It may only be June 18, but the Toronto International Film Festival is ready to reveal some of its world premiere slate. This morning, TIFF announced six films that will make their debut in the Great White North. The big prize? Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch” starring Amy Adams.
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The Searchlight Pictures release will be categorized as a special presentation and is a major awards contender for a festival that prides itself on launching Oscar campaigns. Also starring Scoot McNairy, the drama is already generating significant buzz for Adams in the 2025 Best Actress race. Searchlight has had recent success with TIFF launches in this category after “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” premiered in Toronto in 2021 and star Jessica Chastain went on to win Best Actress six months later. Considering Searchlight has secured five of the last seven Best Actress winners, including “Poor Things'” Emma Stone this past March, longtime fans of Adams are hoping the six-time nominee can benefit from the studio’s winning streak.
Two films that will earn galas at Roy Thompson Hall are R.J. Cutler and David Furnish‘s documentary “Elton John Never Too Late” and DreamWorks Animation’s“The Wild Robot.” “Never Too Late” is an under-the-radar documentary about Sir Elton John‘s life and does not publicly have a distributor at press time (although studios have screened and had a positive reaction). “Robot” is seen as DWA’s best Animated Feature hopeful since “How To Train Your Dragon.” It opens in theaters on Sept. 27.
Besides “Nightbitch,” the other special presentations include Mike Flanigan’s “The Life of Chuck,” Sydney Freeland’s “Rez Ball,” and Woo Min-Ho’s “Harbin.”
An adaptation of the Stephen King novella of the same name, “Chuck” stars Tom Hiddleston Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Hamill, and Karen Gillan, among others. It’s Flanagan’s first film since 2019’s “Doctor Sleep” and his prolific run of critically acclaimed Netflix limited series including “Midnight Mass” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” It is currently an acquisition title, but may not be by the time the festival begins.
“Rez Ball” is the third feature from veteran television director and writer Sydney Freeland (“Echo,” “Reservation Dogs”), and is based on the true story of a Navajo Nation women’s high school basketball team who are competing for the New Mexico state title. The cast includes Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Jessica Matten. LeBron James, yes that LeBron James, and former Searchlight Films head Nancy Utley are producers. It will be released on Netflix sometime in 2024.
Best known for his features “Inside Men” and “The Man Standing Next,” Korean filmmaker Min-Ho’s latest is reportedly set during the early 1900s and centers on Korean nationalists battling for independence from Japan. It stars Park Jeong-min (“Decision to Leave”), Hyun Min, and Jeon Yeo-been.
Additionally, the festival announced two honorees at this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards. “Nightbitch’s” Amy Adams will receive the TIFF Tribute Peformer Award while legenary Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg will be honored with the Norman Jewison Career Achivement Award. One would also assume that Cronenberg’s latest film, “The Shrouds,” will screen at TIFF.
Sandra Oh has also been named the Inaugural Tribute Awards Honorary Chair. A four-time SAG Awards winner, 13-time Emmy Award nominee, BAFTA Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe receipent, Oh is one of the most heralded Canadian actors of her generation. She was most recently seen on the Hulu original film “Quiz Lady” and the HBO limited series “The Sympathizer.”
The rest of the festival lineup is expected to be announced in late July.
The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 5-15.