Cinema VinesThe Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) opened on Thursday with a blockbuster schedule featuring more than 200 films and a roster of high‑profile stars, including John Malkovich, Penelope Cruz, Chris Rock and K‑pop sensation Lisa. The 51st edition of the festival, held in Canada’s largest city, follows the Venice and Telluride festivals and attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees to screenings, red‑carpet events and industry gatherings.
Underdog narratives take center stage at TIFF, with the world premiere of Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky.” The Oscar‑winning director tells the unlikely story of a then‑unknown Sylvester Stallone who challenged Hollywood to bring his dream film to life, a venture that would alter Stallone’s career. Opening night will showcase “Being Heumann,” a biographical drama directed by Sian Heder that chronicles the perseverance of U.S. disability rights activist Judy Heumann. The film stars Ruth Madeley as Heumann and features Mark Ruffalo, an Oscar nominee.
Other biopics debuting at the festival include “Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend,” chronicling Canadian racing icon Gilles Villeneuve’s ascent from Quebec to Formula 1, and “Wild Horse Nine,” a Martin McDonagh‑directed thriller about two CIA agents on Easter Island during the final days of Salvador Allende’s government in Chile. The latter, which premiered at Venice and screened at Telluride, stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, both of whom are expected to attend Toronto to support their Oscar campaigns.
Comedic talent Chris Rock returns to the director’s chair with “Misty Green,” a Hollywood satire that follows actress Rosalind Eleazar as she seeks a second chance after a career downturn. The film also features Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver and Anna Kendrick, all Oscar nominees, alongside Rock himself. Additional titles arriving from Telluride include “Elsinore,” starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman, and Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy “The Debut.”
British star Helen Mirren will attend the world premiere of the psychological thriller “A Talent for Murder,” in which she portrays author Patricia Highsmith pressured to write a final Tom Ripley novel. Director Zack Snyder will present “The Last Photograph,” a blend of action and drama starring Stuart Martin and Fra Fee, following a former DEA agent’s mission in the South American jungle to locate two missing nephews. The festival also features “Bunker,” a psychological thriller that arrived directly from Venice.
