TIFF unveils Gala, Special Presentation slate

By Pickle July 17, 2026

By Pickle News Network

The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled eight new titles (so far) across its Gala and Special Presentations, headlining the 51st edition running September 10–20.

Presented by Rogers, TIFF ’26 will open on Thursday, September 10 at Roy Thomson Hall with the world premiere of Apple Original Films’ Being Heumann, directed by Oscar-winner Siân Heder. The biopic, starring Ruth Madeley as disability-rights icon Judy Heumann, marks Heder’s follow-up to CODA.

Two further Gala world premieres round out the opening salvo. Susanna White’s Prima Facie (Australia, UK) brings Cynthia Erivo to Toronto in a courtroom drama adapted from Suzie Miller’s stage hit, while South Korean director Hur Jin-ho reunites with superstar Lee Min-ho for the thriller The Assassin(s).

“We’re thrilled to open this year’s Festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning CODA,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, adding that Toronto audiences would be the first to see Erivo in White’s “searing legal drama” and that Hur and Lee’s pairing was a coup for the festival.

Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, announced five additional Special Presentations that she said reflect “the authenticity, the unexpected, and the ambition of cinema now.” They comprise the international premiere of David and Nathan Zellner’s Alpha Gang (USA), and world premieres of Benjamín Naishtat’s Glaxo (Argentina, Brazil), cinematographer-turned-director Rachel Morrison’s Love of Your Life (USA), Ben Shirinian’s The Housewife (USA) and Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother (USA). The slate spans debut directors, anticipated sophomore efforts and established voices.

Building on last year’s milestone 50th edition, which drew roughly 700,000 attendees and saw Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet take the People’s Choice Award, TIFF returns with 11 days of red-carpet premieres, live post-screening Q&As, the In Conversation With… series and Festival Street along King Street West. In a boost for global cinema, the non-English-language winner of TIFF’s Platform Award will this year directly qualify for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.

Screenings will span TIFF Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Scotiabank Theatre, Cinema Park, the Royal Alexandra Theatre and — new this year — the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The eighth TIFF Tribute Awards gala is set for September 13 at the Fairmont Royal York.

The inaugural TIFF: The Market runs September 10–16 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.