carter Rehmeier | USA
World Premiere
Dandelion’s Odyssey | Momoko Seto | France/Belgium
North American Premiere
Diya | Achille Ronaimou | Chad/France/Germany/CĂŽte dâIvoire
North American Premiere
Duse | Pietro Marcello | France/Italy
International Premiere
Eagles of the Republic | Tarik Saleh | Sweden/France/Denmark/Finland/Germany
North American Premiere
Erupcja | Pete Ohs | USA/Poland
World Premiere
Exit 8 | Genki Kawamura | Japan
North American Premiere
Follies | Eric K. Boulianne | Canada
North American Premiere
Girl | Shu Qi | Taiwan
North American Premiere
Good Boy | Jan Komasa | Poland/UK
World Premiere
Hamlet | Aneil Karia | UK
Canadian Premiere

Honey Bunch | Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli | Canada
Starring: Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Kate Dickie, Jason Isaacs, India Brown
Dianaâs attentive and devoted husband, Homer, has taken her from her hospital bed to a remote experimental trauma retreat. After an accident left her with crippling pain and memory loss, this might be their last hope that sheâll get better. Farah, Dianaâs personal physician, promises that with the use of Dr. TrĂ©phineâs cutting-edge therapies and with Homerâs helping hand, she will make a full recovery â sheâll feel like her old self again. Homer is enthusiastic about her progress, but the more treatment she undergoes the less Diana feels like herself. When the ritualistic exercises intensify, Diana experiences haunting visions and begins to notice strange changes in her husbandâs behaviour. Whispered conversations behind closed doors, going missing for long periods, and his insistence she is recovering even though she feels worse. As troubling memories from her relationship begin to come vividly back to her, Diana must confront the possibility that her recovery may come at a cost far greater than she imaginedâone that threatens to unravel a sinister truth about her marriage.
North American Premiere
I Swear | Kirk Jones | UK
World Premiere
In Search of The Sky | Jitank Singh Gurjar | India
World Premiere
Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream | Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji | Iraq/United Arab Emirates/France/UK/Qatar/Saudi Arabia
North American Premiere
Left-Handed Girl | Shih-Ching Tsou | Taiwan/France/USA/UK
North American Premiere
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain | Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han | France
North American Premiere
Lucky Lu | Lloyd Lee Choi | USA
North American Premiere
Mama | Or Sinai | Israel/Poland/Italy
North American Premiere
Memory of Princess Mumbi | Damien Hauser | Kenya/Switzerland/Saudi Arabia
North American Premiere
Milk Teeth | Mihai Mincan | Romania/France/Denmark/Greece/Bulgaria
North American Premiere
Miroirs No. 3 | Christian Petzold | Germany
North American Premiere

Motor City | Potsy Ponciroli | USA
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Alan Ritchson, Ben Foster, Amar Chadha-Patel, Ben McKenzie, Lionel Boyce
In 1970s Detroit, John Miller falls in love with a local gangster’s girl. In retaliation, the gangster uses his corrupt police connections to send the innocent man to prison. Ruined, Miller plots a revenge campaign against the man who took his life and love away.
North American Premiere
My Father’s Shadow | Akinola Davies Jr. | UK/Nigeria
North American Premiere
New Years Rev | Lee Kirk | USA
World Premiere
Nomad Shadow | Eimi Imanishi | USA/Spain/France
World Premiere
Olmo | Fernando Eimbcke | USA/Mexico
North American Premiere
Orphan | LĂĄszlĂł Nemes | Hungary/France/Germany/UK
North American Premiere
Palimpsest: the Story of a Name | Mary Stephen | France/Hong Kong/Taiwan
World Premiere
Renoir | Chie Hayakawa | Japan/France/Singapore/Philippines/Indonesia/Qatar
North American Premiere
Saipan | Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn | Ireland/UK
World Premiere
Space Cadet | Kid Koala | Canada
North American Premiere
The Blue Trail | Gabriel Mascaro | Brazil/Mexico/Chile/Netherlands
North American Premiere
The Condor Daughter | Ălvaro Olmos Torrico | Bolivia/Peru/Uruguay
World Premiere
The Cost of Heaven | Mathieu Denis | Canada
Over the years, Nacer Belkacem has built what appears to be an enviable life: a loving father, happy husband, model employee, and respected member of his community. But beneath the surface, the cracks are starting to show. Buried in debt from overspending and risky investments, Nacer finds himself at a breaking point. With few options left, he devises a desperate plan to claw his way back. After allâyou only get one shot at earning your place in heaven.
World Premiere
The Fox King | Woo Ming Jin | Malaysia/Indonesia
World Premiere
The Last One for The Road | Francesco Sossai | Italy/Germany
North American Premiere
The Last Viking | Anders Thomas Jensen | Denmark/Sweden
North American Premiere
The Little Sister | Hafsia Herzi | France/Germany
North American Premiere
The Love That Remains | Hlynur PĂĄlmason | Iceland/Denmark/Sweden/France
North American Premiere
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo | Diego Céspedes | Chile/France
North American Premiere
The President’s Cake | Hasan Hadi | Iraq/USA/Qatar
North American Premiere
The Sun Rises On Us All | Cai Shangjun | China
North American Premiere
Two Prosecutors | Sergei Loznitsa | France/Germany/Netherlands/Latvia/Romania/Lithuania
North American Premiere
Under The Same Sun | Ulises Porra | Dominican Republic/Spain
World Premiere
Unidentified | Haifaa Al Mansour | Saudi Arabia
World Premiere
Wasteman | Cal McMau | UK
World Premiere
Whitetail | Nanouk Leopold | Netherlands/Belgium/Ireland
World Premiere
Youngblood | Hubert Davis | Canada
World Premiere
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025.
Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF, is delighted to announce the first group of honourees of the seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to cinema and serving as the kick-off to awards season. Academy Awardâwinning Mexican-born filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, two-time Academy Award winner and boundary-defying artist Jodie Foster will receive the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, award-winning Japanese writer, director, and producer HIKARI will receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award; and award-winning South Korean actor Lee Byung Hun is the recipient of a TIFF Special Tribute Award, attending TIFF this year with the North American Gala premiere of Park Chan-wookâs No Other Choice. Academy Awardâwinning actor and 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipient Brendan Fraser will return to the Tribute Awards as the 2025 Honorary Chair. The seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards will take place on Sunday, September 7, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
âWeâre thrilled to announce this yearâs recipients, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape: from the commanding talent of Lee Byung Hun; the visionary imagination of maestro Guillermo del Toro; the evocative storytelling of HIKARI; to the incomparable career of actor, filmmaker, and icon Jodie Foster. Weâre honoured to welcome these exceptional artists to Toronto for the seventh annual Tribute Awards,â said Bailey. âWeâre also delighted to welcome back Brendan Fraser, our 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipient, as this yearâs Honorary Chair, a beloved artist and past honouree whose warmth, generosity, and passion for storytelling truly embody the spirit of our Festival.â
âIâm honoured to return to Toronto once again and to the TIFF Tribute Awards, this time not as a recipient, but as this yearâs Honorary Chair,â said Fraser. âTIFF has been meaningful to me and to be in this role during the Festivalâs landmark 50th edition is a privilege. TIFF continues to champion the kind of bold storytelling that brings people together, and Iâm thrilled to celebrate this yearâs Tribute recipients.â
The TIFF Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser and a world-class celebration of cinematic excellence. Proceeds support TIFFâs 50th anniversary campaign, Transform Together, advancing TIFFâs talent development, honouring visionary artists, and deepening community impact. Presented in partnership with Rolex, with support from RBC, Don Julio, and Fairmont Royal York.
2025 TIFF Tribute Awards Honourees
Guillermo del Toro â TIFF Ebert Director Award, presented by The Tory Family
Guillermo del Toro is attending the Festival with a Gala Presentation of his anticipated live-action feature, Frankenstein. His relationship with TIFF started with his debut feature Cronos (TIFF â93) and continued throughout the years with Mimic (TIFF â97), The Devilâs Backbone (TIFF â01), Panâs Labyrinth (TIFF â06), and his Peopleâs Choice Awardâwinning The Shape of Water (TIFF â17), which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to Canadian cinema, del Toro curated a TIFF Cinematheque series celebrating Canadian horror earlier this month and was recently honoured with a ceremonial key to the City of Toronto. Named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert, the honour previously known as the Golden Thumb Award has gone to celebrated visionaries such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late AgnĂšs Varda. Becoming part of the Tribute event in 2019, past recipients include Mike Leigh (2024), Spike Lee (2023), Sam Mendes (2022), Denis Villeneuve (2021), ChloĂ© Zhao (2020), and Taika Waititi (2019).
Jodie Foster â TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix
In a career spanning over 50 years, Jodie Foster is one of the most critically acclaimed actresses of her generation. Her powerful performance in Nyad, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards, had its World Premiere at TIFF â23. She now makes her return to the Festival (following The Brave One at TIFF â07) with Rebecca Zlotowskiâs Private Life, a French psychological mystery in which she plays a therapist. A groundbreaker both on and off the screen, Foster has not only built a legacy of complex, powerful performances, including her Oscar-winning roles in The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, but has also championed women filmmakers throughout her directing career, with films like Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays, among others. The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix; and is inspired by TIFFâs Share Her Journey initiative, created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry. Past recipients are Cate Blanchett (2024), Patricia Arquette (2023), and Michelle Yeoh (2022).
HIKARI â TIFF Emerging Talent Award, presented by Amazon MGM Studios
Writer, director, and producer HIKARI makes her second appearance at TIFF with the World Premiere of her sophomore feature Rental Family, starring Tribute chair Brendan Fraser. Her debut feature 37 Seconds (TIFF â19) received the Panorama Audience Award and the CICAE Award at the 69th Berlinale, among other international accolades. Having directed for both film and television, her recent credits include Beef and Tokyo Vice. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, this award is in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Past recipients include Durga Chew-Bose (2024), Carolina Markowicz (2023), Sally El Hosaini (2022), Danis Goulet (2021), Tracey Deer (2020), and Mati Diop (2019).
Lee Byung Hun â TIFF Special Tribute Award
A global sensation, Lee Byung Hun has achieved massive success across film and television in both South Korea and Hollywood. Before breaking out internationally, he starred in Joint Security Area and A Bittersweet Life, and went on to Korean blockbusters and global hits like Squid Game, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, Red 2, Terminator Genisys, and The Magnificent Seven. This is Byung Hunâs second appearance at TIFF and his second collaboration with Park Chan-wook. He was last in Toronto for the premiere of Concrete Utopia (TIFF â23) and participated in an In Conversation with⊠series. This award is presented to an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019).
Brendan Fraser â TIFF Honorary Chair
Brendan Fraserâs nuanced performances and compelling role choices have earned him widespread acclaim. He starred in Darren Aronofskyâs The Whale (TIFF â22) and garnered multiple honours, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Criticsâ Choice Movie Award, and a SAG Award. In HIKARIâs Rental Family, Fraser plays a man hired by a company that provides rental family services, where people are employed to act as stand-ins for friends or relatives. Fraser will next appear in Anthony Marasâ Pressure, portraying Dwight D. Eisenhower, and in 2026, heâll lend his voice to Tubiâs adult animated comedy Breaking Bear. His other recent work includes Steven Soderberghâs No Sudden Move, Doom Patrol, Line of Descent, The Secret of Karma, The Poison Rose, Trust, and Condor. Additional credits include Brothers, Martin Scorseseâs Killers of the Flower Moon, The Affair, and The Field, among many others.
Film Announcement
TIFF will present the North American Premiere of Park Chan-wookâs No Other Choice, in which Byung Hun stars, as part of the Gala Presentations programme:
No Other Choice | Park Chan-wook | South Korea | Elevation Pictures
North American Premiere | Gala

New this year, Rolex has signed on as the exclusive Presenting Partner of the 2025 TIFF Tribute Awards. RBC, one of TIFFâs long-time Major Sponsors, is a new Supporting Partner. Don Julio and Fairmont Royal York are returning once again as Supporting Partners.
Rolex in Cinema
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminate in defining moments, determined by a path followed, not just an award. For more than half a century, Rolex has partnered with some of the worldâs most talented artists and leading cultural institutions to celebrate excellence and promote the transfer of artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present, and future. Through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts, the company confirms its long-term commitment to global culture. In all these endeavours, Rolex supports distinction in the arts and the transmission of knowledge to future generations, who in turn pass on the worldâs cultural legacy.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025. Stay tuned for more TIFF announcements.
Peak Everything will close the 50th Toronto International Film Festival on September 13. The film will open theatrically in English Canada on September 26, 2025. Peak Everything had its world premiere at the Directorsâ Fortnight in Cannes this past May and was shown at the 39th Cabourg Film Festival last month, where it received the Grand Jury Prize.
The sixth feature film by Anne Ămond, Peak Everything stars Patrick Hivon and Piper Perabo.
Synopsis: Adam (45) is a kind-hearted kennel-owner. Hypersensitive and borderline depressed, he hides his existential fears from his affection-avoidant father, and lets his young assistant take advantage of his good nature. To help combat his eco-anxiety, Adam orders a therapeutic solar lamp. Through the lampâs supplier’s technical support line, he meets Tina, a radiant woman with a voice that soothes all of his worries. This unexpected encounter changes everything: Earth trembles, and hearts explode⊠It’s love!
Starring: Patrick Hivon, Piper Perabo, Gilles Renaud, Ălizabeth Mageren, Ăric Kamala Boulianne, Connor Jessup, Gord Rand, Jean-Carl Boucher, Leona Son, Sienna Feghouli, Denis Houle, BenoĂźt Mauffette, Arlen Aguayo Stewart and Martin Dubreuil.
Director & Scriptwriter: Anne Ămond
Producer: Sylvain Corbeil
Director of Photography: Olivier Gossot
Production Designer: Sylvain Lemaitre
Costume Designer: Patricia McNeil
Editor: Anita Roth
Composer: Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux
Line Producer: Marie-Claire Lalonde
About Immina Films:
Founded in 2022, distribution company Immina Films is a team with a passion for cinema whose main goal is to promote Quebec films. Concretely, this means both distributing recent works and sub-distributing an extensive catalogue which includes hundreds of iconic Quebec productions. Since its creation, Immina Films has distributed such hits as 23 DĂCEMBRE (Golden Screen Award winner at the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards), LE TEMPS DâUN ĂTĂ, SIMPLE COMME SYLVAIN (CĂ©sar for Best Foreign Film), 1995 and MLLE BOTTINE. Immina Films is also growing its foreign film catalogue which includes European works IO CAPITANO and SARAH BERHNARDT: LA DIVINE. This yearâs upcoming films include MENTEUSE (Compulsive Liar 2), AMOUR APOCALYPSE (Peak Everything) and LES FURIES.
Midnight Madness, presented by Intrepid Travel, returns to TIFF with its signature slate of wicked wonders that are sure to delight and disturb the Festivalâs devoted and raucous late-night crowd. The section closes out each night of the Festival with 11:59pm screenings at the (possibly) haunted Royal Alexandra Theatre, where the nocturnal faithful gather to bear witness to the very best and most bizarre in contemporary genre and shock cinema. The 2025 edition features seven World Premieres and is bookended by two of the yearâs most acclaimed midnight comedies courtesy of some seriously funny Canadians.
Midnight Madness opens with the Canadian Premiere of Matt Johnsonâs Toronto-set Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Based on Johnsonâs cult Viceland series, this hysterical, death-defying time-travel caper earned a standing ovation and a coveted Midnighter Audience Award at this past springâs SXSW. Deeply steeped in late-aughts Toronto lore, its hometown screening is anticipated to levitate audiences into high orbit from the infectious laughter alone.
The closing film is Dead Lover, a zany, macabre horror-comedy from Canadian director Grace Glowicki. This madcap phantasmagoria has been celebrated in festival midnight sections around the world, and fittingly concludes its tour in Toronto as a welcome addition to the Midnight Madness canon.
The Festivalâs wild side also features World Premieres of Normal, the latest shoot-âem-up from 2016 Midnight Madness Peopleâs Choice Award recipient Ben Wheatley; Dust Bunny, the darkly whimsical directorial debut of prolific television showrunner Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies); and Kenji Tanigakiâs The Furious, a frenetic martial arts thriller that assembles some of the genreâs fiercest fighters (whose combined credits include The Raid, Chocolate, and Everything Everywhere All at Once). Midnight Madness devotees can expect these star-studded genre thrills to complement the lineupâs bold independent visions, including Curry Barkerâs terrifying Obsession, Aleksandar RadivojeviÄâs profane thriller Karmadonna, Takahide Horiâs imaginative stop-motion fantasia JUNK WORLD, and perhaps the two most berserk alt-comedies to ever play the section: Nick Corirossi and Armen Weitzmanâs The Napa Boys and Todd Rohalâs Fuck My Son!
Hereâs programme hype man Peter Kuplowsky with a breakdown of the Midnight Madness experience:
2025 Midnight Madness (in alphabetical order):
Dead Lover | Grace Glowicki | Canada | Closing Film
Canadian Premiere
Dust Bunny | Bryan Fuller | USA
World Premiere
Fuck My Son! | Todd Rohal | USA
World Premiere
JUNK WORLD | Takahide Hori | Japan
International Premiere
Karmadonna | Aleksandar RadivojeviÄ | Serbia
World Premiere
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie | Matt Johnson | Canada | Opening Film (still seen above)
Canadian Premiere
Normal | Ben Wheatley | USA/Canada
World Premiere
Obsession | Curry Barker | USA
World Premiere
The Furious | Kenji Tanigaki | Hong Kong/China
World Premiere
The Napa Boys | Nick Corirossi | USA
World Premiere
Tickets go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 15. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 12. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025.
About TIFF:
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film FestivalÂź in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution program; and TIFF: The Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.
Out Standing, by director MĂ©lanie Charbonneau (Fabulous), will have its World Premiere this September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nina Kiri (Handmaid’s Tale) as Sandra Perron, Vincent Leclerc (Allen Sunshine), and Enrico Colantoni (Humane, English Teacher).
In 1995, after returning home from a peacekeeping mission in Croatia, Captain Sandra PerronâCanadaâs first female infantry officerâstuns the military by resigning abruptly. When a disturbing photo surfaces of her tied to a tree in uniform, apparently unconscious, questions spiral. Pursued by journalists and a relentless military investigation, Sandra is thrust into a reluctant journey to confront buried traumas and the true cost of loyalty and sacrifice. Refusing to label herself a victim, she reveals a story of fierce courage and resilience, uncovering the battles fought within her own ranks. Based on a powerful true story of endurance against the odds.
Director: Mélanie Charbonneau
Screenplay: Mélanie Charbonneau, Martine Pagé
Principal Cast: Nina Kiri, Vincent Leclerc, Enrico Colantoni, Adrian Walters, Antoine Pilon, Stephen Thomas Kalyn, Conrad Pla
Producer: Marcel Giroux, Julia Rosenberg
Production Company: GPA Films, January Media
Canadian distributor: Sphere Films
Premiering at TIFF ’25, Aziz Ansari‘s directorial debut GOOD FORTUNE gets a new Trailer today! Cineplex Pictures release October 17, 2025.
Details:
Written and Directed by: Aziz Ansari
Cast: Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh
Synopsis: In GOOD FORTUNE, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen).
Lionsgate presents, in association with Media Capital Technologies, a Garam Fiilms / Keep Your Head / Yang Pictures production.
About Cineplex Pictures
Cineplex Pictures, a division of Cineplex, is a distributor of a wide range of films. Recent titles include Ballerina, Flight Risk, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Strangers: Chapter 1, The Queen of My Dreams, The Boy and the Heron, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, SAW X, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and John Wick: Chapter 4.
Today, TIFF proudly announces its 2025 Discovery programme, presented by Air France, offering audiences a rare treat to witness talented, visionary filmmakers from across the globe premiering their debut and sophomore features. This yearâs diverse lineup kicks off strongly with its opening night film, Maddieâs Secret, an unmissable directorial debut satirizing and skewering content culture from iconic alt-comedian John Early, who, alongside a troupe of comedians including Kate Berlant, Vanessa Bayer, and Conner OâMalley, plays the titular role. Other anticipated films include Cato Kustersâ Julian, produced by Michiel and Lukas Dhont; Nadia Latifâs The Man in My Basement, starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe; Zamo Mkhwanaziâs Laundry, a rare co-production between South Africa and Switzerland; Taratoa Stappardâs MÄori Gothic MÄrama; and Canadian director and TIFF alum Eva Thomasâ Nika & Madison.
The Discovery programme holds a rich history of championing and launching some of the worldâs most acclaimed filmmakers, such as IldikĂł Enyedi, Alfonso CuarĂłn, Julie Dash, Jean-Marc VallĂ©e, Christopher Nolan, Maren Ade, Yorgos Lanthimos, Barry Jenkins, Dea Kulumbegashvili, Emma Seligman, and Elegance Bratton. The 2025 Discovery selection has been programmed by Dorota Lech, Jason Anderson, Kelly Boutsalis, Diana Cadavid, Robyn Citizen, June Kim, and Jason Ryle. The programme will deliver 23 World Premiere titles, spanning 30+ countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, promising this year to be a truly unmissable moment to catch the international voices of the future.
2025 Discovery Programme (in alphabetical order):
100 Sunset | Kunsang Kyirong | Canada
World Premiere
Amoeba | Siyou Tan | Singapore/Netherlands/France/Spain/South Korea
World Premiere
As We Breathe | Ćeyhmus Altun | Turkey/Denmark
World Premiere
Babystar | Joscha Bongard | Germany
World Premiere
Bayaan | Bikas Ranjan Mishra | India
World Premiere
Dinner With Friends | Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada
World Premiere
Egghead Republic | Pella KÄgerman and Hugo Lilja | Sweden
World Premiere
Forastera | LucĂa Aleñar Iglesias | Spain/Italy/Sweden
World Premiere
Ghost School | Seemab Gul | Pakistan
World Premiere
Julian | Cato Kusters | Belgium/Netherlands
World Premiere
Laundry | Zamo Mkhwanazi | Switzerland/South Africa
World Premiere
Little Lorraine | Andy Hines | Canada
World Premiere
Maddie’s Secret | John Early | USA
World Premiere
MÄrama | Taratoa Stappard | New Zealand
World Premiere
Nika & Madison | Eva Thomas | Canada
World Premiere
Noviembre | TomĂĄs Corredor | Colombia/Mexico/Brazil/Norway
World Premiere
Oca | Karla Badillo | Mexico/Argentina
World Premiere
Our Father | Goran Stankovic | Serbia/Italy/Croatia/North Macedonia/Montenegro/Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Premiere
Out Standing | Mélanie Charbonneau | Canada
World Premiere
Retreat | Ted Evans | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sink | Zain Duraie | Jordan/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/France
World Premiere
The Man in My Basement | Nadia Latif | United Kingdom/USA
World Premiere
The Son and the Sea | Stroma Cairns | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Tomorrowâs TIFF Takeover is the Midnight Madness programme and the last announcement of the week. More Festival details will be announced in the coming weeks. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025.
TIFF today announces its 2025 Platform programme lineup, marking the tenth anniversary of the Festivalâs auteur competitive section, which champions bold directorial vision and distinctive storytelling. Platform offers audiences a first glimpse at some of the most compelling cinematic voices on the rise. This yearâs edition features 10 exceptional films representing 19 countries. The programme opens with the World Premiere of Steve, from Belgian director Tim Mielants (Small Things Like These, Peaky Blinders), starring Tracey Ullman and Academy Awardâwinner Cillian Murphy. While this marks Mielantsâ first appearance at TIFF, this is his third collaboration with Murphy. The other nine films participating in the Platform competition are: Farnoosh Samadiâs Between Dreams and Hope, Orian Barki and Meriem Bennaniâs Bouchra, György PĂĄlfiâs Hen, Pauline LoquĂšsâ Nino, Bretten Hannamâs Sk+teâkmujueâkatik (At the Place of Ghosts), Milagros Mumenthalerâs The Currents, Yoon Ga-eunâs The World of Love, Valentyn Vasyanovychâs To The Victory!, and Kasia Adamikâs Winter of the Crow.
The Platform programme is curated by TIFFâs programming team under the direction of Robyn Citizen, Platform Lead and Director of Programming, Festival & Cinematheque. Platform spotlights 10 films from early- to mid-career filmmakers poised to break out on the world stage. Past Official Selections include acclaimed works such as Anthony Shimâs Riceboy Sleeps (TIFF â22), Darius Marderâs Sound of Metal (TIFF â19), Pietro Marcelloâs Martin Eden (TIFF â19), William Oldroydâs Lady Macbeth (TIFF â17), and Barry Jenkinsâ Moonlight (TIFF â16). All films in this programme are eligible for the Platform Award, which is selected by an international jury. The winning filmmaker will receive a $20,000 CAD cash prize. The Platform Award will be presented as part of the TIFF awards ceremony on the last day of the Festival on Sunday, September 14.
This yearâs Jury Chair is Spanish film writer, editor, and director Carlos MarquĂ©s-Marcet, who won the 2024 Platform Award for They Will Be Dust. He is joined by Oscar-nominated actor, writer, composer, and director Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who was most recently at the Festival with Mike Leighâs Hard Truths (TIFF â24), and QuĂ©bĂ©cois filmmaker ChloĂ© Robichaud, whose acclaimed Sundance hit Two Women recently had a theatrical run at TIFF Lightbox, and who has attended TIFF previously for her films Days of Happiness (TIFF â23), Boundaries (TIFF â16), and her short film Delphine (TIFF â19), among others. Previous jury members include: Atom Egoyan, Hur Jin-ho, Jane Schoenbrun, Claire Denis, BĂ©la Tarr, Brian De Palma, Mira Nair, Riz Ahmed, Jia Zhang-Ke, Patricia Rozema, and Barry Jenkins.
Watch Robyn Citizenâs insights on this yearâs Platform programme here:
2025 Platform programme (in alphabetical order):
Between Dreams and Hope | Farnoosh Samadi | Iran
World Premiere
Farnoosh Samadi, whose feature film 180° Rule (TIFF â20) and short film Disappearance (TIFF â17) both premiered at the Festival, returns with Between Dreams and Hope. In this bold queer love story, Azad (Fereshteh Hosseini), a trans man, and Nora (Sadaf Asgari) are two young lovers toggling between tradition and modernity in their society and family. Together, they travel to a remote Iranian village to face Azadâs estranged father and obtain documents that would permit the pair to live authentically.
Bouchra | Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani | Italy/Morocco/USA
World Premiere
Longtime collaborators and partners, visual artist Meriem Bennani and documentary filmmaker Orian Barki, known for their previous works Life on the CAPS (TIFF â22) and 2 Lizards (TIFF â22), bring their latest animated project, Bouchra, to the Festival, marking the first animated feature to premiere in Platform. In this film, 35-year-old Moroccan Coyote and filmmaker, Bouchra, lives in New York and chronicles the impact her queerness has on her relationship with her mother, AĂŻcha, in Casablanca. Cutting between the film thatâs forming and real-life conversations between Bouchra and AĂŻcha (recreations of phone calls that took place between Bennani and her mother), Bouchra is a humorous and tender portrait of the love and pain that both sides have to understand in order to move forward.
Hen | György Pålfi | Germany/Greece/Hungary
World Premiere
György PĂĄlfiâs Hen, an inventive live-action feature, chronicles a remarkable chicken as she escapes from her grisly fate in this unorthodox and bold story. Escaping from a chicken farm, she finds refuge in the courtyard of a crumbling restaurant. There, she discovers love, confronts the pecking order, and fights to protect her eggs from a greedy owner. Her droll yet touching quest for motherhood mirrors the messy compromises and silent struggles of human lives.
Nino | Pauline LoquĂšs | France
International Premiere
With a breakout performance from TIFF â17 Rising Star and QuĂ©bĂ©cois actor ThĂ©odore Pellerin (whose previous TIFF credits include Never Steady, Never Still, Family First, and GenĂšse and the most recent, Solo), Pauline LoquĂšsâ Nino follows its titular character (played by Pellerin) over three pivotal days. Nino faces a major health challenge, but first, his doctors have assigned him two vital tasks. These two missions lead the young man on a journey through Paris, compelling him to reconnect with the world â and himself.
Sk+teâkmujueâkatik (At the Place of Ghosts) | Bretten Hannam | Canada/Belgium
World Premiere
From Indigenous, two-spirited filmmaker Bretten Hannam (Wildhood, TIFF â21) comes Sk+teâkmujueâkatik (At the Place of Ghosts), which follows siblings Miseâl and Antle who were close as children, but trauma from their upbringing has caused them to drift apart as adults. When they are both haunted by a malevolent spirit of bones and rot, the siblings are forced to reunite and venture deep into the forest to confront their trauma together.
Steve | Tim Mielants | Ireland/United Kingdom | Opening Film
World Premiere
Set in the mid-90s, Steve is a reimagining of Max Porterâs Sunday Times bestseller Shy. The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve (Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy) and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. As Steve fights to protect the schoolâs integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. In parallel to Steveâs struggles, we meet Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.
The Currents | Milagros Mumenthaler | Switzerland/Argentina
World Premiere
Known for her evocative storytelling, filmmaker Milagros Mumenthaler, whose acclaimed film Abrir puertas y ventanas (Back to Stay) premiered at TIFF â11, unveils her latest drama, The Currents. The enigmatic film follows Lina on a business trip to Geneva. She is driven by an impulse that puts her life in danger. On her return to Buenos Aires, Lina keeps what happened hidden, but the past which she escaped from emerges and puts her present in abyss.
The World of Love | Yoon Ga-eun | South Korea
World Premiere
Yoon Ga-eunâs third feature, The World of Love, brings together Seo Su-bin in her debut role with Chang Hyae-jin (Parasite, Crash Landing on You). The film introduces us to Jooin (Seo Su-bin), an enigmatic 17-year-old high school student who is curious about and baffled by love. One day, some words she says in a fit of anger cause a major scene. Afterwards, she receives anonymous notes questioning her behaviour, and cracks begin to appear in her formerly peaceful world. âJooin, who is the real you?â
To The Victory! | Valentyn Vasyanovych | Ukraine/Lithuania
World Premiere
The latest from multi-talented filmmaker Valentyn Vasyanovych, who also stars as the lead character in To The Victory! Ukraine, in the near future. The war has ended. A film director is out of work, out of luck, and out of touch with his family abroad. While his wife and daughter built a new life in Vienna, he stays behind â confused, restless, and convinced that things will get better. Eventually. Probably. Maybe.
Winter of the Crow | Kasia Adamik | Poland/Luxembourg/United Kingdom
World Premiere
Winter of the Crow, stars Lesley Manville, Zofia WichĆacz, and Tom Burke and is based on a short story by Nobel Prizeâwinning author Olga Tokarczuk. Set during the onset of Polandâs Martial Law era, the country is shut down just as British psychiatry professor Dr. Joan Andrews (Manville) arrives as a guest lecturer in Warsaw. Taxis have been replaced by tanks; citizens are treated like criminals. As chaos engulfs the city, Joan witnesses a brutal murder by the secret police. In mortal danger and trapped as Poland is closed down, Joan becomes a hunted fugitive running for her life.
2025 Platform Award Jury (photographed above left to right)
Carlos Marqués-Marcet, Jury Chair
Carlos MarquĂ©s-Marcet is a writer, director, and editor from Barcelona. He co-wrote and directed 10.000 KM (2014), Anchor and Hope (2017), The Days to Come (2019), and his latest film, They Will Be Dust, which won the Platform Award at TIFF â24. He has also directed several projects for Spanish platforms such as HBO and Atresmedia.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Marianne Jean-Baptiste is an Oscar-nominated actor, writer, composer, and director. Known for her acclaimed performance in Secrets & Lies (1996), she recently reunited with Mike Leigh for Hard Truths (TIFF â24), earning major critic awards. Television credits include Without a Trace, Surface, Soundtrack, Homecoming, Blindspot, and Broadchurch. Film credits include Rumble Through the Dark, Boxing Day, In Fabric, Training Day, RoboCop, and 28 Days.
Chloé Robichaud
ChloĂ© Robichaud is a QuĂ©bec-based filmmaker and screenwriter who first gained recognition with Herd Leader (Canadaâs Top Ten, TIFF â12) and Sarah Prefers to Run (TIFF â13). Further work showcased at the Festival includes Boundaries (TIFF â16), Days of Happiness (TIFF â23), and Delphine (TIFF â19), which won the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film. Her latest feature, Two Women, received the 2025 Special Jury Award at Sundance.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4â14, 2025.
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