email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

TORONTO 2021 Gala Presentations / Special Presentations

Toronto unveils its first batch of selections

by 

- The new titles by Fabrice du Welz, Mélanie Laurent, Bent Hamer and Kenneth Branagh will premiere in TIFF’s Gala and Special Presentations strands

Toronto unveils its first batch of selections
Inexorable by Fabrice du Welz

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the first batch of movies in its official selection, which comprises of 11 Gala and 21 Special Presentation films. At the 46th edition of the Canadian gathering, which will take place from 9-18 September, 15 of the selected titles will be having their world, four their international, 11 their North American and two their Canadian premieres. TIFF co-heads Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente also revealed that the feature-film adaptation of the Tony Award–winning musical Dear Evan Hansen by Stephen Chbosky is the Opening Night Gala Presentation and will screen on Thursday 9 September.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Some of the highlights among the films set to world-premiere in Gala presentations are The Mad Women's Ball [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, by French writer-director-actor Mélanie Laurent, a tale of spectral visions and institutional abuse set in 19th-century France, Barry Levinson’s biographical drama The Survivor, about the boxer Harry Haft, who looks to carry on after fighting to survive in WWII concentration camps, and Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age drama Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, set amid the tumult of late-1960s Northern Ireland.

As for the Special Presentations, the selection includes the world premieres of Charlotte [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, the animated true story of Charlotte Salomon, a German Jewish artist defying incredible odds to create a masterpiece during World War II, by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, The Middle Man [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bent Hamer
film profile
]
, the latest oddball comedy by Norwegian director Bent Hamer, and the portrait of 20th-century English poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Terence Davies, along with Inexorable [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fabrice Du Welz
film profile
]
, the much awaited latest film by Fabrice du Welz which follows a bestselling novelist who moves into an eerie old mansion in search of inspiration, that will have its international premiere at TIFF.

Cameron Bailey stated: “We’re thrilled to unveil Galas and Special Presentations that bring the brightest lights in film to our festival audience. Our new programming team has been hard at work for months to deliver the compelling stories, acclaimed filmmakers and top on-screen talent that mark our two highest-profile sections.” Joana Vicente added: “Fast-paced, boundary-pushing, satirical — this line-up has films representing every corner of the cinematic landscape on top of a strong number of world premieres.”

Joana Vicente mentioned: “We’re so excited to be able to share this year’s lineup with audiences in theatres. These films reflect passion, creativity, and break new ground to tell their stories. We’re honoured to have them as part of TIFF 2021.”

Here is the full list of films announced so far:

Gala Presentations

Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Kenneth Branagh (UK)
Clifford the Big Red Dog - Walt Becker (USA/UK/Canada)
Dear Evan Hansen - Stephen Chbosky (USA)
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Will Sharpe (UK)
Jagged - Alison Klayman (USA)
Last Night in Soho [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Edgar Wright (UK)
The Mad Women’s Ball [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Mélanie Laurent (France)
Night Raiders - Danis Goulet (Canada/New Zealand)
One Second - Zhang Yimou (China)
The Survivor - Barry Levinson (USA/Canada/Hungary)

Special Presentations

Ali & Ava [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Clio Barnard (UK)
All My Puny Sorrows - Michael McGowan (Canada)
Benediction [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Terence Davies (UK)
Bergman Island [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mia Hansen-Løve
film profile
]
- Mia Hansen-Løve (France)
Charlotte [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Eric Warin, Tahir Rana (Canada/France/Belgium)
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over - Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner (USA)
Drive My Car - Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)
Encounter [+see also:
film review
interview: Michael Pearce
film profile
]
- Michael Pearce (UK/USA)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Michael Showalter (USA)
The Guilty - Antoine Fuqua (USA)
I’m Your Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maria Schrader
film profile
]
- Maria Schrader (Germany)
Inexorable [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fabrice Du Welz
film profile
]
- Fabrice du Welz (Belgium/France)
Lakewood - Phillip Noyce (Canada)
The Middle Man [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bent Hamer
film profile
]
- Bent Hamer (Norway/Canada/Germany/Denmark)
Official Competition [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat (Spain/Argentina)
Paris, 13th District [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Jacques Audiard (France)
Petite Maman [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Céline Sciamma (France)
The Starling - Theodore Melfi (USA)
The Story of My Wife [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ildikó Enyedi
film profile
]
- Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary/Germany/Italy/France)
Three Floors [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Nanni Moretti (Italy/France)
Violet - Justine Bateman (USA)
The Worst Person In The World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile
]
- Joachim Trier (Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark)

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy