The Galas and special presentations were revealed earlier this week. Today, TIFF looked to the future. 23 world premiere titles were announced as part of the 2025 Discovery section, a part of the Toronto International Film Festival that features filmmakers’ first or second features. This year’s intriguing slate includes John Early’s directorial debut, “Maddie’s Secret,” Nadia Latif’s “The Man in My Basement,” starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe, as well as Cato Kusters’ “Julian”, produced by “Close” filmmakers Michiel and Lukas Dhont, and “Little Lorraine” starring Stephen Amell and the feature acting debut of J. Balvin.
The year’s selection has been programmed by Dorota Lech, Jason Anderson, Kelly Boutsalis, Diana Cadavid, Robyn Citizen, June Kim, and Jason Ryle. Films represented include Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
This year’s Discovery selections are as follows:
2025 Discovery Programme (in alphabetical order):
100 Sunset | Kunsang Kyirong | Canada – World Premiere
Amoeba | Siyou Tan | Singapore/Netherlands/France/Spain/South Korea – World Premiere
As We Breathe | Şeyhmus Altun | Turkey/Denmark – World Premiere
Babystar | Joscha Bongard | Germany – World Premiere
Bayaan | Bikas Ranjan Mishra | India – World Premiere
Dinner With Friends | Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada – World Premiere
Egghead Republic | Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja | Sweden – World Premiere
Forastera | Lucía Aleñar Iglesias | Spain/Italy/Sweden – World Premiere
Ghost School | Seemab Gul | Pakistan – World Premiere
Julian | Cato Kusters | Belgium/Netherlands – World Premiere
Laundry | Zamo Mkhwanazi | Switzerland/South Africa – World Premiere
Little Lorraine | Andy Hines | Canada -World Premiere
Maddie’s Secret | John Early | USA – World Premiere
Mārama | Taratoa Stappard | New Zealand – World Premiere
Nika & Madison | Eva Thomas | Canada – World Premiere
Noviembre | Tomás Corredor | Colombia/Mexico/Brazil/Norway – World Premiere
Oca | Karla Badillo | Mexico/Argentina – World Premiere
Our Father | Goran Stankovic | Serbia/Italy/Croatia/North Macedonia/Montenegro/Bosnia and Herzegovina – World Premiere
Out Standing | Mélanie Charbonneau | Canada – World Premiere
Retreat | Ted Evans | United Kingdom – World Premiere
Sink | Zain Duraie | Jordan/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/France – World Premiere
The Man in My Basement | Nadia Latif | United Kingdom/USA – World Premiere
The Son and the Sea | Stroma Cairns | United Kingdom – World Premiere
The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 4 to 14. Look for complete coverage on The Playlist.
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