#FIRSTLOOK: “IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT” TRAILER

We get a new Trailer for TIFF ’25 selection, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

Directed by: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his former sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal’s identity. As the bickering group drives around Tehran with the captive, they must confront how far to take matters into their own hands with their presumed tormentor. From master filmmaker Jafar Panahi comes a searing moral thriller that engages with complex ideas about the uncertainty of the truth and the choice between revenge and mercy, as Panahi turns his personal dissonance into a profound and galvanizing work of art.

#TIFF25: TIFF ANNOUNCE IN-CONVERSATIONS AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

With just three weeks until the Festival, TIFF is proud to share a preview of this year’s programming and events that go beyond the big screen, offering a broader lens on the global entertainment industry’s influence. TIFF’s iconic In Conversation With… (ICW) series is set to welcome international superstars Park Chan-wook, Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Tessa Thompson alongside Nia DaCosta, five bold, original voices who will engage audiences through candid, in-depth conversations about their careers, craft, and creative journeys. The 50th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

TIFF Next Wave presents an inaugural TIFF: Close-Up conversation with Project Y co-stars Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo. Programmed specifically for TIFF’s Under-25 audience, this is an opportunity to hear from two of the most exciting global rising stars at this year’s Festival.

“As we mark TIFF’s 50th edition, our programming continues to reflect our belief that film and creative expression can spark dialogue, challenge perspectives, and build connection,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “From intimate ICWs and a Close-Up event with today’s biggest stars, to events designed to elevate and celebrate creative communities, we’re proud to offer Festival goers opportunities to further engage.”

Now in its third year, TIFF’s invite-only Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC, hosted at RBC House (Petros82), and supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is a vibrant celebration of the Black creative community. The event fosters connection, shared experience, and collective growth by bringing together both local and international voices. This year’s brunch will also shine a spotlight on the 30th anniversary and enduring legacy of Planet Africa, the groundbreaking Festival programme founded by Cameron Bailey in 1995.

Announced last week, the Criterion Mobile Closet is making its sixth stop and its Canadian debut as part of TIFF’s Festival Street, Sept 4–7. Open to the public, visitors are invited to explore its extensive collection of 1700 films and to make your very own Closet video. And if you miss your chance to visit, part of the collection and Criterion merchandise will be available in the TIFF Shop. More news about other Festival Street activations will be shared closer to the Festival.

More info on: In Conversation With…

In Conversation With… Park Chan-wook, presented by The Korean Film Council

Director Park Chan-wook’s blend of striking visuals and masterful tension has cemented his status as one of contemporary cinema’s most influential auteurs. His elegant, genre-defying storytelling has consistently challenged cinematic conventions while exploring themes of obsession, morality, and the human psyche. Join us for a rare opportunity to hear Park Chan-wook, in conversation with Don McKellar, about the evolution of his craft, his impactful career, and the making of No Other Choice — a film co-written with McKellar, and an essential new addition to one of the most celebrated filmographies of the 21st century.

In Conversation With… Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is truly one of a kind: the professional wrestler turned movie superstar has a powerful connection with his global fan base, which includes diehard adult wrestling fans, young Maui devotees, and everyone in between. Johnson joins TIFF for an exclusive conversation about his journey from the ring to Hollywood, his work as a producer and co-owner of Seven Bucks Productions, and his creative collaboration with A24, Benny Safdie, and long-time friend and co-star Emily Blunt to bring the true story of MMA legend Mark Kerr to the big screen in The Smashing Machine.

In Conversation With… Ryan Reynolds, presented by Prime Video

Creator, producer, writer, actor, entrepreneur, and co-owner of one of the oldest football clubs in the world, Ryan Reynolds is a creative force in Hollywood and beyond. Recently named an Officer of the Order of Canada, Vancouver-born Reynolds is proudly Canadian with a healthy dash of global ambition. As TIFF opens the Festival with John Candy: I Like Me, Reynolds will discuss his work as a producer on the film, the influence of John Candy on his own career, and his work in front of and behind the camera at his company Maximum Effort.

In Conversation With… Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta

Actor-producer Tessa Thompson and director-screenwriter Nia DaCosta discuss their bold new collaboration Hedda, a striking reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler. This intimate conversation will take audiences behind the scenes of one of the year’s greatly anticipated films, while delving into Thompson and DaCosta’s creative partnership and their respective careers. Join us for a revealing conversation about artistry, risk, and the power of creative collaboration.

More information on Close Up:

Close-Up (클로즈업): Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo

The World Premiere of Lee Hwan’s highly anticipated Project Y is part of #TIFF50, and TIFF Next Wave is presenting a special Close-Up (in Korean: 클로즈업) event with film co-stars Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo. So-hee and Jong-seo will speak about their friendship, creative collaboration on Project Y, and their respective journeys in the entertainment world, with special focus on their starring roles in such K-Pop music videos as Seven by Jung Kook and Derre by Bibi.

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “SWIPED”

The Hulu Original film “Swiped” from 20th Century Studios will debut exclusively September 19, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada. The film will hold its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2025.

Inspired by the provocative real-life story of the visionary founder of online dating platform Bumble, “Swiped” introduces recent college grad Whitney Wolfe, played by Lily James, as she uses extraordinary grit and ingenuity to break into the male-dominated tech industry and launch an innovative, globally lauded dating app (two, actually), paving the way to becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. “Swiped” is directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg and written by Bill Parker & Rachel Lee Goldenberg and Kim Caramele. The film also stars Jackson White, Myha’la, Ben Schnetzer, Pierson Fodé, Clea DuVall, Pedro Correa, Ian Colleti, Coral Peña, and Dan Stevens. Jennifer Gibgot, Andrew Panay, and Lily James produce.

#TIFF25: TIFF ANNOUNCE CLASSICS PROGRAMME AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF is celebrating its 50th edition with a robust Classics programme, presented by MUBI, and supported by Ontario Creates and the Canada Council for the Arts. Programmed by Robyn Citizen, TIFF’s Director of Programming, and Senior Curator Andréa Picard, TIFF Classics offers audiences a curated selection of influential classic films from around the world. Presented in a slate of new 4K restorations, these landmark works return to the big screen to be experienced as they were meant to be seen, and are presented alongside special 50th anniversary screenings of Jaws in 35mm. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

An exhilarating and eclectic mix, this year’s Classics comprise a wide breadth, from lesser-known films from established auteurs, discoveries, films with rising cult status, and revered blockbusters. Rarely shown and largely out of circulation, Aniki-Bóbó is the impressive debut by the late, great Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira; a sly, delightful children’s tale set in a working-class neighbourhood in Porto. Once voted the best Iranian film of all time, Bashu, the Little Stranger by Iranian New Wave pioneer Bahram Beyzaie, tells the story of a boy orphaned by the Iraq-Iran war with pathos and gentle humour. Satyajit Ray’s lesser-known modernist masterpiece Days and Nights in the Forest is incandescent in this new restoration, initiated by Wes Anderson. Rediscoveries of trailblazing voices include The Arch by T’ang Shushuen, adapted from a 17th century Chinese tale and one of the first independent films made in Hong Kong (and by a woman), and iconoclast Michael Almereyda’s hip interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula by way of nineties New York in Nadja which first premiered at TIFF in 1994. Finally, celebrating its 50th anniversary alongside TIFF is Steven Spielberg’s iconic summer blockbuster chiller Jaws, presented in 35mm as a Canadian exclusive.

2025 Classics (in alphabetical order)

Aniki-Bóbó | Manoel de Oliveira | Portugal | 1942
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Bashu, the Little Stranger (Bashu Gharibeh Kouchak) | Bahram Beyzaie | Iran | 1986
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Days and Nights in the Forest (Aranyer Din Ratri) | Satyajit Ray | India | 1970
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Jaws | Steven Spielberg | USA | 1975
50th Anniversary – 35mm Canadian exclusive

Nadja | Michael Almereyda | USA | 1994
World Premiere of 4K restoration

Sholay | Ramesh Sippy | India | 1975
50th Anniversary and North American Premiere of 4K restoration | Gala (previously announced), co-presented by Classics

The Arch (董夫人) | T’ang Shushuen | Hong Kong | 1968
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Today’s announcements mark the last of this year’s TIFF Takeovers. 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 4–14, 2025.

#TIFF25: WAVELENGTHS PROGRAMME AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF is thrilled to announce its 25th Wavelengths programme, the Festival’s steadfast visionary selection highlighting the best of international cinema, the experimental and avant-garde, and contemporary art. This year’s lineup — through eight features, a special pairing, and three shorts programmes — offers a timely reflection on the art of cinema, bringing together emerging talents alongside legendary filmmakers. From epics to miniatures, the works in this year’s programme push the boundaries of filmic form and language in ways both inspiring and resonant. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

Wavelengths favourites returning with features include Lav Diaz, with his new Luminary designation, to present the Gael García Bernal-fronted decolonial epic Magellan (still above); Ben Rivers with his fable-like post-apocalyptic Mare’s Nest; the ever-sly Nicolás Pereda with his typically efficient and surprising Copper; and Maureen Fazendeiro with her poetic, shape-shifting solo feature debut The Seasons.

World Premieres include Rhayne Vermette’s singular and enigmatic Levers, the anticipated follow-up to her TIFF Amplify Voices award-winning Ste. Anne (2021). TIFF is proud to also welcome a number of filmmakers making their first appearance in Wavelengths, including artist and filmmaker Kahlil Joseph with his buzzy, near-unclassifiable BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, and Alexandre Koberidze with his bold and meditative Dry Leaf, shot on an antiquated Sony Ericsson phone.

Additionally, this year’s lineup features a special pairing of Kamal Aljafari’s powerful With Hasan in Gaza, which screens alongside Basma al-Sharif’s equally moving short It’s So Beautiful Here (one of two films by the artist in this year’s selection).

Across three curated programmes, this year’s shorts boast an international and intergenerational mix of artists, a number of film prints, and one work of 3D. World Premieres by Viktoria Schmid, Björn Kämmerer, Blake Williams, and Friedl vom Gröller will be presented alongside exciting first appearances by newcomers Fredj Moussa, Kaiwen Ren, and Eri Saito, among others.

Additional highlights include new work by Mark Jenkin — also presenting his feature Rose of Nevada in Special Presentations — Chan Hau Chun; Jorge Caballero and Camilo Restrepo; Abdellah Taïa; Sohrab Hura; and Maryam Tafakory, with her award-winning Daria’s Night Flowers.

Finally, this year’s diverse showcase also includes a heartfelt tribute to celebrated avant-garde filmmaker Tomonari Nishikawa, a long-time friend of the Festival who passed away in April. In his honour, TIFF will screen his short Ten Mornings Ten Evenings and One Horizon, first presented as a World Premiere at TIFF ’16.

Wavelengths is named after Michael Snow’s iconic 1967 film Wavelength, and draws continued inspiration from the artist’s boundless exploration, experimentation, and innovation across media. The programme is curated by Senior Curator Andréa Picard and Associate Curator Jesse Cumming, with contributions from Jason Anderson and Diana Cadavid.

Wavelengths Features (in alphabetical order):

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions | Kahlil Joseph | USA
Canadian Premiere

Copper (Cobre) | Nicolás Pereda | Canada/Mexico
North American Premiere

Dry Leaf | Alexandre Koberidze | Germany/Georgia
North American Premiere

Levers | Rhayne Vermette | Canada
World Premiere

Magellan (Magalhães) | Lav Diaz | Portugal/Spain/France/Philippines/Taiwan
North American Premiere

Mare’s Nest | Ben Rivers | France/UK/Canada
North American Premiere

The Seasons (As Estações) | Maureen Fazendeiro | Portugal/France/Spain/Austria
North American Premiere

Wavelengths Pairings

With Hasan in Gaza | Kamal Aljafari | Palestine/Germany/France/Qatar
North American Premiere

preceded by

It’s So Beautiful Here | Basma al-Sharif | Palestine
International Premiere

Wavelengths Shorts

Wavelengths 1: Map of Traces

Ten Mornings Ten Evenings and One Horizon | Tomonari Nishikawa | Japan

Rojo Žalia Blau | Viktoria Schmid | Austria
World Premiere

Disappeared | Sohrab Hura | India/Nepal
Canadian Premiere

09/05/1982 | Jorge Caballero, Camilo Restrepo | Mexico/Spain
North American Premiere

Map of Traces (記憶座標) | Chan Hau Chun | Hong Kong
World Premiere

En Traversée | Vadim Kostrov | France
Canadian Premiere

Wavelengths 2: Into the Blue

I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash | Mark Jenkin | UK
North American Premiere

From My Cloud (구름으로부터) | Minjung Kim | South Korea
World Premiere

Cairo Streets | Abdellah Taïa | France
North American Premiere

Daria’s Night Flowers (گل‌های شب ِدریا) | Maryam Tafakory | France/Iran/UK
North American Premiere

Aftertide | Kaiwen Ren | USA/China
World Premiere

Wavelengths 3: Slightest Pretense

Land of Barbar (بلاد البربر) | Fredj Moussa | Tunisia
World Premiere

Conditio Humana | Friedl vom Gröller | Austria
World Premiere

Slightest Pretense (わずかな見せかけ) | Eri Saito | Japan
World Premiere

CONFERENCE | Björn Kämmerer | Austria
World Premiere

Morgenkreis | Basma al-Sharif | Canada/United Arab Emirates
International Premiere

FELT | Blake Williams | Canada
World Premiere

#TIFF25: CRITERION MOBILE CLOSET COMING TO 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

After wildly successful stops in multiple cities across the United States, the Criterion Mobile Closet is making its first trip outside the country!

September 4–7: Toronto, Canada, at the Toronto International Film Festival

Stocked with more than 1,700 of the greatest films from around the world, the Criterion Collection Closet may offer more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet. Filmmakers, stars, and creative luminaries of all kinds come to Criterion to champion their favorite films in our popular Criterion Closet Picks video series. Last year, we opened the door to everyone by taking the Closet out on the road, and Toronto will be our sixth stop. Come in, explore the collection, and make your own Closet video!

Interested in receiving updates? Sign up here to get important information about location, the opening and closing of line, logistics, etc.

Please note: signing up here does not guarantee entry to Mobile Closet experience, which operates on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Location
Across the street from TIFF Lightbox
350 King Street W
Toronto, ON M5V 3X5

Opening Hours
September 4: 3–7 p.m.
September 5–7: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

In the meantime, enjoy this message from our very first Closet guest, Guillermo del Toro:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Criterion Collection (@criterioncollection)

Transportation and Parking
Parking space is limited, so rideshares and public transportation are encouraged.

How It Works
The Criterion Closet is stocked with every in-print edition from the Criterion Collection, including box sets, as well as all in-print releases from our Eclipse and Janus Contemporaries lines.
The Mobile Closet will be open to the general public on a first-come-first-serve basis.
You don’t need a reservation to visit the Criterion Mobile Closet—there are no advance tickets or time slots; just show up at the site and find your place in line. Up to five people can share a Closet visit, so bring your friends or make friends in line! (We encourage group visits.)

As long as supplies last, you’ll receive a Criterion tote bag and a printed pocket guide to the Criterion Collection.

Use the pocket guide to find films you love from the Collection. The numbered order of the films in the guide matches the order of the films in the Closet so that you can easily find what you’re looking for once inside.

If you don’t know what to choose, don’t worry! Just tell us about a film or filmmaker you love, and we’ll help you find something that fits you.

Although we’ll have our camera rolling throughout the Closet visit, there’s absolutely no pressure to perform or talk about your selections. Your experience in the Closet is yours to create!
If you would like to film or photograph your visit on your own camera or phone, you’re welcome to use our wall mount.

Each Closet visit will last three minutes. Once the clock starts (spoiler: it’s when you enter!), you’ll have that time to explore the collection or talk about your selections. Don’t worry—the Criterion Closet team is there to help you find what you’re looking for, and if all you want to do is look around, that’s okay too!
No purchase is required, but you are able to buy up to three items with our special Mobile Closet discount of 40 percent off, in honor of our fortieth anniversary. A limited amount of Criterion merch may also be available for purchase at the time of your visit. We accept credit cards only.
At the end of every Closet visit, we take a Polaroid of our visitors with their selections, which will be yours to keep as a souvenir along with the tote bag and guide to the Collection, while supplies last.

You might be featured on our social feeds, so keep an eye out and be sure to follow us on social media: Instagram, X, and Facebook.

If you post your Criterion Mobile Closet experience on social, don’t forget to tag and use the hashtag #criterionmobilecloset

Instagram: @criterioncollection
X: @criterion
Facebook: @CriterionCollection

UPDATE: We share our experience in the Criterion Closet! It was iconic!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

#TIFF25: SHORT CUTS PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF’s Short Cuts programme returns for TIFF 50 with a compelling slate of 48 short films representing 28 countries – including 20 Canadian titles. This year’s programme showcases TIFF’s expansive curatorial vision across seven presentations, including Strange Cuts, the Midnight Madness-adjacent strand introduced in 2024. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

The Best International and Best Canadian Short Film Awards are joined by a third honour this year: the Best Animated Short Film Award evaluated by a panel of three Short Cuts Jurors. This year they are are rising cinematographer Ashley Iris Gill (Black Community Mixtapes), Marcel Jean, Artistic Director of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Executive Director of the Cinémathèque québécoise, and Canadian actor, writer, and director Connor Jessup (whose short film Julian and the Wind had its World Premiere at last year’s Festival).

Hear from Short Cuts Co-Lead Programmer Sonja Baksa:

Programme highlights include the World Premieres of Dust to Dreams by acclaimed actor Idris Elba; The Contestant from duo Patrick Xavier Bresnan and Ivete Lucas (The Passing, TIFF Short Cuts ‘23), featuring David Hasselhoff; and DISC by Cannes alum Blake Winston Rice, co-written by and starring Victoria Ratermanis and Jim Cummings. Joecar Hanna’s Talk Me, executive produced by Spike Lee, makes its North American premiere, as does The Non-Actor starring Maya Hawke and Victoria Pedretti. The documentary All the Empty Rooms from Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Joshua Seftel, executive produced by Adam McKay, will have its International Premiere.

Additional Short Cut programme highlights:

Ten animations across the seven-programme lineup, including Cannes, Annecy and Venice hits like Water Girl by Sandra Desmazières, The Girl Who Cried Pearls from Oscar-nominated Canadian animators Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, and Praying Mantis from the team of Yonfan (No. 7 Cherry Lane, TIFF ‘19) and Joe Hsieh.

Returns from TIFF alumni, including Rich Williamson and Shasha Nakhai (Scarborough, TIFF ‘21) with short satire Bots; Kelly Fyffe-Marshall (When Morning Comes, TIFF ‘22) with sharply scripted drama Demons; Healer from Chelsea McMullan (Swan Song, TIFF ‘23) in collaboration with Amar Wala (Shook, TIFF ‘24); A South Facing Window by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir (City of Wind, TIFF ‘23, Snow in September, TIFF ‘22); and A Soft Touch by Heather Young (Murmur, TIFF ‘19, Milk, TIFF ‘17).

Award-winning standouts from the festival circuit, such as I’m Glad You’re Dead Now (Cannes 2025 short film Palme d’Or Winner) by Tawfeek Barhom and Ali (Cannes 2025 Special Jury Mention) by Adnan Al Rajeev.

Strange Cuts’ sophomore lineup, with genre hybrids including the deliciously twisted psychedelic animation UM by Nieto, cheeky micro satire Marriaginalia by Hannah Cheesman, and the absurdist wonder Thanks to Meet You! from Richard Hunter.

Compelling documentaries like seven-minute-long, visually striking short Divers by Georgie Wood and the whimsical Asparagus Bear from Ivan Grgur, produced by the Oscar-nominated director and last year’s Cannes short film Palme d’Or winner, Nebojša Slijepčević.

TIFF debuts from emerging Canadian filmmakers:

-Jazz Infernal, an upbeat ode to the roots of jazz music from Will Niava

Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts, a delightful mockumentary by Shervin Kermani

-The Year of the Dragon, a tender drama about the sacrifices of motherhood from Giran Findlay-Liu

-ripe, a drama about family duty from Solara Thanh Bình Đặng

-Karupy, an absurd family drama from Canadian Film Centre Director Labs alum Kalainithan Kalaichelvan

-Klee, a prairie-gothic sci-fi that flips the script on colonization, from Saskatchewan-based Métis filmmaker Gavin Baird

-Poster Boy, a cutthroat look at the ’90s boyband world by India Opzoomer, who is also in TIFF’s Directors Lab this year

Short Cuts Co-Lead Mariam Zaidi’s insights:

Short Cuts Programme 1 (in alphabetical order)

A Small Fiction of My Mother in Beijing | Dorothy Sing Zhang | China
World Premiere

Agapito | Arvin Belarmino, Kyla Danelle Romero | Philippines
North American Premiere

DISC | Blake Winston Rice | United States of America
World Premiere

Healer | Chelsea McMullan | Canada
World Premiere

Jazz Infernal | Will Niava | Canada
World Premiere

Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts | Shervin Kermani | Spain/Canada/Mexico
World Premiere

The Girl Who Cried Pearls | Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski | Canada
North American Premiere

Short Cuts Programme 2 (in alphabetical order)

Ambush | Yassmina Karajah | Jordan/Canada
World Premiere

Bots | Rich Williamson | Canada
World Premiere

I Fear Blue Skies | Salar Pashtoonyar | Canada
World Premiere

Not Scared, Just Sad | Isabelle Mecattaf | Lebanon/Bulgaria
World Premiere

Talk Me | Joecar Hanna | Spain/United States of America
North American Premiere

Water Girl | Sandra Desmazières | France/Netherlands/Portugal
North American Premiere

Short Cuts Programme 3 (in alphabetical order)

A South Facing Window | Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir | France/Mongolia
North American Premiere

Asparagus Bear | Ivan Grgur | Croatia
World Premiere

Demons | Kelly Fyffe-Marshall | Canada
World Premiere

Earworm | Patrik Eklund | Sweden
International Premiere

Sea Star | Tyler Mckenzie Evans | Canada
World Premiere

The Non-Actor | Eliza Barry Callahan | United States of America
North American Premiere

What We Leave Behind | Jean-Sébastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte | Canada
North American Premiere

Short Cuts Programme 4 (in alphabetical order)

Ali | Adnan Al Rajeev | Bangladesh/Philippines
North American Premiere

Dust to Dreams | Idris Elba | Nigeria
World Premiere

Fiction Contract | Carolyn Lazard | United States of America
International Premiere

More Than Happy | Wei Keong Tan | Singapore
World Premiere

ripe | Solara Thanh Bình Đặng | Canada/Vietnam
World Premiere

To the Woods | Agnès Patron | France
North American Premiere

Year of the Dragon | Giran Findlay-Liu | Canada
World Premiere

Short Cuts Programme 5 (in alphabetical order)

Arguments in Favor of Love | Gabriel Abrantes | Portugal
North American Premiere

Dish Pit | Anna Hopkins | Canada
Canadian Premiere

I’m Glad You’re Dead Now | Tawfeek Barhom | France/Greece/Palestine
North American Premiere

Karupy | Kalainithan Kalaichelvan | Canada
World Premiere

Once in a Body | María Cristina Pérez González | Colombia/United States of America
North American Premiere

Pink Light | Harrison Browne | Canada
World Premiere

Poster Boy | India Opzoomer | Canada
World Premiere

The Contestant | Patrick Xavier Bresnan | United States of America/Germany
World Premiere

Short Cuts Programme 6 (in alphabetical order)

A Soft Touch | Heather Young | Canada
World Premiere

All the Empty Rooms | Joshua Seftel | United States of America
International Premiere

Divers | Geordie Wood | United States of America
North American Premiere

Niimi | Dana Solomon | Canada
World Premiere

Permanent Guest | Sana Zahra Jafri | Pakistan
World Premiere

The Death of the Fish | Eva Lusbaronian | France
North American Premiere

Strange Cuts

Klee | Gavin Baird | Canada
World Premiere

Marriaginalia | Hannah Cheesman | Canada
Marriaginalia is a surreal portrait of married life told across a day in three parts. A couple navigates life’s smaller ruptures — the world distorts, the body surprises — but their bond holds, serene and slightly off-kilter.
World Premiere

Praying Mantis | Joe Hsieh | Taiwan/Hong Kong
North American Premiere

Quietness | Gonçalo Almeida | Spain
World Premiere

Thanks To Meet You! | Richard Hunter | United Kingdom
World Premiere

The Veil | Gabriel Motta | Brazil
World Premiere

UM | Nieto | France
World Premiere

2025 Short Cuts Awards Jury

Ashley Iris Gill

Ashley Iris Gill is a rising cinematographer whose intimate, emotive style shapes acclaimed works like the Canadian Screen Award winner Black Community Mixtapes, Sundance’s Thriving, and Scaring Women At Night (TIFF Short Cuts ‘22). She has collaborated with many brands including Nike, Mercedes, and BMO, while also passionately advocating for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ communities in film.

Marcel Jean

Marcel Jean has been the Artistic Director of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival since 2012 and the Executive Director of the Cinémathèque québécoise since 2015. He is the author of several books on animation and Canadian cinema, and from 1999 to 2005 he was an executive producer at the NFB French program animation studio.

Connor Jessup

Connor Jessup is a Canadian actor, writer, and director, best known for his leading roles in Netflix’s Locke & Key, ABC’s American Crime, and the independent film Closet Monster (winner, Best Canadian Feature Film, TIFF ’15). As a filmmaker, Jessup’s short films have screened at the Festival as well as the Berlinale, Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs, FNC and many other festivals.

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 4–14, 2025.

#TIFF25: PRIMETIME PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Primetime programme, spotlighting exceptional international series and boundary-pushing episodic storytelling. Since launching in 2015, Primetime has offered audiences a first look at prestige series and auteur-driven television from around the world, recognizing the medium’s creative power and cultural impact. Over the past decade, TIFF has further expanded its support of serialized storytelling, introducing the Series Accelerator initiative in 2021 that champions emerging showrunners; premiering series year-round at TIFF Lightbox, and most recently announcing that series will be a key component of TIFF: The Market launching in 2026.

This year’s Primetime lineup welcomes six World Premieres including The Lowdown, which opens the section, from creator, executive producer, writer and director Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs) and stars executive producer Ethan Hawke; Netflix’s latest original Canadian series Wayward, created by Mae Martin, with Martin, Sarah Gadon and Toni Collette; Zach Baylin and Kate Susman’s Black Rabbit starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman who also directs some of the episodes; Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League the only documentary series in the lineup, created by Richard Brown and Tebogo Malope; Hansal Mehta’s Gandhi; and The Savage, created by Houman Seyyedi.

Other Primetime series coming to TIFF are the North American premieres of HBO’s Portobello – The Fall of Enzo Tortora by Italian cinematic master Marco Bellocchio, who will be given TIFF’s Luminaries distinction; Balázs Lengyel Rise of the Raven; Norway’s Pål Jackman and Åse Kathrin Vuolab’s A Sámi Wedding, and William Mager’s Reunion. All Primetime screenings include an extended Q+A with creators and cast.

Hear from Primetime’s lead programmer Geoff Macnaughton:

Primetime (in alphabetical order):

A Sámi Wedding | Åse Kathrin Vuolab, Pål Jackman | Norway
World Premiere

Black Rabbit | Zach Baylin, Kate Susman | USA
World Premiere

Gandhi | Sameer Nair, Hansal Mehta | India
World Premiere

Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League | Richard Brown, Tebogo Malope | Rwanda/UK/USA
World Premiere

Portobello – The Fall of Enzo Tortora | Marco Bellocchio | Italy/France
International Premiere

Reunion | William Mager, Luke Snellin | UK
North American Premiere

Rise of the Raven | Balázs Lengyel, Robert Dornhelm |
The lifelong attempt of fearless army commander János Hunyadi to defend Europe against an Ottoman invasion. Torn between family and duty, he re-shapes the history of the continent against geopolitical intrigues within his own ranks.
Hungary / Austria / Germany
North American Premiere

The Lowdown | Sterlin Harjo | USA
World Premiere

The Savage | Houman Seyyedi | Iran
International Premiere

Wayward | Mae Martin, Ryan Scott | Canada (Trailer here, still in banner)
World Premiere

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

#TIFF25: DOCS PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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 year’s 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, Michèle Stephenson, Peter Mettler, and Chai Vasarhelyi. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

The TIFF Docs programme features attention-grabbing non-fiction cinema from around the world. The programme will open with Academy Award–winning Canadian director Ben Proudfoot’s 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 Chin’s LOVE+WAR, Stephenson’s True North, Sky Hopinka’s Powwow People, Zahraa Ghandour’s Flana, and a notable cluster of Canadian titles including Jamal Burger and Jukan Tateisi’s Still Single, Darlene Naponse’s Aki, Shane Belcourt’s Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, Min Sook Lee’s There Are No Words, and Mettler’s 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 | Michèle 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 4–14, 2025

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “RENTAL FAMILY”

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 clients’ 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