The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), North America’s largest film event, opened on Thursday with an extensive slate featuring over 200 films and a lineup of prominent stars. The festival, which runs through September 20, continues to attract high-profile premieres and industry attention following recent screenings at Venice and Telluride.
Opening night featured the world premiere of "Being Heumann," a biographical drama directed by Oscar winner Sian Heder. The Apple TV production stars Ruth Madeley as disability rights activist Judy Heumann, with Mark Ruffalo portraying a key figure in her fight for equal rights. The film spotlights Heumann’s lifelong advocacy work and resilience.
Among the highly anticipated premieres is "I Play Rocky," directed by Oscar winner Peter Farrelly ("Green Book"). The film dramatizes the struggles of then-unknown Sylvester Stallone, played by Anthony Ippolito, as he battled Hollywood studios to bring the iconic "Rocky" character to the screen.
Another biopic debuting at TIFF is "Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend," which explores the journey of Canadian racing driver Gilles Villeneuve from his early days in Quebec to becoming a Formula 1 champion.
Comedian Chris Rock returns to the director’s chair with "Misty Green," a Hollywood satire starring Rosalind Eleazar as an actress seeking a career revival. The ensemble also includes Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver, Anna Kendrick, and Rock himself.
Martin McDonagh’s "Wild Horse Nine," a tense drama about two CIA agents on Easter Island during the fall of Salvador Allende’s government in Chile, is also part of the schedule. The film premiered at Venice and screened at Telluride, with stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell expected to attend to support their Oscar campaigns.
Additional titles arriving from Telluride include "Elsinore," starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman, and Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy "The Debut."
British actress Helen Mirren is slated to appear for the world premiere of "A Talent for Murder," a psychological thriller in which she portrays author Patricia Highsmith. The storyline centers on Highsmith’s pressured efforts to complete one final Tom Ripley novel.
Director Zack Snyder presents "The Last Photograph," an action-drama that follows a former DEA agent, portrayed by Stuart Martin and Fra Fee, on a search for two missing nephews in the South American jungle.
From Venice, the psychological thriller "Bunker" features real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as a troubled pair, while acclaimed German director Werner Herzog’s latest film, "Bucking Fastard," also makes its Toronto debut.
On the documentary front, K-pop sensation Lisa, known for her work with Blackpink, premieres "Always Lalisa." The film provides an intimate look at her solo career launch and early steps in acting, including her role in the television series "The White Lotus."
TIFF continues to serve as a key platform for both emerging talents and established filmmakers ahead of awards season, drawing film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and media from around the world to Toronto.