TIFF 2022: Full Midnight Madness, Discovery & Wavelengths Section Lineups Revealed Including Weird Al Biopic

Sure, Steven Spielberg is debuting his newest film, “The Fabelmans,” at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. That film is joining a huge list of major debuts at the event this fall. But that isn’t all that TIFF offers each year, with some of the best films coming from the other sections most years. And this year’s Discovery, Midnight Madness, and Wavelengths sections are proving that there’s more to TIFF than just splashy, big-budget features.

According to the lineup reveal from the Toronto International Film Festival, the other sections of the event are going to have some exciting debuts, including the Weird Al Yankovic “biopic” and the highly anticipated horror film, “Pearl,” by filmmaker Ti West, both coming in the Midnight Madness section. 

READ MORE: TIFF 2022: New Films From Steven Spielberg, Mark Mylod, Peter Farrelly, Tyler Perry & More

“For TIFF audiences in the know, the Discovery, Midnight Madness and Wavelengths programmes are where you’re rewarded for taking risks and being adventurous,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “Whether it’s the discovery of an audacious new auteur, a brilliant visionary work that reimagines storytelling or the most wicked cinematic experience you will ever have, this is where you will find it.”

“I am thrilled to announce that Midnight Madness has returned to its traditional 10-film configuration and has a new home at the Royal Alexandra Theatre,” said section curator Peter Kuplowsky. “I also couldn’t have hoped for a more appropriate Opening Night film than ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ — a beautifully deranged ‘biopic’ made in the great Midnight movie tradition of challenging conventions and forging one’s own path, no matter how weird.”

TIFF 2022 begins on September 8. 

Here’s the full list of films set to screen during the Discovery, Midnight Madness, and Wavelengths sections:

DISCOVERY 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Aitch Alberto | USA 
World Premiere 

Baby Ruby Bess Wohl | USA
World Premiere

Carmen Benjamin Millepied | Australia, France 
World Premiere

Daughter of Rage (La Hija de todas las Rabias) Laura Baumeister | Nicaragua

World Premiere

A Gaza Weekend Basil Khalil | United Kingdom, Palestine 

World Premiere 

I Like Movies Chandler Levack | Canada

World Premiere

 Discovery Opening Night Film 

The Inspection Elegance Bratton | USA 

World Premiere

A Long Break Davit Pirtskhalava | Georgia

World Premiere

Pussy Joseph Amenta | Canada

World Premiere 

Return to Seoul Davy Chou | South Korea, France, Germany, Belgium 

International Premiere

ROSIE Gail Maurice | Canada

World Premiere 

Runner Marian Mathias | USA, France, Germany 

World Premiere

SHIMONI Angela Wanjiku Wamai | Kenya 

World Premiere

Snow and the Bear Selcen Ergun | Turkey, Germany, Serbia 

World Premiere

Something You Said Last Night Luis De Filippis | Canada, Switzerland

World Premiere

Susie Searches Sophie Kargman | USA

World Premiere

Sweet As Jub Clerc | Australia 

International Premiere

The Taste of Apples is Red Ehab Tarabieh | Israel, Germany

World Premiere

This Place V.T. Nayani | Canada  

World Premiere

Unruly (Ustyrlig) Malou Reymann | Denmark 

World Premiere

Until Branches Bend Sophie Jarvis | Canada

World Premiere

When Morning Comes Kelly Fyffe-Marshall | Canada

World Premiere

The Young Arsonists Sheila Pye | Canada

World Premiere

MIDNIGHT MADNESS

The Blackening Tim Story | USA

World Premiere 

 Midnight Madness Closing Night Film  

Leonor Will Never Die Martika Ramirez Escobar | Philippines

Canadian Premiere 

Pearl Ti West | USA

North American Premiere

The People’s Joker Vera Drew | USA 

World Premiere

Project Wolf Hunting Kim Hongsun | South Korea 

World Premiere 

Sick John Hyams | USA 

World Premiere

Sisu Jalmari Helander | Finland

World Premiere

Venus Jaume Balagueró | Spain 

World Premiere 

V/H/S 99 Flying Lotus, Johannes Roberts, Maggie Levin, Tyler MacIntyre, Vanessa & Joseph Winter | USA

World Premiere

 Midnight Madness Opening Night Film 

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Eric Appel | USA 

World Premiere

WAVELENGTHS

Features 

Concrete Valley Antoine Bourges | Canada

World Premiere

De Humani Corporis Fabrica Véréna Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor | France, Switzerland

North American Premiere

Dry Ground Burning (Mato Seco em Chamas) Joana Pimenta, Adirley Queirós | Portugal, Brazil 

North American Premiere

Horse Opera Moyra Davey | USA

Festival Premiere

Pacifiction Albert Serra | France, Spain, Germany, Portugal 

North American Premiere

Queens of the Qing Dynasty Ashley McKenzie | Canada

North American Premiere

Unrest (Unrueh) Cyril Schäublin | Switzerland 

North American Premiere

Will-o’-the-Wisp (Fogo-Fátuo) João Pedro Rodrigues | Portugal, France 

North American Premiere

 Shorts 

After Work Céline Condorelli, Ben Rivers | United Kingdom

North American Premiere

Bigger on the Inside Angelo Madsen Minax | USA

World Premiere

EVENTIDE Sharon Lockhart | USA

World Premiere

F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now Fox Maxy | Mesa Grande Reservation/USA

Festival Premiere

Fata Morgana Tacita Dean | United Kingdom, USA

Festival Premiere

Hors-titre Wiame Haddad | France 

North American Premiere

I Thought the World of You Kurt Walker | Canada

North American Premiere

Moonrise Vincent Grenier | USA, Canada

World Premiere

The Newest Olds Pablo Mazzolo | Argentina, Canada

World Premiere

Puerta a Puerta Jessica Sarah Rinland, Luis Arnías | Mexico, USA, Venezuela

International Premiere

The Time That Separates Us Parastoo Anoushahpour | Canada, Jordan, Palestine

World Premiere

What Rules the Invisible Tiffany Sia | USA

North American Premiere 

 Exhibition 

Meriem Bennani: Life on the CAPS (2022) and 2 Lizards (2020)

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, September 9–18

Free Admission