FRIENDSHIP
Craig Waterman lives a content life in the suburbs with his wife, Tami, and son, Steven. He’s a fan of New Balance shoes, Subway sandwiches, and Marvel movies. His job at Universal Digital, a company that specializes in making products more habit-forming, suits him just fine. Craig has no interest in changing his routine or making new friends—until Austin, a mysterious yet approachable weatherman, moves into the neighborhood. Austin’s charm and complexity turn Craig’s world upside down, but Craig’s obsessive tendencies and childlike nature threaten to unravel their budding friendship, and possibly his entire life.
Festival Listing: TIFF: Friendship
Premiere Status: World Premiere
Section: Midnight Madness
Directed by: Andrew DeYoung
Written by: Andrew DeYoung
Cast: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer
Producers: Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Nick Weidenfeld, Johnny Holland
Genre: Comedy
Festival Screenings:
- Sunday, September 8, 11:59 PM – World Premiere (Royal Alexandra Theatre)
- Monday, September 9, 8:45 AM – Press & Industry Screening 1 (Scotiabank 14)
- Tuesday, September 10, 7:30 PM – Public Screening 2 (Scotiabank 4)
- Wednesday, September 11, 3:40 PM – Press & Industry Screening 2 (Scotiabank 7)
- Saturday, September 14, 3:30 PM – Public Screening 3 (Scotiabank 4)
MEET THE BARBARIANS
In the small village of Paimpont, Brittany, the town council unanimously agrees to welcome a family of Ukrainian refugees. But when the newcomers turn out to be Syrian, some locals are less than thrilled. The Fayad family, however, defies all the expectations and prejudices the French villagers might have held, raising a poignant question: who are the real ‘barbarians’ in this quaint village?
Festival Listing: TIFF: Meet the Barbarians
Premiere Status: International Premiere
Section: Gala Presentations
Directed by: Julie Delpy
Written by: Julie Delpy, Matthieu Rumani, Nicolas Slomka
Cast: Julie Delpy, Sandrine Kiberlain, Laurent Lafitte, Ziad Bakri, India Hair, Dalia Naous, Mathieu Demy
Producers: Michael Gentile
Genre: Comedy
Sales Agent: Charades
Festival Screenings:
- Friday, September 6, 11:45 AM – Press & Industry Screening (Scotiabank 3)
- Monday, September 9, 2:00 PM – International Premiere (Roy Thomson Hall)
- Tuesday, September 10, 9:15 PM – Public Screening 2 (Scotiabank 13)
- Thursday, September 12, 6:45 PM – Public Screening 3 (Scotiabank 9)
NUTCRACKERS
In this heartwarming fish-out-of-water comedy, Ben Stiller stars as Michael, a high-powered Chicago real estate developer who suddenly finds himself responsible for his late sister’s four rambunctious children on their rural Ohio farm. Known for his cutthroat business acumen, Michael struggles to adjust to life in the countryside, where his only job was supposed to be signing off on a sale. But as he fumbles through fatherhood, he discovers his nephews’ hidden talents in ballet—a revelation that might just turn this ragtag group into a real family.
Directed by David Gordon Green, whose versatility has ranged from indie dramas to stoner comedies and horror reboots, Nutcrackers surprises with its blend of humor and genuine emotion.
Festival Section: Gala Presentations
Premiere Status: World Premiere
Country: United States of America | 2024 | 104m | English
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Ben Stiller
Genre: Comedy
Festival Screenings:
- Thursday, September 5, 6:00 PM – VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Premium)
- Thursday, September 5, 6:00 PM – Roy Thomson Hall (Premium)
- Thursday, September 12, 1:00 PM – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Saturday, September 14, Time TBD – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
K-POPS
Anderson .Paak makes a vibrant directorial debut in K-Pops, a heartfelt comedy where a washed-up drummer, BJ (played by .Paak himself), reconnects with his long-lost son, a rising K-pop star. The film weaves personal history with a larger-than-life exploration of fame, family, and cultural identity, starring .Paak alongside his real-life son, Soul Rasheed. As BJ navigates the complexities of being both a father and a mentor, his lingering desires for stardom tempt him to prioritize fame over family. But in the end, the bonds they forge on and off the stage reveal what truly matters.
Festival Section: Special Presentations
Premiere Status: World Premiere
Country: United States of America | 2024 | 114m | English, Korean
Directed by: Anderson .Paak
Starring: Anderson .Paak, Soul Rasheed, Jee Young Han
Genre: Comedy
Festival Screenings:
- Saturday, September 7, 3:00 PM – VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Premium)
- Sunday, September 8, 9:30 AM – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (Press & Industry)
- Sunday, September 8, Time TBD – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Friday, September 13, 9:15 PM – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Saturday, September 14, Time TBD – Royal Alexandra Theatre
PAYING FOR IT
Sook-Yin Lee’s Paying For It adapts Chester Brown’s controversial graphic novel into a bold, cinematic exploration of love, sex, and non-monogamy. Starring Dan Beirne as Chester, a shy cartoonist who embarks on a journey of self-discovery through his encounters with sex workers, the film delves into the complexities of intimacy and relationships. Co-written by Lee, who shares a personal history with Brown, Paying For It offers a compassionate and nuanced portrayal of consensual sex work, challenging societal norms through a distinctly female gaze.
Festival Section: Platform Programme
Premiere Status: World Premiere
Country: Canada | 2024
Directed by: Sook-Yin Lee
Starring: Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, Andrea Werhun
Producers: Matt Code, Sonya Di Rienzo, Aeschylus Poulos
Genre: Comedy
Festival Screenings:
- Thursday, September 6, 9:30 PM – TIFF Lightbox Cinema 2 (World Premiere)
- Saturday, September 7, 11:45 AM – TIFF Lightbox Cinema 3 _____________________________________________________________________________________
Enjoy TIFF from September 5th – 15th! For details, visit www.tiff.net
