The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the most prestigious and highly-anticipated events on the annual film festival circuit, has begun announcing its lineup for the 2023 edition taking place September 7-17. As expected, the initial selections include several high-profile projects likely to be major players in the upcoming awards season race.
Kicking off the festival will be the world premiere of acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature “The Boy and the Heron,” providing a poetic opening note. Closing out TIFF 2023 on a fittingly grand scale will be the Thom Zimny documentary “Sly,” an intimate look at Sylvester Stallone’s iconic career over the past 50 years that is likely to draw crowds eager to see the “Rocky” legend in a retrospective light.
Sandwiched between these cinematic bookends, TIFF 2023 boasts a stacked slate of buzzworthy titles and festival favorites. Leading the pack of star power is Taika Waititi’s sports dramedy “Next Goal Wins,” which chronicles the true story of the American Samoa soccer team overcoming extreme odds to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. With Waititi directing the likes of Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, and Rhys Darby, this film seems primed to kick off potential Oscar talk.
On the dramatic front, Canadian auteur Atom Egoyan brings his latest feature “Seven Veils” starring Amanda Seyfried as a classical pianist. Meanwhile, Jonathan Glazer of “Under the Skin” fame returns with the WWII-set “The Zone of Interest” and Colman Domingo directs the civil rights biopic “Rustin” headlined by Jeffrey Wright as activist Bayard Rustin. These films exemplify TIFF’s platform for compelling stories helmed by visionary directors.
Michael Keaton looks to be in awards contention once again with “Knox Goes Away,” in which he plays a man reflecting on his life after losing his wife. And Kristin Scott Thomas directs herself alongside Mark Strong in the UK period drama “North Star.” Actors stepping behind the camera is clearly a trend this year, as TIFF will also host the directorial debuts of Chris Pine with the comedy “Poolman,” Viggo Mortensen with family drama “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” and Anna Kendrick with the true crime tale “Woman of the Hour.”
On the documentary side, music icons are front and center with films about controversial rock band Nickelback and the creative journey of Paul Simon. A doc titled “Woman of the Hour” also chronicles serial killer Rodney Alcala’s bizarre 1978 appearance on The Dating Game.
The Midnight Madness program returns with its signature lineup of horror and offbeat cinema, including Megan Thee Stallion leading the cast of the irreverent musical “Dicks” and experimental auteur Harmony Korine debuting his new mind-bender “AGGRO DR1FT.”
While these early announcements represent just a sampling of what’s in store, it’s clear TIFF 2023 will offer the usual parade of star power, top-tier filmmakers, eclectic discoveries, and Oscar hopefuls. Many more titles are still to be unveiled in the coming weeks as the festival’s packed program takes shape. For movie fans, cinephiles, and awards season prognosticators, TIFF represents one of the most exciting and influential annual events on the film calendar. The countdown to September begins now.