Festival season is officially in full swing. The 2025 Telluride Film Festival wrapped on Monday, while Venice, which kicked off just before Telluride, continues through Saturday. Now, the spotlight shifts to Canada as the Toronto International Film Festival kicks into high gear tomorrow, launching 10 days of nonstop premieres and screenings.
TIFF has always been one of my favorite stops on the circuit, not only because of the incredible films that debut here but also because I genuinely love the city of Toronto. It’s my favorite city in North America, and every year I look forward to soaking in its culture, atmosphere, and of course, eating some incredible food in-between screenings.
With such a wide-ranging lineup, it would be easy to point out 30 or more titles, but I’ve narrowed this list down to a mix of films I’ve already caught at other festivals and some World and North American Premieres that I’m very eager to see. I do think my list accurately represents the kind of variety and discovery that makes TIFF such a a special and vital part of the festival season.
15. The Voice of Hind Rajab
After getting a 23-minute record breaking standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, how can I not add this one to the list? The Voice of Hind Rajab follows the events that take place on January 29, 2024, after the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement received an emergency call reporting that five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab was trapped in a car during the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. Clearly, this film is going to spark a lot of discussion and debate as it is centered around a vary taboo topic that has many in the world divided.
14. Sacrifice
One of the most, “I don’t know how this will go,” world premieres at this year’s TIFF comes courtesy of Romain Gavras, with the satirical action-adventure Sacrifice. Set against the backdrop of a lavish environmental conference in Greece, the film follows a group of Hollywood elites whose gathering is violently interrupted by a radical doomsday cult that believes the only way to save the planet is through literal sacrifice. Anya Taylor-Joy leads the film and is joined by an ensemble that includes Chris Evans, Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, John Malkovich, and pop star Charli XCX. With such an all-star cast and interesting premise, Sacrifice ranks up there as one of the buzziest films to premiere at TIFF.
13. Hamnet
Chloé Zhao brings Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel to life with Hamnet, a stunningly poetic and emotionally devastating adaptation. Zhao turns the beloved novel into a quiet meditation centered around the loss of a child. Zhao’s sublime direction combined with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s most captivating work to date have turned Hamnet into one of the most talked about films of the year and a clear awards season frontrunner. After seeing the film earlier this week at Telluride, I couldn’t help but praise Hamnet for being an exquisite film and noting that Jessie Buckley delivers a true tour‑de‑force performance that was absolutely heart wrenching to watch. TIFF audiences are in for a real treat and I’m kind of wondering if maybe, just maybe, Hamnet can walk away with this year’s People’s Choice Award.
12. Poetic License
Maude Apatow makes her directorial debut with Poetic License, a film that explores identity, self-discovery, and the blurry lines between art and life. This film has generated a lot of interest after being announced in the Special Presentations lineup. We all know that TIFF audiences love seeing actors become filmmakers so, this could be one of this year’s breakouts.
11. Swiped
Slated as a Gala Presentation at TIFF, Swiped is the film adaptation of the rise of Whitney Wolfe Herd, the co-founder of Tinder and founder of Bumble. Herd is played by the always brilliant Lily James and Rachel Lee Goldenberg serves as the film’s director. I’ve admired Goldenberg’s work since Unpregnant and Valley Girl, both of which I found to be sharply made and highly enjoyable, so I’m eager to see what she brings to the table with this story. The plot of the film focuses on Wolfe Herd’s fight to reshape the dating app industry while confronting sexism and harassment within the tech world. This story feels very timely and socially relevant, which could spark a conversation. Although it may not see a theatrical release beyond TIFF, I hope that the film is great so that when it debuts on Hulu, it will reach a wider audience than most streaming films nowadays.
10. No Other Choice
Park Chan-wook returns to TIFF with No Other Choice, a film that received rave reviews at Venice when it premiered there this past weekend. Park’s latest film is loosely based on the Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, and follows You Man‑su (Lee Byung‑hun), a devoted paper factory worker of 25 years who is suddenly laid off. As a way to continue to provide for his family and retain his sense of purpose, he concocts a disturbingly logical approach to his job search: eliminate his competitors through serial killings, clearing a path back into employment while insisting he has “no other choice.” Best known for his work on Oldboy and Decision to Leave, Park has built quite the reputation for filmmaking and storytelling. I have a feeling that No Other Choice will become a cinematic event at TIFF and will have those who are lucky enough to see it, talking about it throughout the festival and long after.
9. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson’s third entry in the Knives Out series arrives with high anticipation, following Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc into what will surely be another twisty and stylish murder mystery. With a star-studded cast and Johnson’s continued mix of suspense and humor, Wake Up Dead Man is without question one of the hottest tickets at TIFF. Its September 6 premiere marks one of the festival’s most high-profile premieres, and will likely be one of most enjoyable experiences as TIFF audiences absolutely adore this franchise.
8. John Candy: I Like Me
Colin Hanks directs a heartfelt documentary about the late Canadian comedy icon John Candy. As TIFF’s Opening Night Gala, it sets the tone for the festival by celebrating one of Canada’s most beloved performers. The film’s description states that it will mix rare archival footage with personal reflections. As someone who grew up watching and loving almost everything that John Candy did, I know this film is going to really move me emotionally. I am excited to see how the documentary not only honors Candy’s career but also highlights the kindness and humanity behind his comedic genius and iconic film career.
7. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie was my favorite film at SXSW and I can’t wait to revisit it again at TIFF. A film opening Midnight Madness is going to make for an unforgettable moviegoing experience. As someone who has already seen the film, I can tell you that it is chock full of absurd humor and somewhat serves as an unofficial parody and love letter to Back to the Future. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is very self-aware, and showcases what made the original series such a cult sensation. I am expecting the opening night screening to be a very raucous experience as the crowd laugh their asses off. I think by the end, there might even end up being some cheering that happens as well.
6. Charlie Harper
One thing people often associate with me is my passion for championing rising talent. I find it incredibly rewarding to discover actors early in their careers and follow their evolution as they take on new projects. Emilia Jones is certainly someone whose career I have followed. In fact, ever since CODA, I’ve made a point to seek out every project she’s been part of. While the films themselves have varied in quality, Jones has been consistently great as she brings authenticity and depth to each and every role. I’ve known about Charlie Harper for several years now, so I’m genuinely excited to finally see it and with an audience. Festivals like Sundance and TIFF are often key nowadays in helping smaller films break through, and I’m hopeful this one will be among the standout discoveries of this year’s fest.
5. Christy
Sydney Sweeney is one of those actresses that has always intrigued me ever since I’ve first saw her on the Netflix series, Everything Sucks! I truly believe that Sweeney is a brilliant business woman and a creative who has the potential to do it all. There are a lot of people who love to attack her because she’s attractive and embraces it. I feel like Sweeney has this 80s movie star quality to her and she isn’t afraid of being who she is even if half the industry doesn’t like it. But when it comes to acting, as I mentioned earlier, she has some serious range. Films like Reality, Anyone But You, Immaculate, and Eden all showcase four different types of roles that she absolutely nailed. However, David Michôd’s new gritty boxing drama Christy, which premieres on Friday afternoon, looks like it will put Sweeney front and center with a performance that could very well earn her some awards buzz. In the film, Sweeny is playing one of the most celebrated female boxers of all time, Christy Martin, who was America’s best known female boxer in the 1990s. I look forward to seeing Sweeney’s transformative performance and hopefully some emotionally charged direction from Michôd.
4. The Testament of Ann Lee
This year’s Venice lineup featured plenty of films where the reactions either heightened my anticipation or completely dampened it. The Testament of Ann Lee definitely falls into the former category. What excites me most are the polarizing responses that it got. I often appreciate a film that certain critics passionately praise while others despised. For me, that’s what good cinema and art are all about: provoking strong, divisive reactions. Directed by Mona Fastvold, who co-wrote last year’s The Brutalist, the film is said to be visually stunning, thematically ambiguous, and even incorporates musical elements. I’m also eager to see Amanda Seyfried return to the big screen after focusing on television roles in recent years; this project feels like the perfect showcase for her talent and will be the polar opposite of her character in The Housemaid.
3. Sentimental Value
Sentimental Value was my favorite film at Telluride this year. I’ll admit, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Joachim Trier—The Worst Person in the World left me a bit underwhelmed—but this film completely won me over. Not only did I find myself deeply invested in the story, but I genuinely believe every single performance could, and should, be in awards contention. At its core, Sentimental Value is a simple film, yet it beautifully captures the complex dynamics of family. It’s honest, tender, and above all, character-driven. While exploring how family members navigate life’s challenges isn’t a new concept, Trier and his cast handle it with such nuance and mastery that it feels fresh and profound. It’s no surprise the film earned rave reviews at Cannes, and I expect it will bring Neon at least half a dozen Oscar nominations. The love for this film will no doubt carry on through Toronto and straight into awards season.
2. The Smashing Machine
When I saw the trailer for Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, I got chills. It did everything a great trailer should and left me wanting more. Inspired by the real-life story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, the film appears to dive into both the physical toll of the sport and the struggles Kerr faced at home. The Safdie brothers have long been critical darlings, and it will be fascinating to see how Benny handles a project on his own. Dwayne Johnson, is someone who I’ve always admired and find to be one of the kindest people in the industry. He truly deserves a role like this, one that gives him the opportunity to finally be taken seriously as an actor. And with Emily Blunt playing his wife, how can you not be intrigued? Blunt is usually fantastic in everything. This feels like a major win for the trio.
1. Rental Family
While most of the films on this list aren’t ranked, I have to admit that Hikari’s Rental Family is without question my most anticipated title of the festival. Two years after his Academy Award–winning performance in The Whale, Brendan Fraser returns to the big screen in a major role, playing an American actor navigating Japan’s unusual “rental” culture, where strangers can be hired to fill roles in one’s life. The film promises to be heartfelt and poignant, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and cultural dislocation. I would love to see Fraser back in the awards conversation, and many believe this performance could be a standout of the season. The premise itself feels fresh and unlike anything I’ve seen before, which is why this is my most eagerly awaited premiere at TIFF.
