Preview of the 49th Annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2024)
TIFF 2024 | The 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is set to showcase 278 films across various categories, including Galas, Special Presentations, Centerpiece, and Midnight Madness. While it’s impossible to cover all of them, here is a spotlight on some of the most anticipated and talked-about films, as well as a few under-the-radar selections that are generating buzz at this year’s festival.
Opening and Closing Films at TIFF 2024
Nutcrackers
Director: David Gordon Green
Main Cast: Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson
The opening night film is Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller and directed by David Gordon Green. Known for his work on Pineapple Express and the recent Halloween trilogy, Green’s filmography is all over the place. Nutcrackers seems to be leaning closer to his comedic side. The plot follows Ben Stiller as a city slicker forced to move to rural Ohio to take care of his orphaned nephews. It’s a bit of a departure from his horror work, so it’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Release Date: TBD
The Deb
Director: Rebel Wilson
Main Cast: Rebel Wilson, Natalie Abbott, Charlotte MacInnes
The closing night film is The Deb, marking Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut. This Australian comedy-musical is about two teenage cousins trying to make their mark on the town’s debutante ball. It’s a very Australian comedy, and also a musical, which makes for an unusual but intriguing closing film. Rebel Wilson is stepping behind the camera for the first time, and it’ll be worth seeing how her directorial style pans out.
Release Date: TBD
Most Anticipated Films at TIFF 2024
Anora
Director: Sean Baker
Main Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Karren Karagulian
Anora is one of the most anticipated films at the festival, coming from respected indie director Sean Baker. Baker, who broke out with Tangerine, which was famously shot on iPhones, and later directed The Florida Project, is back with another film that focuses on the fringes of society. This time, it’s the story of a young sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The film looks at the complexities of their relationship and the chaos that ensues when the news reaches Russia. It’s got that raw, unfiltered energy Baker is known for, so it’s definitely one to watch.
Release Date: October 18, 2024 (USA), October-November 2024 (Across Europe)
Emilia Perez
Director: Jacques Audiard
Main Cast: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz
Emilia Perez is one of the most talked-about films from Cannes, now making its way to TIFF. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film is a wild mix of musical, crime, and comedy. It follows a lawyer, played by Zoe Saldaña, who’s helping a Mexican cartel leader through the process of gender reassignment surgery. The film also features Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. With this ensemble and such a bold, out-there concept, it’s no wonder this film has been generating a lot of buzz.
Release Date: November 13, 2024 (Netflix)
Megalopolis
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Main Cast: Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza
Megalopolis is easily one of the most talked-about films at TIFF 2024. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this project has been decades in the making, with Coppola reportedly selling a chunk of his wine estate to self-fund the film. It’s a sprawling, ambitious project with a star-studded cast led by Adam Driver, focusing on a visionary architect’s attempt to rebuild New Rome. The film has already had a mixed reception, but with a project of this scale, it’s going to be hard to ignore.
Release Date: September 27, 2024 (Global)
Nightbitch
Director: Marielle Heller
Main Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Ella Thomas
Nightbitch comes from director Marielle Heller, who is known for her work both in front of and behind the camera. The film stars Amy Adams as a mother who starts to believe she may be turning into a dog. Adapted from a novel, Nightbitch is described as a comedy for women and a horror for men, which is an intriguing way to frame it. It’s one of those movies that sounds bizarre on the surface, but with Heller’s direction and Adams in the lead, it could be something special.
Release Date: December 6, 2024 (North America)
Saturday Night
Director: Jason Reitman
Main Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Cooper Hoffman, Rachel Sennott
Saturday Night is gaining attention as it takes viewers behind the scenes of the very first Saturday Night Live broadcast. Directed by Jason Reitman, the film captures the chaos and creativity in the 90 minutes leading up to the first-ever SNL episode. With portrayals of the original SNL legends, it’s a fascinating look at the birth of a television institution. It features an interesting mix of emerging actors who are on the cusp of becoming household names, so it’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Release Date: October 11, 2024 (Canada, USA)
The Substance
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Main Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
The Substance is directed by Coralie Fargeat, who previously made the brutal and stylish thriller Revenge. This time, she’s taking on Hollywood’s obsession with youth in a body horror that stars Demi Moore as an aging actress who turns to a black-market drug to regain her youth. Of course, things go terribly wrong, leading to the creation of a younger clone of herself, played by Margaret Qualley. The film is sure to provoke strong reactions, and Fargeat’s unique vision should make this one stand out.
Release Date: September 20, 2024 (USA), September-October 2024 (Across Europe)
We Live in Time
Director: John Crowley
Main Cast: Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, Adam James
We Live in Time is a romantic drama directed by John Crowley, known for his work on Brooklyn. Starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, the film explores the evolution of a relationship across different periods. The non-linear narrative adds a unique twist to the story, and while the trailer has received mixed reactions, the film’s premise suggests it could offer something more than a typical romance.
Release Date: October 11, 2024 (USA), October 2024-January 2025 (Various Countries)
Under-the-Radar Movies at TIFF 2024
Grand Tour
Director: Miguel Gomes
Main Cast: Gonçalo Waddington, Crista Alfaiate, Cláudio da Silva
Grand Tour comes from Portuguese director Miguel Gomes, who is best known for his critically acclaimed film Tabu. This new project is a historical period drama set in 1917 Burma, following a British civil servant named Edward who runs away from his fiancée Molly on the day she arrives to get married. As Molly follows his trail, the film explores themes of panic, melancholy, and the emptiness of Edward’s existence. Visually, the film promises to be striking, and its ambitious storytelling could make it a hidden gem at the festival.
Release Date: September 19, 2024 (Portugal), November 6, 2024 (France), November 8, 2024 (Spain)
Cloud
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Main Cast: Masaki Suda, Kotone Furukawa, Daiken Okudaira
Cloud is the latest from renowned Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, known for his work in the horror and thriller genres. This film is a cyber-thriller that explores the dark side of the internet. The story follows Ryosuke Yoshii, an ordinary man who makes a living by reselling items online, but his life spirals into chaos as he becomes the target of those holding grudges against him. With Kurosawa’s expertise in creating tension and atmosphere, Cloud is likely to be a gripping and unsettling experience.
Release Date: September 27, 2024 (Japan)
Pedro Paramo
Director: Rodrigo Prieto
Main Cast: Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ilse Salas
Pedro Paramo marks the directorial debut of Rodrigo Prieto, who has served as the DP on films like Killers of the Flower Moon and Barbie. The film is an adaptation of one of the most important Mexican novels and is another kind of ghost story that leans heavily into magical realism. The narrative follows Juan Preciado, a man who travels to the town of Comala to meet his father, only to find it populated by spectral characters. With its exploration of trauma and surrealism, this film is expected to be a standout in the festival’s lineup.
Release Date: TBD
Hold Your Breath
Directors: Karrie Crouse & Will Joines
Main Cast: Sarah Paulson
Hold Your Breath is a ghost story set during the 1930s Dust Bowl, co-directed by Karrie Crouse and Will Joines. The film stars Sarah Paulson as a mother struggling to protect her daughter from both the physical and supernatural threats that haunt their home. With its atmospheric tension and period setting, this film promises to be a haunting and memorable entry at TIFF 2024. | TIFF 2024
Release Date: TBD
More Videos HERE
Full Written Reviews HERE
