9 Must-Watch Films at This Year’s Toronto International Film Festival
TIFF's lineup sees A-listers such as Daniel Craig, Amy Adams, Barry Keoghan, Selena Gomez, and more on the big screen.
Daniel Craig stars in Luca Guadagnino's latest film.
Until September 15, Toronto transforms into Hollywood North as celebrities take to the streets for the 49th Toronto International Film Festival. Now that the SAG-AFTRA actors strike has reached a resolution, which disrupted much of the entertainment industry in 2023, this year’s festival lineup is a highly anticipated mix of beloved stars and exciting new talent. Here, we’ve listed nine must-see films at TIFF 2024 before they hit theatres across Canada later this fall.
Courtesy of TIFF
Anora
A Palme d’Or winner at Cannes 2024, Anora is a provocative tale of two star-crossed lovers. The film follows an Uzbek-American exotic dancer who marries the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. As their relationship deepens, the oligarch’s family conspires to drive them apart.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Babygirl
Ever wondered what unfolds when a powerful CEO jeopardizes everything for a forbidden romance with her young intern? Given pop culture’s current fascination with age-gap romances, this erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman is a must-watch.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Bird
Exploring themes of identity, loneliness, and magical realism, this coming-of-age story stars Barry Keoghan as a distracted father, while his young daughter seeks attention and adventure beyond their strained relationship.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez is a Spanish comedy-musical thriller featuring Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. The story revolves around a lawyer who helps an ex-cartel leader fake his death and undergo gender-affirming surgery to become Emilia Pérez and escape his past. The film received a nine-minute standing ovation at Cannes in May.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Nightbitch
Starring Amy Adams, Nightbitch—an adaptation of the 2021 novel of the same name—offers a darkly humorous exploration of the stresses of motherhood. The film follows an overworked stay-at-home mom who begins to suspect she’s turning into a dog.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Queer
Making his return to TIFF since Call Me by Your Name in 2017, Italian director Luca Guadagnino presents Queer, another compelling adaptation of an LGBTQ+ novel. Starring Daniel Craig, the film tells the story of a lonely American expat and drug addict in 1950s Mexico City who becomes infatuated with a younger man. The film also received a nine-minute standing ovation at its premiere, and many speculate that this role could land Craig an Oscar.
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Courtesy of TIFF
Saturday Night
As suggested by the title, this film portrays the inaugural episode of SNL from 1975. Staying true to the original’s star-studded cast, it features a lineup of big names including Finn Wolfhard, Dylan O’Brien, Willem Dafoe, and more.
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Courtesy of TIFF
The Last Showgirl
Pamela Anderson makes her cinematic comeback in a film that subtly echoes her own career. The story centres on a Las Vegas showgirl whose world is upended when her 30-year show suddenly ends, leaving her future in doubt.
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Courtesy of TIFF
We Live in Time
Making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, We Live in Time stars Oscar-nominated actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. The film poignantly explores the value of time when a profound relationship is abruptly challenged by a serious diagnosis.
Visit the festival website for all showtimes and tickets.
