The Toronto International Film Festival is ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary in a big way this September. TIFF just rolled out a lineup of Galas and Special Presentations that reinforces its role as a key stop on the awards-season circuit and a showcase for top filmmakers from around the world.

Running September 4–14, TIFF’s milestone lineup features a stacked roster of world premieres. This year’s festival will feature an impressive slate of directorial debuts, including comedian Aziz Ansari with his action comedy Good Fortune, Euphoria star Maude Apatow with her coming-of-age film Poetic License, Succession’s Brian Cox with the British drama Glenrothan, and Split actor James McAvoy with the musical biopic California Schemin’. All four films are set to make their world premieres as part of TIFF’s Galas lineup.

Other films slated to bow at the Galas includes Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great, David Mackenzie’s Fuze, and Ally Pankiw’s music doc Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery. Annemarie Jacir’s historical drama Palestine 36 starring Jeremy Irons, is among the politically charged titles anchoring the lineup. Canadian director Anne Émond’s Peak Everything will serve as the Closing Night Gala, wrapping the festival.

Directors Spotlight

Special Presentations brings some heavyweight directors back to Toronto, including Guillermo del Toro with his take on Frankenstein, Baz Luhrmann with his concert documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, and Benny Safdie’s wrestling drama The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Jafar Panahi returns with It Was Just an Accident, while Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, and Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams add further international heft.

This year’s fest is shaping up to be one not to miss. We’ve made our fair share of trips to TIFF over the years, starting back in the early ‘90s when it was still called “The Festival of Festivals.” Those were the years when filmmakers like Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, Jeremy Podeswa, and Bruce McDonald were ushering in a new era for Canadian cinema, and when knowing “Party Barbara” meant coveted invites to all of the must-attend festival parties.

TIFF’s 50th arrives as it has become one of the world’s premier film festivals. As the festival nears, Toronto will soon be abuzz with stars, movie execs, international buyers, and media vying for early awards positioning. 

Tickets go on sale to TIFF Members beginning August 15, with the full schedule to be released August 12. Given that this is TIFF’s golden anniversary expect even more high-wattage red carpets and headline-making acquisitions that have long defined TIFF’s place in the industry calendar.