From Variety · Matt Donnelly · · 1m 20s
Chase Infiniti breaks out with The Julia Set
A TIFF surprise puts Chase Infiniti at the center of a tense story about genius, control and self-belief.
In brief
A TIFF surprise puts Chase Infiniti at the center of a tense story about genius, control and self-belief. The Julia Set frames math talent as both a gift and a pressure point, with Chase Infiniti’s performance driving its emotional pull. Originally reported by Variety.
TIFF finds a surprise
The Julia Set became one of the unexpected standouts at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, where it premiered while seeking distribution.
““The Julia Set” has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.”
A debut built for Infiniti
Writer-director Niki Byrne’s first feature gives Chase Infiniti a star-making role after her One Battle After Another breakout.
Genius under pressure
Infiniti plays Julia, a math prodigy trapped between an abusive boyfriend and an academic world ready to use her talent while overlooking her pain.
““we’re rooting for her emotional salvation””
The stakes turn mathematical
Julia is drawn into a study group training for the Putnam Test, a six-hour undergraduate math contest with huge prestige.
““a six-hour math competition for undergraduates considered the most prestigious in the world””
Romance complicates everything
Pascal, Julia’s teaching assistant, rushes in with intense romantic attention, forcing her to weigh desire against the duty she feels to her gifts.
Toronto becomes the launchpad
Byrne and Infiniti spoke in Toronto as festival attention built around the film, its lead performance and its search for a buyer.
The main idea
The Julia Set frames math talent as both a gift and a pressure point, with Chase Infiniti’s performance driving its emotional pull.
