The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced its first wave of films for the 51st edition, with Apple Original Films’ Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder, named as the Opening Night Film. The festival runs Sept. 10-20.
Two additional World Premiere Gala Presentations were also announced: Prima Facie, a legal drama from director Susanna White starring Cynthia Erivo, and The Assassin(s), the South Korean thriller from director Hur Jin-ho starring Lee Min-ho.
TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a statement, “We’re thrilled to open this year’s Festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning CODA. Being Heumann features an electric performance from Ruth Madeley in the story of Judy Heumann, a world-changing advocate for accessibility. We’re also glad to reveal the news that Toronto audiences will be the first to see Cynthia Erivo in Susanna White’s searing legal drama Prima Facie, and that the South Korean power duo of director Hur Jin-ho and superstar Lee Min-ho will launch their thriller The Assassin(s) at our 51st Festival.”
New this year, a non-English-language winner of TIFF’s Platform Award can directly qualify for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. Last year, TIFF audiences chose Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet as their People’s Choice Award winner.
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