TIFF 2026- Films to Watch
Toronto becomes the centre of the international film world this September as TIFF brings major stars, highly anticipated films, Canadian stories and world premieres to the city
The countdown to the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival is underway.
Running from September 10 to 20, 2026, TIFF will once again bring filmmakers, actors, musicians, industry executives and movie fans from around the world to Toronto.
With an extensive lineup of feature films, documentaries and special presentations, there will be plenty to see. Some titles are already attracting significant attention, while others could become the festival’s unexpected discoveries.
Here are 10 films to put on your TIFF 2026 watch list.
1. I Play Rocky
One of the most anticipated films coming to TIFF is I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly.
The film tells the story behind the making of the original Rocky, the 1976 film that became one of Hollywood’s greatest underdog stories and ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Anthony Ippolito stars as Sylvester Stallone, with Miles Teller and Elizabeth Banks also appearing in the cast.
The story of Stallone’s determination to get Rocky made has become legendary in Hollywood. The new film takes audiences behind the scenes of that remarkable journey.
I Play Rocky will have its world premiere at TIFF, making it one of the festival’s major films to watch.
2. Being Heumann
TIFF opens with Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder, the filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning CODA.
Ruth Madeley stars as disability-rights activist Judith Heumann, with Mark Ruffalo also appearing in the film.
Heumann was a pioneering advocate whose work helped transform the disability-rights movement and contributed to major changes in accessibility laws in the United States.
The film will have its world premiere as TIFF’s Opening Night Gala on September 10.
With Heder following the success of CODA with another story centred on disability and inclusion, Being Heumann is likely to attract considerable attention.
3. Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend
For Canadian audiences, Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend could be one of the most important films at the festival.
The film tells the story of legendary Canadian Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve.
Directed by Yan Lanouette Turgeon and starring Rémi Goulet as Villeneuve, the film explores the early years of the racing driver’s remarkable career.
Villeneuve remains one of the most beloved figures in Canadian motorsport history, and his story has international appeal.
The film will have its world premiere as TIFF’s Closing Night Gala on September 19.
Ending TIFF with the story of one of Canada’s most famous racing legends gives this film particular significance for Canadian audiences.
4. A Talent for Murder
Helen Mirren takes on the role of celebrated mystery writer Patricia Highsmith in A Talent for Murder.
Directed by Anton Corbijn, the film also stars Alden Ehrenreich.
Highsmith is best known for creating Tom Ripley, the complicated literary character who inspired several major films.
The story follows a literary agent who travels to Switzerland hoping to persuade Highsmith to write another Ripley novel.
The film will have its world premiere at TIFF.
With Mirren portraying one of the most fascinating writers of the twentieth century, A Talent for Murder could become one of the festival’s most intriguing psychological dramas.
5. Misty Green
Chris Rock moves behind the camera with Misty Green.
The film features Rock alongside Rosalind Eleazar and explores the world of filmmaking and personal relationships.
Misty Green is particularly interesting because it represents another major step in Rock’s career as a filmmaker.
The film will have its world premiere in Toronto, giving TIFF audiences an opportunity to see Rock in a different creative role.
6. Always Lalisa
For music fans, Always Lalisa is one of the films to watch.
The documentary follows Lalisa Manobal, the Thai singer, actress and member of the internationally successful K-pop group BLACKPINK.
Directed by Sue Kim, the film will have its world premiere at TIFF.
BLACKPINK has become one of the biggest music groups in the world, while Lalisa has developed an enormously successful solo career.
The documentary gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at her life and career and demonstrates the growing connection between the global music industry and the world of film.
For NationalMusician.ca readers, this is one of the festival’s most interesting music-related titles.
7. Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story
Canadian audiences will have another important homegrown story with Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story.
The documentary tells the story of Canadian athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen and his famous Man in Motion World Tour.
Hansen travelled more than 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries in his wheelchair, raising awareness and funds for spinal cord research and accessibility.
His journey became one of Canada’s most inspirational stories.
The documentary will have its world premiere at TIFF, bringing Hansen’s extraordinary achievement to a new generation of viewers.
8. Onwards and Sideways
British filmmaker John Madden, whose films include Shakespeare in Love and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, brings Onwards and Sideways to Toronto.
The film stars Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney as a couple facing the challenges created by Parkinson’s disease.
The combination of an acclaimed director and two respected actors makes this an intriguing drama to watch.
The film will have its world premiere at TIFF.
Its exploration of relationships, aging and family challenges could make it one of the more emotionally powerful films at the festival.
9. Evil Genius
Actress Courteney Cox makes her feature directorial debut with Evil Genius, a true-crime drama starring Patricia Arquette and David Harbour.
The film is based on the notorious 2003 “pizza bomber” case in Pennsylvania, one of the strangest criminal investigations in recent American history.
The combination of true crime, a high-profile cast and Cox’s move into feature filmmaking makes this a title to watch.
The film will have its world premiere in Toronto.
10. Girl Group
Rebel Wilson takes on the director’s chair with Girl Group.
Known for films including Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect and Jojo Rabbit, Wilson moves into a new creative role with this music-focused film.
The story centres on the world of a girl group, bringing music, comedy and entertainment together.
With Wilson directing and appearing in the project, Girl Group is another TIFF film likely to attract attention from audiences and the entertainment industry.
Canadian Stories Take Centre Stage
One of the most exciting aspects of TIFF 2026 is the number of Canadian stories represented in the festival.
Alongside Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend and Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story, audiences will also be able to see Run Terry Run, a documentary about legendary Canadian runner Terry Fox.
Canadian filmmakers and Canadian subjects have always been an important part of TIFF, and this year’s lineup continues that tradition.
Which Films Could Become Oscar Contenders?
TIFF has long been an important launching pad for the fall movie awards season.
The festival’s People’s Choice Award has historically helped identify films that go on to receive major recognition during awards season.
That makes Toronto an important stop for studios, filmmakers and actors hoping to build momentum.
A strong reception from TIFF audiences can generate enormous publicity for a film before the Academy Awards nominations are announced.
The question is which of this year’s films will emerge as the festival’s surprise success.
Music and Film at TIFF
For music lovers, Always Lalisa is particularly noteworthy.
Music documentaries have become an increasingly important part of the international film festival landscape. They give audiences an opportunity to see the creative lives of major recording artists while also exploring the business and culture surrounding the music industry.
The inclusion of a documentary about Lalisa also reflects the enormous international influence of K-pop.
The world’s music industry is becoming increasingly global, and TIFF provides a major platform for artists whose audiences extend far beyond their home countries.
TIFF 2026 Is Ready for Its Red Carpet
For 11 days in September, Toronto will once again become a meeting place for the world’s film industry.
Hollywood stars will walk the red carpets, international filmmakers will premiere new work, Canadian filmmakers will showcase homegrown stories and audiences will discover films that could become the major successes of the fall.
Some of the most talked-about films may be the ones that arrive in Toronto with the biggest stars.
But TIFF has always had another side to it.
Sometimes the film that nobody expected becomes the one everyone is talking about.
With I Play Rocky, Being Heumann, Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend, A Talent for Murder, Always Lalisa and a wide range of other films arriving for premieres and special presentations, TIFF 2026 promises to be one of the major events on Toronto’s cultural calendar this fall.
For movie fans, the countdown is on.
TIFF runs September 10–20, 2026, and Toronto is getting ready for another year of cinema, celebrities and the films everyone will be talking about.
