On the heels of yesterday’s rollout of its Centrepiece Programme, the Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled its 2025 TIFF Docs lineup. The announced sked includes 23 titles hailing from 18 countries, including 16 World Premieres.

The nonfiction showcase will open with “The Eyes of Ghana”, the latest from Academy Award–winner Ben Proudfoot, spotlighting pioneering Ghanaian filmmaker Chris Hesse. The film is executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama and marks one of several high-profile titles to screen at TIFF.

This year’s TIFF Docs program features new films from Oscar winners and nominees including Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi, Laura Poitras, Raoul Peck, Tamara Kotevska, Gianfranco Rosi, Michèle Stephenson, and Peter Mettler.

World premieres heading into the fest

“The Balloonists” (dir. John Dower), following an ambitious mission to circle the globe in a hot air balloon.

“A Life Illuminated” (dir. Tasha Van Zandt), tracking deep-sea explorer and bioluminescence expert Dr. Edie Widder.

“Whistle” (dir. Christopher Nelius), focusing on a championship for elite whistlers.

“Nuns vs. the Vatican” (dir. Lorena Luciano), executive produced by Mariska Hargitay, an exposé of abuse within the Catholic Church.

“Canceled: The Paula Deen Story” (dir. Billy Corben), revisiting the polarizing scandal that engulfed the TV chef.

“Modern Whore” (dir. Nicole Bazuin), a provocative look at the sex industry based on the book by Bazuin and Andrea Werhun.

Canadian filmmakers to also bow during TIFF Docs include Jamal Burger and Jukan Tateisi (“Still Single”), Darlene Naponse (“Aki”), Shane Belcourt (“Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising”), Min Sook Lee (“There Are No Words”), and Peter Mettler (“While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts”).

Additional World Premieres to unspool include “LOVE+WAR”, the latest from Chin and Vasarhelyi; “True North” from Michèle Stephenson; “Powwow People” from Sky Hopinka; and “Flana” from Zahraa Ghandour.

These Docs titles join previously announced nonfiction premieres including “John Candy: I Like Me” and “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” (Gala Presentations); “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes,” “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” and “You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution” (Special Presentations); and “Palimpsest: The Story of a Name” in the Centrepiece program.

The 50th edition of TIFF runs September 4–14, 2025.

Full TIFF 2025 Docs Lineup (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 – World Premiere | Opening Film

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