Chris Rock is bringing his filmmaker perspective to Toronto this fall as he headlines the Toronto International Film Festival’s 2026 In Conversation With… series. The comedian, actor, writer, and director will take audiences through his career evolution from stand-up icon to Hollywood storyteller, while celebrating the world premiere of his latest feature, Misty Green.

Backed by A24, Misty Green is already one of TIFF’s most talked-about late-summer releases. The Hollywood satire stars Rosalind Eleazar, Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver, and Anna Kendrick, and is the latest behind the camera work for Rock after his acclaimed work on Good Hair and Top Five.

Chris Rock might be the name that gets people talking first, but the rest of the lineup is just as interesting. Lee Min-ho, Andrew Scott, Rachel Morrison and Hudson Williams each arrive in Toronto with very different stories to tell.

TIFF 2026’s Biggest Career Conversations

The festival’s extended conversation series will feature five major creative voices during the 10-day event.

South Korean superstar Lee Min-ho will make his first North American stage appearance in more than a decade. Known for his massive international fanbase, Lee arrives in Toronto alongside the world premiere of director Hur Jin-ho’s period drama The Assassin(s), adding a major global spotlight to this year’s festival.

Andrew Scott enters TIFF with significant awards-season attention surrounding Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone. Scott both produces and stars in the film, portraying actor Ian Charleson as he performs Hamlet while navigating life with AIDS. The conversation comes during a major period for Scott, following appearances in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery which premiered at TIFF last year, and Netflix’s Ripley.

Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison will discuss her transition from behind the camera to the director’s chair with Amazon MGM Studios’ romantic drama Love of Your Life. Starring Margaret Qualley and Aaron Pierre, this marks Morrison’s follow-up outing behind the lens after her directorial debut The Fire Inside, following a career that includes acclaimed projects such as Fruitvale Station and Black Panther.

Canadian actor Hudson Williams will represent the next generation of talent through TIFF Next Wave, the festival’s program designed for audiences under 25. Fresh off his breakout role in the viral series Heated Rivalry, Williams will discuss his rising career and his appearance in Kat Sandler’s upcoming Crave and AMC+ series YAGA.

Why TIFF 2026’s Lineup Stands Out

There’s a lot to like about this year’s lineup. TIFF has brought together some familiar faces, but also a few artists who are taking their careers in new directions. Chris Rock is spending more time behind the camera, while Rachel Morrison is continuing to make the move from cinematography into directing.

That makes these conversations worth watching for more than just the names on the guest list. It’s a chance to hear what these artists have been working on, what they’ve learned, and where they’re headed next.

TIFF’s 2026 festival will run from September 10 through September 20, with Apple’s Being Heumann opening the festival. Festival member presales begin August 21, with tickets opening to the public on August 31.