TIFF 2020 lineup revealed

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

It won't exactly be the same due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the Toronto International Film Festival has revealed the lineup for its pared-down hybrid edition which will take place on September 10-19.

Joining previously announced titles are new projects from Werner Herzog, Regina King, Francois Ozon, and Naomi Kawase. Mira Nair’s TV series A Suitable Boy has been set as the festival’s closing film. It was revealed earlier this month that Spike Lee’s concert movie version of David Byrne show American Utopia will be the opening film for the festival.

Movies previously announced for Sundance and Venice which are also heading to Toronto include Viggo Mortensen’s FALLING, Olivia Colman–Anthony Hopkins starrer THE FATHER, Kornél Mundruczó’s PIECES OF A WOMAN and Frederick Wiseman’s CITY HALL. Chloé Zhao’s NOMADLAND will debut at Toronto and Venice simultaneously.

The five-day film festival will present its movies as physically, socially distanced screenings if the festival gets the green-light from local authorities for the event to go ahead since large gatherings are still not permitted in Toronto. Few international press are expected to attend the festival in person, with screenings and market business also taking place online. Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director and Co-Head of TIFF, had this to say about this year's festival:

"We began this year planning for a 45th Festival much like our previous editions but along the way we had to rethink just about everything. This year’s lineup reflects that tumult. The names you already know are doing brand new things this year, and there’s a whole crop of exciting new names to discover. We’re thankful to every filmmaker and company that joined us on this adventure, and we can’t wait to share these brilliant films with our audiences."

Joana Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head of TIFF added "TIFF 2020 is a special edition and symbolizes what is possible when collaboration, ingenuity, and passion take center stage. It’s also a time for us to celebrate and affirm some of the founding values of TIFF, including the power film has to propel us forward as a society and present a diversity of voices. I’m proud and excited to share these films with audiences."

The Toronto International Film Festival takes place on September 10-19 and you can view the full list of films featured at the festival by going here!