From Variety · · 1m 20s
TIFF 2026's 20 international films worth tracking
Variety's Toronto shortlist leans on British star power, new voices from Scotland and Ireland, and a gothic musical about taxidermy.
In brief
Variety's Toronto shortlist leans on British star power, new voices from Scotland and Ireland, and a gothic musical about taxidermy. Toronto 2026 is less about the obvious festival names and more about first-look premieres that could carry into awards season. Originally reported by Variety.
Twenty films to watch
Variety picked 20 international titles from this year's Toronto lineup, spanning a taxidermy musical and a John Madden rom-com about Parkinson's.
Britain brings the stars
Helen Mirren, Laura Linney, Rhys Ifans, Erin Doherty and James McAvoy headline three of the biggest U.K. world premieres at the festival.
Jodie Comer sings
Comer takes on a gothic rom-com called "Stuffed," and Variety reckons her singing holds up. Romance goes to strange places in Toronto this year.
“Jodie Comer sings (very creditably Variety suggests)”
Only new titles count
The list sticks to fresh premieres, which is why "Jim Queen" and Spain's three Cannes competition films are missing rather than snubbed.
Women behind the camera
Female directors made 42% of the Platform slate, and Variety says plenty more from that section could have made the cut.
New names, real stakes
Scotland's Tom Nicoll and Ireland's David Turpin arrive as fresh voices, while Gabriel Martins' "On Behalf of My Son" stands as Brazil's biggest hope.
At a glance
Toronto 2026 is less about the obvious festival names and more about first-look premieres that could carry into awards season.
