Gear up, Toronto!
The slate of films for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival are being revealed. Opening night is set to take place on Thursday, September 10, at Roy Thomson Hall. They hope to build on the momentum of last year’s milestone 50th edition, which had welcomed around 700,000 attendees. This year, TIFF will run from September 10–20 with a dynamic lineup of acclaimed directors, Hollywood and international A-list talent, red carpet premieres, the inaugural TIFF: The Market, and unforgettable audience experiences across all 11 days.
World Premieres
One of the films that is set to have its world premieres is Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother with Mahershala Ali. A teaser of the film was released a few weeks ago. Orion Pictures distributes the film, which is a production from Two & Two Pictures. Joining Ali in the cast is John Cho, Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Giancarlo Esposito. The film also stars Adia and Jaheel Kamara. The official plot synopsis from Orion reads,
“From writer-director Bassam Tariq, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devoutly religious hitman who struggles to balance work, faith and fatherhood. When his wife dies, he embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children, confronting the forces closing in around him – and the beliefs threatening to unravel within.” Bassam Tariq writes and directs Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Tariq is known for collaborating with Riz Ahmed on a couple of projects — Mogul Mowgli and the Prime Original series Bait. Tariq also produces with Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari joining him. Brian O’Neill is an executive producer on the film.
Another film on the slate is Alpha Gang from David Zellner and Nathan Zellner. The film stars Dave Bautista, Cate Blanchett, Riley Keough, Lily Rose-Depp, and Chris Pine. The movie follows a group of alien invaders who disguise themselves as a 1950s biker gang on their mission to conquer Earth.
Glaxo from Argentina also makes its premiere. The film comes from Benjamín Naishtat. Set in a provincial factory town in Argentina, the film explores the lives of four friends whose relationships unravel after an ex-cop and his seductive wife move to town. The story navigates passion, vengeance, and a loss of innocence across transformative decades in Argentina, spanning from the late 1950s to the 1980s.
There’s also Love Your Life from Rachel Morrison. It stars Margaret Qualley and Patrick Schwarzenegger, along with Aaron Pierre, Gabriel Basso, and Catherine Keener. It is produced by Ryan Gosling and Jessie Henderson.
The Housewife from Ben Shirinian is also set for its big world premiere. The script comes from Alyssa Hill. It stars Naomi Watts, Tye Sheridan, Michael Imperioli, and Luke Evans. The plot, according to IMDb, reads, “A New York Times journalist tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in Queens. But when he befriends the suspect’s elegant and charming wife, the implications of his investigation become much more unsettling.”
“Each year, we strive to curate a selection of films that feels most relevant to the moment with the power to spark a rich dialogue with our public audience, and these Special Presentations titles are true reflections of that,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “From debut directors to the most anticipated sophomore films of the year to vanguard voices, this group of films showcase the authenticity, the unexpected, and the ambition of cinema now. They are sure to be among the Festival’s most talked-about titles, captivating audiences and generating buzz long after the credits roll. We’re delighted to share these original works with TIFF audiences in September.”
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