Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”

By Canadian Press on July 21, 2025.

TORONTO — Scarlett Johansson’s feature directorial debut “Eleanor the Great,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” are among the marquee titles headed to the Toronto International Film Festival.

The 50th edition of 11-day movie marathon will feature galas and special presentations from star directors including Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire,” Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune,” and Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.”

Organizers says Canadian additions to the lineup include Ally Pankiw’s “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,” Lisa Rideout’s “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes,” Zacharias Kunuk’s “Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband),” Tasha Hubbard’s “Meadowlarks” and Philippe Falardeau’s “Lovely Day.”

Canadian director Anne Émond’s “Peak Everything” will close the fest with a gala Sept. 13.

The full schedule will be released Aug. 12. Tickets go on sale to TIFF members beginning Aug. 15.

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4 to 14.

Other titles include Maude Apatow’s “Poetic License,” James McAvoy’s “California Schemin’,” Alex Winter’s “Adulthood,” Brian Cox’s U.K. feature “Glenrothan” and Richard Linklater’s French production, “Nouvelle Vague,” while Oscar-winning Toronto director Daniel Roher brings his crime thriller, “Tuner.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press