The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled its 2020 lineup. This year’s TIFF program boasts 50 features, a greatly reduced bunch compared to the usual 300+ titles. The redefined festival will take place both physically and digitally in order to keep guests safe and increase the accessibility of its usually exclusive programming.
“We began this year planning for a 45th Festival much like our previous editions,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director and Co-Head of TIFF, “but along the way we had to rethink just about everything. This year’s lineup reflects that tumult. The names you already know are doing brand new things this year, and there’s a whole crop of exciting new names to discover. We’re thankful to every filmmaker and company that joined us on this adventure, and we can’t wait to share these brilliant films with our audiences.”
As previously announced, Spike Lee’s filmed version of “David Byrne’s American Utopia” will serve as TIFF 2020’s Opening Night Presentation. “American Utopia” celebrates the music of former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. TIFF’s Closing Night Presentation will be Mira Nair’s “A Suitable Boy.” The six-part drama series follows a young Indian woman’s struggle to choose between personal freedom and family tradition.
Among TIFF’s newly announced titles is Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” starring Frances McDormand. Based on Jessica Bruder’s book of the same name “Nomadland” follows a woman who decides to live as a nomad in the American West. Zhao’s highly anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed indie “The Rider” will debut at both TIFF and the Venice Film Festival on September 11.
“Nomadland” joins Francis Lee’s “Ammonite,” Halle Berry’s directorial debut “Bruised,” Ricky Staub’s “Concrete Cowboys,” Reinaldo Marcus Green’s “Good Joe Bell,” and Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” in what’s shaping up to be an exciting TIFF lineup.
“TIFF 2020 is a special edition and symbolizes what is possible when collaboration, ingenuity, and passion take centre stage,” said Executive Director and Co-Head of TIFF Joana Vicente. “It’s also a time for us to celebrate and affirm some of the founding values of TIFF, including the power film has to propel us forward as a society and present a diversity of voices. I’m proud and excited to share these films with audiences.”
TIFF 2020 will take place from September 10-19, 2020.
The full lineup can be found here.
