This year marks a golden milestone and a silver jubilee at the Toronto International Film Festival: 50 years since TIFF first brightened Toronto’s screens and a quarter-century since the Star’s “Chasing the Buzz” poll began tracking the fest’s cinematic excitement.
For the 25th edition of our annual quest for the hottest films headed our way, we asked programmers, critics, film buffs and other in-the-know cinéastes to give us their hot picks for the films screening Sept. 4 to 14.
A total of 53 features made the beehive hum this year. Topping the list are honorary Torontonian Guillermo del Toro’s tragic monster tale “Frankenstein” and Joachim Trier’s family reckoning “Sentimental Value,” which took the Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Previous “Chasing the Buzz” polls have offered early alerts to such eventual Oscar or Canadian Screen Award winners as “The Shape of Water,” “American Fiction,” “Nomadland,” “Moonlight” and “Brother.”
Our 34 panellists each named the TIFF-bound movie that most excites them, with a brief explanation of why. They also each chose what we call a wild-card film, no explanation given, to expand the selection and your minds.
Their picks include a historical drama that TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey describes as “one of the most beautiful films I saw all year,” a genre-defying biopic that programmer Dorota Lech calls “a masterful tour de force” and a time-travelling comedy that podcast host Matt Rorabeck describes as “the wildest and funniest film of the festival.”
We hope these will help you make excellent viewing choices, for the fest and beyond, from the 210 features screening at TIFF 50. Let the buzzing begin:
Movies with three votes
Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)
“When I first heard Guillermo del Toro talking about wanting to make his version of Frankenstein, I was excited. That was 20 years ago. Now that the long wait is over, I’m still excited to see the classic story brought to life through del Toro’s unique lens.” — Richard Crouse, host of CTV’s “Pop Life”
“I’m very excited to screen key-to-the-city recipient Guillermo del Toro’s dream production of ‘Frankenstein’ in a room full of the local artisans and technicians that helped bring this mega-production to life.” — Jason Gorber, movie columnist for CBC’s “Metro Morning”; editor-in-chief of website That Shelf
“The filmmaker behind 2017’s ‘Chasing the Buzz’ poll winner (‘The Shape of Water’) has found the ideal subject for his singular esthetic. Even if, as Wikipedia informs me, there are 413 films featuring Frankenstein’s monster.” — Jerry Nadarajah, movie lover
Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)
“‘The Worst Person in the World’ was one of my favourite films in 2021, so I have been eager to see the reunion of director Joachim Trier and star Renate Reinsve, especially since this Cannes award winner also boasts Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning in its cast.” — Hillary Butler, critic for website Live for Films
“Humans are complicated. Relationships are tough. Trier and co-writer Eskil Vogt really get that none of us are perfect, and we have to work our way through all of that if we want to find our hearts.” — Karen Gordon, critic for website Original Cin
“‘The Worst Person in the World’ director reunites with the captivating Renate Reinsve to emotionally devastate in this poignant showbiz family drama already generating awards buzz, particularly for the great Stellan Skarsgård.” — Eric Marchen, host of Rogers TV’s “Cinema Seen”; co-host of “Untitled Movie Podcast”
Movies with two votes
Ballad of a Small Player (Edward Berger)
“His last two films, ‘Conclave’ and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ were among the best movies of the year, so the stakes are high for Edward Berger’s latest, a psychological thriller starring Colin Farrell as a gambler forced to confront his past and mounting debts.” — Rachel West, associate editor and senior critic for That Shelf
The other vote for “Ballad of a Small Player” is a wild card pick.
Hamnet (Chloé Zhao)
“I’m excited for ‘Hamnet,’ based on Maggie O’Farrell’s amazing book, which I loved. In the hands of Chloé Zhao and with a stellar cast, it’s very high on my list. — Michèle Maheux, former TIFF executive director
“I will see everything that Jessie Buckley stars in. She’s teamed here with director Chloé Zhao and co-star Paul Mescal. I have no doubt this will be at the top of many year-end lists.” — Teri Hart, contributor to Super Channel and CBC’s “Commotion”
Hedda (Nia DaCosta)
Both votes for “Hedda” are wild card picks.
Hen (György Pálfi)
Both votes for “Hen” are wild card picks.
Mile End Kicks (Chandler Levack)
“I truly enjoyed Chandler’s first feature, ‘I Like Movies,’ and I am really looking forward to this one both because she directed it and because of the milieu: the ‘90s music scene in Montreal.” — Steve Gravestock, former TIFF programmer
The other vote for “Mile End Kicks” is a wild card pick.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Matt Johnson)
“Johnson follows up his award-winning ‘BlackBerry’ with a return to his roots in what should be the wildest and funniest film of the festival. Even if you’ve never seen the series, do not miss this.” — Matt Rorabeck, co-host of “Untitled Movie Podcast”
The other vote for “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is a wild card pick.
No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook)
“Honestly, I’ve got no other choice but to line up for a chance to see another tale from Park Chan-wook, one of cinema’s true masters of the twisted, darkly humorous side of humanity.” — R.T. Thorne, filmmaker, “40 Acres”
“Chan-wook, with co-writer Don McKellar, takes a swing at adapting Donald E. Westlake’s dark satire ‘The Ax,’ about a jobseeker permanently eliminating his more qualified rivals. It gives the term ‘cutthroat competition’ new meaning.” — Thom Ernst, film critic for Original Cin
Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater)
“I’ll watch anything Richard Linklater directs. Though I would have not expected a film shot entirely in French, in black and white, about the French New Wave movement! Excuse me while I rush off to rewatch ‘Breathless’!” — Astrid Lange, library and research specialist for the Toronto Star
“Richard Linklater, one of my favourite filmmakers, has two films in the festival this year, but my money is on ‘Nouvelle Vague,’ a stunning B&W dramatization of the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s groundbreaking 1960 film ‘Breathless.’” — Bonnie Laufer, film critic for “CH Morning Live” and Original Cin
Nuestra Tierra (Lucrecia Martel)
“Martel’s stunning documentary plunges the audience into the thick of a murder investigation: colonial racism is on full display in the courtroom and out as an Indigenous community pursues justice for the murder of their leader, Javier Chocobar, killed while trying to prevent the theft of Chuschagasta community lands.” — B. Ruby Rich, independent critic and former TIFF programmer
The other vote for “Nuestra Tierra” was a wild card pick.
Palimpsest: The Story of a Name (Mary Stephen)
Both votes for “Palimpsest: The Story of a Name” are wild card picks.
Steal Away (Clement Virgo)
“Clement Virgo directs a sexy provocative thriller, with a screenplay from Tamara Faith Berger, the same collaboration that brought the erotic drama ‘Lie With Me’ to TIFF in 2005.” — Angela Cave, festival buff since 1999
“Virgo returns to TIFF with an opulent psychological thriller exploring race, desire and the insidious systems that allow people to turn a blind eye to the horrors in their midst.” — Victor Stiff, senior critic for That Shelf
While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts (Peter Mettler)
“Years in gestation, this magnum opus from Peter Mettler, one of our most individual, poetic and inquiring filmmakers, who also shot the gorgeous imagery, promises to be a probing, reflective reverie full of questions on our puzzling and contentious relationship to the natural world that also traverses deeper existential questions, prompted by aging parents, around life, death and memory. — Piers Handling, former TIFF CEO
“A gorgeously made physical and metaphysical journey by Canadian maverick director Peter Mettler that tackles life and death issues with style and care — in a mere seven glorious hours.” — Marc Glassman, editor of POV magazine and critic for the New Classical 96.3 FM
Movies with one vote
Dinner With Friends (Sasha Leigh Henry)
“Exploring the complexities and shifting nature of adult friendships, Henry’s long-awaited feature debut is given millennial ‘Big Chill’ vibes in the best possible way.” — Courtney Small, critic and curator for Black Canadian Film
Dry Leaf (Aleksandre Koberidze)
“Koberidze’s three-hour oddity is intentionally murky, shot on an ancient phone and nature-bound. It’s risky, but wow, the nerve!” — Anne Brodie, critic for podcast “What She Said”
The Eyes of Ghana (Ben Proudfoot)
“Proudfoot is an immense talent and has two Oscars to back it up. He’s leading Canada’s next wave of great filmmakers.” — Vincent Georgie, executive director and chief programmer, Windsor International Film Festival
Franz (Agnieszka Holland)
“Toggling between Franz Kafka’s rich yet fleeting life (1883-1924) and the present day, where in a docu-like manner we see how his name is used to sell everything from hamburgers to key chains — a Kafkaesque turn of events if there ever was one — the latest from Holland is a masterful tour de force.” — Dorota Lech, lead programmer for TIFF
Girl (Shu Qi)
“Inspired by Hsiao-Hsien Hou, Taiwanese screen goddess Shu Qi’s directorial debut will be in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The world of a troubled teenager who must decide to submit or to rebel is presented in the director’s unique cinematic vision.” — Alice Shih, critic for Fairchild Radio
Kokuho (Lee Sang-il)
“One of the most beautiful films I saw all year, and a reminder of the transcendent power of art.” — Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO
A Life Illuminated (Tasha Van Zandt)
“The pioneering marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder takes us to the ocean depths to witness the phenomenon of organisms that create their own light through bioluminescence.” — Thom Powers, TIFF documentaries programmer
Modern Whore (Nicole Bazuin)
“Bazuin’s feature debut delivers a bold and entertaining take on society’s perceptions and misconceptions about sex work. A provocative and timely film from an impressive Canadian filmmaking team.” — Ashleigh Rains, director, Canadian Film Fest
Sink (Zain Duraie)
“Inspired in part by Xavier Dolan’s ‘Mommy,’ Jordanian filmmaker Zain Duraie brings a sensitive yet unflinching eye to her debut feature, which follows a mother trying to navigate her son’s mental health amid family tensions.” — Sherry Coman, critic for Journal of Religion & Film
The Tale of Silyan (Tamara Kotevska)
After capturing bees in Oscar nominee “Honeyland,” Kotevska soars even higher with this gorgeously shot doc about storks in Macedonia and farmers intimately linked to their fates. — Pat Mullen, publisher of POV magazine
Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) (Zacharias Kunuk)
“Twenty-five years ago, Zacharias Kunuk’s ‘Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner’ changed the Canadian film landscape, its impact still felt today. Kunuk’s latest film not only reinforces the importance of his legacy, it has the potential to shake up the next generation’s understanding of and approach to storytelling.” — Judy Lung, vice-president of strategy, communications and stakeholder relations for TIFF
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Kaouther Ben Hania)
“Cannes prize winner and Oscar-nominated filmmaker brings to life a five-year-old girl’s call for help, trapped in her family’s car, under fire from IDF in Gaza.” — Greg Cruse, cinephile and TIFF attendee since 1992
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson)
“I’m looking forward to seeing this third chapter of the ‘Knives Out’ franchise. I enjoyed the previous two films and it appears Rian Johnson wants to take this new instalment in a different direction that will hopefully surprise us even more. Also, that cast is tremendous. I’m sure they’re going to have a great time with the material and hopefully that sense of fun will transfer over to the audience.” — Matt Neglia, editor-in-chief of website Next Best Picture
Youngblood (Hubert Davis)
“With a triple hat-trick of CFC alumni, ‘Youngblood’ has inspired me to actually learn about hockey.” — maxine bailey, executive director, Canadian Film Centre
The remaining one-vote films, all wild card picks, are:
• “& Sons” (Pablo Trapero)
• “100 Sunset” (Kunsang Kyirong)
• “The Balloonists” (John Dower)
• “Blood Lines” (Gail Maurice)
• “The Cost of Heaven” (Mathieu Denis)
• “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes” (Lisa Rideout)
• “Eleanor the Great” (Scarlett Johansson)
• “The Fence” (Claire Denis)
• “The Furious” (Kenji Tanigaki)
• “Glenrothan” (Brian Cox)
• “John Candy: I Like Me” (Colin Hanks)
• “The Last Viking” (Anders Thomas Jensen)
• “Little Lorraine” (Andy Hines)
• “Mare’s Nest” (Ben Rivers)
• “Memory of Princess Mumbi” (Damien Hauser)
• “My Father’s Shadow” (Akinola Davies Jr.)
• “Nika & Madison” (Eva Thomas)
• “Palestine 36” (Annemarie Jacir)
• “Scarlet” (Mamoru Hosoda)
• “Silent Friend” (Ildikó Enyedi)
• “The Smashing Machine” (Benny Safdie)
• “Space Cadet” (Kid Koala)
• “Still Single” (Jamal Burger, Jukan Tateisi)
• “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Mona Fastvold)
• “A Useful Ghost” (Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke)
