media release
July 24, 2023
TIFF 2023 announces 60 films in first wave of Galas and Special Presentations
Including Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money, Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt, Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, Maggie Betts’ The Burial, Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, Ellen Kuras' Lee, Um Tae-Hwa’s Concrete Utopia, Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters, Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Lukas Moodysson's Together 99, Michael Keaton’s Knox Goes Away, Lee Tamahori’s The Convert, Ethan Hawke's Wildcat, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster, Catherine Breillat’s Last Summer, Marco Bellocchio's Kidnapped, and more.
TORONTO — TIFF is thrilled to announce 60 official selections in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes for this year’s Festival, with films representing 70 countries from around the world, shining the spotlight on imaginative storytelling, exceptional performances, and out-of-the-box filmmaking. The first wave of the 2023 Official Selection features 37 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres, and 4 Canadian Premieres.
"This year’s Galas & Special Presentations showcase a rich tapestry of talent, vision, and storytelling,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “From thought-provoking narratives to breathtaking visuals and stories so unreal they have to be real, each work embodies the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and move audiences. Get ready to experience an unforgettable celebration of film and a memorable and star-studded festival, showcasing the best of global cinema for film lovers in September."
Concrete Utopia Um Tae-Hwa | South Korea
North American Premiere
Sales Title - North America Rights Available
Dumb Money Craig Gillespie | USA
World Premiere
Fair Play Chloe Domont | USA International Premiere
Flora and Son John Carney | Ireland/USA
Canadian Premiere
Hate to Love: Nickelback Leigh Brooks | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Lee Ellen Kuras | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
*Next Goal Wins Taika Waititi | USA
World Premiere
NYAD Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin | USA
International Premiere
Punjab ’95 Honey Trehan | India
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Solo Sophie Dupuis | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
The End We Start From Mahalia Belo | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
The Movie Emperor Ning Hao | China
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The New Boy Warwick Thornton | Australia
North American Premiere
Sales Title – North American Rights Available
The Royal Hotel Kitty Green | Australia/United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere
A Difficult Year Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache | France
International Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
A Normal Family Hur Jin-ho | South Korea
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
American Fiction Cord Jefferson | USA
World Premiere
Anatomy of a Fall Justine Triet | France
Canadian Premiere
Close to You Dominic Savage | Canada/United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Days of Happiness Chloé Robichaud | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
El Rapto Daniela Goggi | Argentina
North American Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Ezra Tony Goldwyn | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American and various International Rights Available
Fingernails Christos Nikou | USA
International Premiere
Four Daughters Kaouther Ben Hania | France/Tunisia/Germany/Saudi Arabia
North American Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
His Three Daughters Azazel Jacobs | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Hit Man Richard Linklater | USA
North American Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon Alex Gibney | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Kidnapped Marco Bellocchio | Italy/France/Germany
North American Premiere
Knox Goes Away Michael Keaton | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
La Chimera Alice Rohrwacher | Italy/France/Switzerland
North American Premiere
Last Summer Catherine Breillat | France
North American Premiere
*Les Indésirables Ladj Ly | France
World Premiere
Sales Title - North America Rights Available
Memory Michel Franco | USA/Mexico
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Monster Kore-eda Hirokazu | Japan
North American Premiere
Mother Couch Niclas Larsson | USA
World Premiere
North Star Kristin Scott Thomas | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
One Life James Hawes | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Pain Hustlers David Yates | USA
World Premiere
Poolman Chris Pine | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
Reptile Grant Singer | USA
World Premiere
Rustin George C. Wolfe | USA
International Premiere
*Seven Veils Atom Egoyan | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
Shoshana Michael Winterbottom | United Kingdom/Italy
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Sing Sing Greg Kwedar | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
Smugglers Ryoo Seung-wan | South Korea
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Swan Song Chelsea McMullan | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Beast Bertrand Bonello | France/Canada
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The Burial Maggie Betts | USA
World Premiere
The Convert Lee Tamahori | Australia/New Zealand
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The Critic Anand Tucker | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Dead Don’t Hurt Viggo Mortensen | Mexico/Canada/Denmark
World Premiere
Sales Title - Worldwide Rights Available
The Holdovers Alexander Payne | USA
International Premiere
The Peasants DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman | Poland/Serbia/Lithuania
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer | United Kingdom/Poland/USA
Canadian Premiere
Together 99 Lukas Moodysson | Sweden/Denmark
World Premiere
Unicorns Sally El Hosaini, James Krishna Floyd | United Kingdom/USA/Sweden
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Uproar Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett | New Zealand
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Wicked Little Letters Thea Sharrock | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Wildcat Ethan Hawke | USA
International Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Woman of the Hour Anna Kendrick | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
All rights availability details are subject to change. Accredited industry professionals, including buyers, can download the full TIFF 2023 Rights List on the Delegate Resources section of tiff.net/industry. The complete list will be posted late August.
"This year’s Galas & Special Presentations showcase a rich tapestry of talent, vision, and storytelling,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “From thought-provoking narratives to breathtaking visuals and stories so unreal they have to be real, each work embodies the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and move audiences. Get ready to experience an unforgettable celebration of film and a memorable and star-studded festival, showcasing the best of global cinema for film lovers in September."
GALA PRESENTATIONS 2023
* Previously announcedConcrete Utopia Um Tae-Hwa | South Korea
North American Premiere
Sales Title - North America Rights Available
Dumb Money Craig Gillespie | USA
World Premiere
Fair Play Chloe Domont | USA International Premiere
Flora and Son John Carney | Ireland/USA
Canadian Premiere
Hate to Love: Nickelback Leigh Brooks | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Lee Ellen Kuras | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
*Next Goal Wins Taika Waititi | USA
World Premiere
NYAD Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin | USA
International Premiere
Punjab ’95 Honey Trehan | India
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Solo Sophie Dupuis | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
The End We Start From Mahalia Belo | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
The Movie Emperor Ning Hao | China
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The New Boy Warwick Thornton | Australia
North American Premiere
Sales Title – North American Rights Available
The Royal Hotel Kitty Green | Australia/United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2023
* Previously announcedA Difficult Year Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache | France
International Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
A Normal Family Hur Jin-ho | South Korea
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
American Fiction Cord Jefferson | USA
World Premiere
Anatomy of a Fall Justine Triet | France
Canadian Premiere
Close to You Dominic Savage | Canada/United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Days of Happiness Chloé Robichaud | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
El Rapto Daniela Goggi | Argentina
North American Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Ezra Tony Goldwyn | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American and various International Rights Available
Fingernails Christos Nikou | USA
International Premiere
Four Daughters Kaouther Ben Hania | France/Tunisia/Germany/Saudi Arabia
North American Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
His Three Daughters Azazel Jacobs | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Hit Man Richard Linklater | USA
North American Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon Alex Gibney | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Kidnapped Marco Bellocchio | Italy/France/Germany
North American Premiere
Knox Goes Away Michael Keaton | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
La Chimera Alice Rohrwacher | Italy/France/Switzerland
North American Premiere
Last Summer Catherine Breillat | France
North American Premiere
*Les Indésirables Ladj Ly | France
World Premiere
Sales Title - North America Rights Available
Memory Michel Franco | USA/Mexico
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Monster Kore-eda Hirokazu | Japan
North American Premiere
Mother Couch Niclas Larsson | USA
World Premiere
North Star Kristin Scott Thomas | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
One Life James Hawes | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Pain Hustlers David Yates | USA
World Premiere
Poolman Chris Pine | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
Reptile Grant Singer | USA
World Premiere
Rustin George C. Wolfe | USA
International Premiere
*Seven Veils Atom Egoyan | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
Shoshana Michael Winterbottom | United Kingdom/Italy
World Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Sing Sing Greg Kwedar | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
Smugglers Ryoo Seung-wan | South Korea
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Swan Song Chelsea McMullan | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Beast Bertrand Bonello | France/Canada
North American Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The Burial Maggie Betts | USA
World Premiere
The Convert Lee Tamahori | Australia/New Zealand
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
The Critic Anand Tucker | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Dead Don’t Hurt Viggo Mortensen | Mexico/Canada/Denmark
World Premiere
Sales Title - Worldwide Rights Available
The Holdovers Alexander Payne | USA
International Premiere
The Peasants DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman | Poland/Serbia/Lithuania
World Premiere
Sales Title - Some Rights Available
The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer | United Kingdom/Poland/USA
Canadian Premiere
Together 99 Lukas Moodysson | Sweden/Denmark
World Premiere
Unicorns Sally El Hosaini, James Krishna Floyd | United Kingdom/USA/Sweden
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Uproar Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett | New Zealand
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Wicked Little Letters Thea Sharrock | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title - International Rights Available
Wildcat Ethan Hawke | USA
International Premiere
Sales Title - North American Rights Available
Woman of the Hour Anna Kendrick | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title - US Rights Available
All rights availability details are subject to change. Accredited industry professionals, including buyers, can download the full TIFF 2023 Rights List on the Delegate Resources section of tiff.net/industry. The complete list will be posted late August.