TIFF Docs 2024 delivers revelatory documentaries on unforgettable figures and era-defining global topics

Toronto — TIFF is delighted to announce the 2024 selection for its Docs programme presented by A&E IndieFilms, featuring 21 titles from 24 countries around the world. This year’s lineup covers a wide range of experiences: comical, infuriating, revelatory, audacious, and profound, with an underlying theme of pushing back against corrupt systems. Audiences will encounter unforgettable figures such as former Vice host Eddie Huang, novelist Edna O’Brien, US politician Adam Kinzinger, disability rights activist Patrice Jetter, aerial cameraman Joe Jennings, and the haenyeo fisherwomen of South Korea. The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 5–15, 2024.

New this year, we have asked a few TIFF Programmers to share their insights into this year’s films. Watch Docs Lead Programmer Thom Powers’ summary here:
The TIFF Docs programme features candid and unscripted stories, and the best in non-fiction cinema from around the world. The programme will open with Huang’s Vice is Broke, in which the former Vice contributor investigates the media company’s rise and fall. Several directors return to TIFF with attention-grabbing World Premieres, including Men of War, directed by Billy Corben (Screwball, Cocaine Cowboys) and Jen Gatien, following someone recently arrested for arms smuggling in connection with a plot to overthrow Venezuela’s government; The Last Republican, directed by Steve Pink (The Wheel, Hot Tub Time Machine), profiling US conservative politician Kinzinger as he breaks ranks with the GOP to criticize Donald Trump; Space Cowboy, directed by Marah Strauch (Sunshine Superman) and Bryce Leavitt, which captures the stunning cinematography and complicated life of skydiver Jennings; So Surreal: Behind the Masks, directed by Neil Diamond (Reel Injun) and Joanne Robertson, which covers the effort to return cultural artifacts to the Yup’ik and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw nations; and Blue Road - The Edna O’Brien Story, directed by Sinéad O’Shea (Pray for Our Sinners, TIFF ’22), which profiles the groundbreaking Irish novelist who broke taboos with her sexual candour.

Other World Premieres include Halima Elkhatabi’s Living Together, Ted Passon’s Patrice: The Movie, Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc’s Tata, Anastasiia Bortuali’s Temporary Shelter, Santiago Esteinou’s The Freedom of Fierro, Sue Kim’s The Last of the Sea Women, and Ali Weinstein’s Your Tomorrow.

These TIFF Docs titles join a number of documentaries already announced for TIFF ’24 as part of the Gala programme, including the World Premieres of Elton John: Never Too Late, Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, and the Canadian premiere of Will & Harper; as well as non-fiction works previously announced for the Platform competition, The Wolves Always Come at Night, which blends observed moments and recreated scenes, and Viktor; and for Centerpiece, Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara.

2024 TIFF Docs Programme (in alphabetical order)

A Sisters’ Tale Leila Amini | Switzerland/France/Iran
International Premiere
Sales Title

Blue Road - The Edna O’Brien Story Sinéad O’Shea | Ireland/United Kingdom
World Premiere
Sales Title

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Raoul Peck | France
North American Premiere

From Ground Zero Wissam Moussa, Nidal Damo, Ahmed Hassouna, Alaa Ayoub, Karim Satoum, Bashar Al Babisi, Khamis Masharawi, Nida’A Abu Hasna, Tamer Nijim, Ahmed Al Danaf, Rima Mahmoud, Muhammad Al Sharif, Basil El Maqousi, Mustafa Al Nabih, Rabab Khamis, Mustafa Kulab, Alaa Damo, Hana Eleiwa, Mahdi Kreirah, Aws Al Banna, Islam Al Zeriei, Etimad Washah | Palestine/France/Qatar/Jordan
North American Premiere
Sales Title

Living Together Halima Elkhatabi | Canada
World Premiere

Men of War Jen Gatien, Billy Corben | USA/Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title

Mistress Dispeller Elizabeth Lo | China/USA
North American Premiere
Sales Title

No Other Land Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor | Palestine/Norway
Canadian Premiere
Sales Title

Patrice: The Movie Ted Passon | USA
World Premiere


Russians at War Anastasia Trofimova | Canada/France
North American Premiere
Sales Title

So Surreal: Behind the Masks Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title

Space Cowboy Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title

Sudan, remember us Hind Meddeb | France/Tunisia/Qatar
North American Premiere
Sales Title

Tata Lina Vdovîi, Radu Ciorniciuc | Romania/Germany/Netherlands
World Premiere
Sales Title

Temporary Shelter Anastasiia Bortuali | Iceland
World Premiere
Sales Title

The Freedom of Fierro Santiago Esteinou | Mexico/Canada/Greece
World Premiere
Sales Title

The Last of the Sea Women Sue Kim | USA
World Premiere

The Last Republican Steve Pink | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title

Vice is Broke Eddie Huang | USA
World Premiere
Sales Title

Wishing on a Star Peter Kerekes | Italy/Slovakia/Czech Republic/Austria/Croatia
North American Premiere
Sales Title

Your Tomorrow Ali Weinstein | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title

This is the sixth TIFF Takeover announcement and will be followed by Wavelengths and Classics tomorrow, and Primetime and Short Cuts on Friday. More Festival details will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for TIFF ’24 go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 16. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 13.

Note: All rights availability details are subject to change. Accredited industry professionals, including buyers, can download the full TIFF 2024 Rights List in the Delegate Resources section of tiff.net/industry. The complete list will be posted in late August.