The Toronto International Film Festival — or TIFF for short — recently wrapped up its screenings on September 15, 2024.
The film festival hosts a variety of filmmakers and actors from around the world that come to debut new films in hopes that it will be released in theaters around the nation. This year was not short of highly anticipated films, so here are a few that created a buzz surrounding them.
“Saturday Night” dir. Jason Reitman
“Saturday Night” is a comedy/drama that retells the chaotic events that led to the creation of the first episode of sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”
The all-star cast includes Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster and Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner. The film’s cast and plot drew a lot of attention and is scheduled to release on October 11, 2024.
“We Live in Time” dir. John Crowley
“We Live In Time” is a romance film starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield that details the couple’s trials and tribulations as they attempt to figure out how to live together.
The film created buzz because of the two lead stars, but also because of a promotional photo released with a semi-scarring carousel horse that quickly rose to fame because of X and TikTok.
It is set to release in U.S. theaters on October 11, 2024 as well.
“Heretic” dir. Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
“Heretic” is a psychological thriller produced by A24 following two Mormon missionaries who go door to door until they knock on a man’s door and have to find a way out.
The film stars Hugh Grant as the ominous Mr. Reed, Sophie Thatcher as Sister Barnes and Chloe East as Sister Paxton. “Heretic” is set to be released by A24 on November 15, 2024.
“Queer” dir. Luca Guadagnino
“Queer” is the semi-autobiographical film adaptation of William S. Buroughs’s book of the same name that follows American expat Lee’s debilitating drug use in the 1940s and his romance with Allerton— a discharged Navy man. The films stars Daniel Craig as Lee and Drew Starkey as Allerton.
Guadagnino recently created buzz for his 2024 film “Challengers,” which received praise for its camera work, characters and its love triangle between the three main characters. The current release date of “Queer” is unknown at this time.
“The Piano Lesson” dir. Malcolm Washington
“The Piano Lesson” is a drama based off of a 1987 play of the same name written by August Wilson. It follows the Charles family following the great depression and their family heirloom — a piano passed down from their ancestors.
The film stars John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Trai Byers and Danielle Brooks. It is set to release in U.S. theaters on November 8, 2024.
“Megalopolis” dir. Francis Ford Coppola
“Megalopolis” has been a work in progress since 1977. The film has been garnering attention for its striking plot, which compares the future of the United States to the fall of Rome.
The film has an all-star cast consisting of Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and Jason Schwartzman. It is set to release in U.S. theaters on September 27, 2024.
For a full list of films currently being screened as well as more information on them, you can visit TIFF’s official website.
