MEDIA RELEASE
July 27, 2022
The World Premiere of The Swimmers is TIFF 2022's Opening Night Gala film
Working Title and Netflix’s deeply moving film, directed and written by Sally El Hosaini and co-written by multi-award-winner Jack Thorne, follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Swimmers will open the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, September 8.
The Swimmers
TORONTO — TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey announced today that the World Premiere of The Swimmers will be the Opening Night Gala Presentation for the 47th Toronto International Film Festival® on Thursday, September 8, at Roy Thomson Hall.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling,” said Bailey. “The Swimmers was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honour everyone who risks everything to reach a better, safer life.”
“I’m ecstatic. What an honour and privilege to open TIFF with the inspirational true-life story of the Mardini sisters,” said The Swimmers director El Hosaini. “A city as multicultural and diverse as Toronto is the perfect place to debut our film that elevates the visibility and voice of refugees, reminding us that the human capacity to survive is stronger than most of us know.”
Based on a true story, The Swimmers follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
Starring Manal Issa, Nathalie Issa, Ahmed Malek, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ali Suliman, Kinda Alloush, James Krishna Floyd, and Elmi Rashid Elmi. Directed by Sally El Hosaini, with a screenplay written by El Hosaini and multi-award-winning screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne. Produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner alongside Ali Jaafar and Tim Cole with Stephen Daldry executive producing.
Copy text of this article Download PDF
Social Media:
X: @TIFF_Net / @TIFF_Industry
Instagram / Letterboxd / TikTok: @tiff_net
Pinterest: @tiffnet
Facebook.com/TIFF
TIFF prefers Visa.
TIFF 2024 takes place September 5–15, 2024.
About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; and the innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $200 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.
TIFF is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC and Visa and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.
TIFF gratefully acknowledges UPS as the Official Presenting Sponsor of the Opening Night Film and Party and the Industry Centre supporter.