Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF, on July 24 (Tuesday) unveiled the first round of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentation programmes of the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival .

Of the 17 Galas and 30 Special Presentations, this first announcement includes 21 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres, 8 North American Premieres and 11 Canadian Premieres. The selection announced today includes 13 features directed by women. The festival runs from September 6-16.

“We have an exceptional selection of films this year that will excite Festival audiences from all walks of life,” said Handling. “Today’s lineup showcases beloved auteurs alongside fresh voices in
filmmaking, including numerous female powerhouses. The sweeping range in cinematic storytelling from around the world is a testament to the uniqueness of the films that are being made.”

“Every September we invite the whole film world to Toronto, one of the most diverse, movie-mad cities in the world. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to put together a lineup of Galas and Special Presentations that reflects Toronto’s spirit of inclusive, passionate engagement with film. We can’t wait to unveil these films for our audience.”

The feature film selections for this years edition is helmed by Claire Denis, Steve M c Queen, Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Jenkins, Nicole Holofcener, Patricia Rozema, Damien Chazelle, Elizabeth Chomko, Zhang Yimou, Bradley Cooper, Nadine Labaki, Anurag Kashyap, Amma Asante, Matteo Garrone, Eva Husson, Jason Reitman, Lee Chang-dong, Keith Behrman, George Tillman, Jr.Olivier Assayas, and Jiang Wen. They will be present at the festival.

GALAS 2018

Beautiful Boy Felix van Groeningen, USA
World Premiere

Everybody Knows Asghar Farhadi, Spain/France/Italy
North American Premiere

First Man Damien Chazelle, USA
Canadian Premiere

Galveston Mélanie Laurent, USA
Canadian Premiere

The Hate U Give George Tillman, Jr., USA
World Premiere

Hidden Man Jiang Wen, China
International Premiere

High Life Claire Denis, Germany/France/Poland/United Kingdom
World Premiere

Husband Material Anurag Kashyap, India
World Premiere

The Kindergarten Teacher Sara Colangelo, USA
Canadian Premiere

The Land of Steady Habits Nicole Holofcener, USA
World Premiere

Life Itself Dan Fogelman, USA
World Premiere

The Public Emilio Estevez, USA
World Premiere

Red Joan Sir Trevor Nunn, United Kingdom
World Premiere

Shadow Zhang Yimou, China
North American Premiere

A Star is Born Bradley Cooper, USA
North American Premiere

What They Had Elizabeth Chomko, USA
International Premiere

Widows Steve M c Queen, United Kingdom/USA
World Premiere

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2018

Ben is Back Peter Hedges, USA
World Premiere

Burning Lee Chang-dong, South Korea
North American Premiere

Can You Ever Forgive Me? Marielle Heller, USA
International Premiere

Capernaum Nadine Labaki, Lebanon
North American Premiere

Cold War Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland/United Kingdom/France
Canadian Premiere

Colette Wash Westmoreland, United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

Dogman Matteo Garrone, Italy/France
Canadian Premiere

The Front Runner Jason Reitman, USA
International Premiere

Giant Little Ones Keith Behrman, Canada
World Premiere

Girls of the Sun Eva Husson, France
International Premiere

Hotel Mumbai Anthony Maras, Australia
World Premiere

The Hummingbird Project Kim Nguyen, Canada
World Premiere

If Beale Street Could Talk Barry Jenkins, USA
World Premiere

Manto Nandita Das, India
North American Premiere

Maya Mia Hansen-Løve, France
World Premiere

Monsters and Men Reinaldo Marcus Green, USA
Canadian Premiere

*Special Presentations Opening Film*
MOUTHPIECE Patricia Rozema, Canada
World Premiere

Non-Fiction Olivier Assayas, France
Canadian Premiere

The Old Man & The Gun David Lowery, USA
International Premiere

Papi Chulo John Butler, Ireland
World Premiere

Roma Alfonso Cuarón, Mexico/USA
Canadian Premiere

*Special Presentations Closing Film*
Shoplifters Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan
Canadian Premiere

The Sisters Brothers Jacques Audiard, USA/France/Romania/Spain
North American Premiere

Sunset László Nemes, Hungary/France
North American Premiere

Through Black Spruce Don McKellar, Canada
World Premiere

The Wedding Guest Michael Winterbottom, United Kingdom
World Premiere

The Weekend Stella Meghie, USA
World Premiere

Where Hands Touch Amma Asante, United Kingdom
World Premiere

White Boy Rick Yann Demange, USA
International Premiere

Wildlife Paul Dano, USA
Canadian Premiere