Toronto International Film Festival Unveils Primetime Programme

The Primetime programme at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has been unveiled, featuring new series from Joe Wright, Thomas Vinterberg, Alfonso Cuarón, and Tomas Alfredson.

The programme includes a trio of high-profile premieres in Venice, with Wright’s “M. Son Of The Century” for Sky and Fremantle exploring the rise to power of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini; Cuarón’s psychological miniseries “Disclaimer” for Apple TV+ starring Cate Blanchett as a journalist with a dark past; and Vinterberg’s family drama “Families Like Ours” from Studiocanal and Zentropa starring Paprika Steen.

Alfredson and Sara Johnsen’s “Faithless”, a world premiere, is an adaptation of the 2000 feature about infidelity and love directed by Liv Ullmann from a screenplay by Ingmar Bergman. The series from Fremantle’s Miso Film Sverige mixes timelines and includes passages where the story leaps forward to see the characters 40 years after events in the film. Frida Gustavsson and Gustav Lindh star.

Canadian Mike Downie’s “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” opens the programme.

This year’s Short Cuts programme includes 48 shorts from 23 countries, selected from a record-breaking 5,300 submissions. The line-up includes directorial debuts from Dakota Johnson and Maika Monroe. The inaugural Strange Cuts programme brings six genre films in the spirit of Midnight Madness, ranging from satirical horror to mind-bending animation and thrillers.

The 2024 Jurors for the Short Cuts Awards for Best International Film and Best Canadian Film are Luis De Filippis, Micah Kernan, and Shane Smith. Films that win a TIFF Short Cuts Award are eligible to submit for Oscar consideration.

Primetime Selections

• Disclaimer (UK)
  Dir: Alfonso Cuarón
  Canadian premiere
• Faithless (Swe)
  Dirs: Tomas Alfredson, Sara Johnsen
  World premiere
• Families Like Ours (Den-Fr-Swe-Czech-Belg-Nor-Ger)
  Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
  North American premiere
• M. Son Of The Century (it-Fr)
  Dir: Joe Wright
  World premiere
• The Knowing (Can)
  Dirs: Courtney Montour, Tanya Talaga
  World premiere
• The Listeners (UK)
  Dirs: Janicza Bravo, Jordan Tannahill
  World premiere
• The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal (Can)
  Dir: Mike Downie
  World premiere
• Thou Shalt Not Steal (Australia)
  Dir: Dylan River
  World premiere

Conclusion

The TIFF Primetime programme offers a diverse range of exciting new series and shorts from around the world. With a focus on high-quality storytelling and innovative filmmaking, the programme is sure to provide a captivating experience for audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Primetime programme at TIFF?

A: The Primetime programme is a collection of new series and shorts from around the world, showcasing innovative storytelling and filmmaking.

Q: Who are the filmmakers featured in the Primetime programme?

A: The programme features series from Joe Wright, Thomas Vinterberg, Alfonso Cuarón, and Tomas Alfredson, among others.

Q: Are there any awards given out at TIFF?

A: Yes, the TIFF Short Cuts Awards recognize outstanding work in short filmmaking, with the winning films eligible for Oscar consideration.