Toronto Film Festival Unveils World Premieres from Chris Rock, Peter Farrelly, and Lauren Miller Rogen
The Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) has announced an exciting lineup for its upcoming edition, featuring world premieres from notable filmmakers including Chris Rock, Peter Farrelly, and Lauren Miller Rogen. The festival, set to take place from September 10 to 20, will showcase a diverse array of films, many of which are anticipated to be strong contenders for future Academy Awards.
High-Profile Gala Premieres
Among the highlights, Chris Rock’s film Misty Green will make its debut. The film, which Rock wrote and directed, tells the story of a talented actress, portrayed by Rosalind Eleazar, whose career is hindered by personal vices. This film will be part of the Gala sidebar, which is known for featuring potential Oscar contenders.
Lauren Miller Rogen’s comedy-drama Babies is also set for a world premiere. The film stars a notable cast including Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Issa Rae, Dan Stevens, Zach Cherry, and Kate Berlant. Additionally, Courteney Cox’s true crime thriller Evil Genius will be showcased in the same prestigious section.
Special Presentations Sidebar
Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky will premiere in the Special Presentations sidebar. This film features Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone, focusing on the making of the iconic boxing film. Another film in this sidebar is All She Wants, a romantic comedy starring Annie Murphy and Cooper Raiff, directed by Scarlette Bermingham and Andrew Rhymer.
Other noteworthy titles include Wayne Wang’s Diary of a Mad Old Man, featuring Gabriel Byrne and Fan Bingbing, and Rebel Wilson’s comedy Girl Group, starring Jennifer Coolidge and Nicole Scherzinger.
Gala Program Highlights
The Gala program will also present first looks at several films, including John Madden’s Onwards and Sideways, which stars Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans as they navigate Parkinson’s diagnoses. Sue Kim’s documentary Always Lalisa will provide an in-depth look at K-Pop superstar Lisa from Blackpink, while Joss Crowley’s Pretenders will also be featured.
The lineup continues to impress with Anton Corbijn’s A Talent For Murder, starring Helen Mirren as author Patricia Highsmith, alongside Alden Ehrenreich and Olivia Cooke. Other films include Trudie Styler’s romantic comedy Up Against It, featuring Antonio Banderas and Eva Birthistle, and Adrian Buitenhuis’ Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story.
International and North American Premieres
The festival will also host international premieres such as Nguyen Phan Quang Binh’s Spirit Guardians: The Last Secret of the First Emperor. North American premieres will include Florian Zeller’s Bunker, where Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem portray a couple facing challenges, and All About Corrine, directed by Marc Fitoussi and starring Isabelle Huppert.
The Special Presentation program will feature world premieres for several films, including Niki Byrne’s coming-of-age drama The Julia Set, starring Chase Infiniti, Christopher Briney, Gillian Anderson, and Jason Isaacs. Jonathan Schey’s dark comedy thriller *Everybody Wants to F** Me, featuring Taron Egerton, will also be part of this lineup.
Additional Notable Films
Other films making their debuts include Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, which premiered at Karlovy Vary, and North American premieres for titles like Ira Sach’s The Man I Love, a drama set in the 1980s featuring Rami Malek. Pedro Almodovar’s Bitter Christmas returns the acclaimed director to his cinematic roots, while Arthur Harari’s The Unknown stars Léa Seydoux and Niels Schneider.
The festival will also showcase North American debuts for Lukas Dhont’s Coward, Gael Garcia Bernal’s Hombre al agua, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Look Back. Canadian premieres will include Everest: The Other Side, directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and Josephine, a Sundance award-winning film by Beth de Araujo.
Opening and Closing Films
Earlier announcements revealed that Sian Heder, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of CODA, will open the festival with her upcoming feature Being Heumann. Other world premieres include Prima Facie from British director Susanna White and The Assassin(s) from Korean auteur Hur Jin-ho. Additional films by Rachel Morrison, the Zellner Brothers, Ben Shirinian, Bassam Tariq, and BenjamÃn Naishtat have also been confirmed.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com, the Toronto Film Festival promises to be a significant event for filmmakers and audiences alike, showcasing a rich tapestry of storytelling from around the globe.
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Published on 2026-07-20 18:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk