The Toronto International Film Festival officially announced its first wave of Gala and Special Presentations on Monday. Running from September 10 through September 20, the initial slate includes over 60 titles representing nearly 30 countries.
The marquee features Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky, Chris Rock’s Misty Green, and John Madden’s Onwards and Sideways. Actor-directors dominate this year’s official TIFF announcement, with Courteney Cox debuting Evil Genius and Rebel Wilson bringing Girl Group to the big screen.
Siân Heder’s Being Heumann secured the highly coveted Opening Night slot. Yan Lanouette Turgeon’s sports biographical drama Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend will close the festival on September 19, wrapping up an impressive international scope of 58 galas and special presentations.
These specific premiere designations actively shape the upcoming fall festival circuit. Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut locked in an International Premiere status in Toronto, officially bypassing the competing Venice Film Festival. That strategic maneuvering happens across several titles caught in a tug-of-war between Telluride and Toronto.
Farrelly’s I Play Rocky delivers a highly anticipated cinematic retrospective, exploring the historical production of Sylvester Stallone’s original 1976 underdog success story. Anton Corbijn’s A Talent for Murder rounds out the major thrillers, bringing Helen Mirren to the screen as celebrated author Patricia Highsmith.