As TIFF kicks into high gear, several films are already making waves, generating significant attention among buyers and industry insiders. These films represent some of the most promising acquisitions at TIFF 2024, with solid casts, intriguing narratives, and talented directors aiming to capture the attention of buyers and audiences alike, representing some of the best hopes for independent film distribution in 2024.
Can Theatrical Releases Hold Their Ground in a Streaming-Driven Market?
With the 2023 Hollywood strikes behind them, U.S. buyers arrive at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) looking to restock their content pipelines. However, recent markets have shown a growing hesitation among theatrical buyers competing against the ever-present lure of streaming platforms. This year’s TIFF offers a crucial test for how well traditional theatrical releases can fare against digital giants.
Theatrical buyers and sales agents remain committed to their love of the big screen, but the competition is fierce, with streaming platforms promising global deals. The North American box office has shown slight signs of recovery, but the environment is still uncertain.
TIFF is also preparing for its future as a hub for industry deals. With plans to officially launch a marketplace in 2026, private screenings—once banned—are becoming more common, offering buyers exclusive looks at potential acquisitions. Some of the most anticipated sales titles may be quietly scooped up behind closed doors.
25 Essential Films Generating Buzz at TIFF 2024
Here are some of the most highly anticipated films that buyers are circling:
The Assessment, directed by Fleur Fortune
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, Himesh Patel
This dystopian drama takes place in a future where couples must undergo a seven-day evaluation to earn the right to have children. Contact: North America – UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com), Intl. – WME Independent (sales@wmeagency.com)
On Swift Horses, directed by Daniel Minahan
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva
Set in the post-Korean War era, this film follows a married couple whose lives are upended by the arrival of a dangerous relative. Contact: UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com) and Black Bear (sales@blackbearpictures.com)
London Calling, directed by Allan Ungar
Cast: Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Aiden Gillen
Duhamel stars as a hitman who, after a botched job, ends up mentoring the son of his new crime boss in this action-packed crime drama. Contact: North America – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com) and Verve Ventures (rputman@vervetla.com), Intl. – Highland Film Group (sales@highland.film)
The Friend, directed by Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Cast: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray
Adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel, this emotional drama follows a Manhattan novelist who inherits a Great Dane after the death of her best friend. The dog, Bing, has already charmed audiences and critics alike. Contact: CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com)
The Return, directed by Uberto Pasolini
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Charlie Plummer
In this retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, Fiennes stars as Odysseus, who returns home after the Trojan War to find his wife, played by Binoche, besieged by suitors. Their son Telemachus, portrayed by Charlie Plummer, is also central to the story. Contact: HanWay Films (info@hanwayfilms.com)
Shell, directed by Max Minghella
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson
A dark comedy about a struggling actress invited into the glamorous world of a health and wellness empire, only to discover that all is not as it seems. Contact: US – WME Independent (filmsalesinfo@wmeagency.com) and CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. Black Bear (info@blackbearpictures.com)
Paul Anka: His Way, directed by John Maggio
A documentary exploring the life of Canadian singer Paul Anka, tracing his rise to fame and long career in the music industry. Contact: UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com)
Friendship, directed by Andrew DeYoung
Cast: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer
This cringe comedy follows a suburban dad who becomes obsessed with competing with his new neighbor. Contact: UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com), WME Independent (sales@wmeagency.com), Fifth Season (dguando@fifthseason.com)
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, directed by Embeth Davidtz
Cast: Lexi Venter, Embeth Davidtz
Based on a true story, this coming-of-age drama is set during the Rhodesian bush war. Contact: CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com)
William Tell, directed by Nick Hamm
Cast: Claes Bang, Connor Swindells, Golshifteh Farahani
A retelling of the legendary 14th-century Swiss folk hero William Tell, based on Friedrich Schiller’s play. Claes Bang stars as the crossbow-wielding hero. Contact: North America – WME Independent (filmsalesinfo@wmeagency.com), Intl. – Beta Cinema (beta@betacinema.com)
Harvest, directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari
Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Harry Melling, Rosy McEwen
Set in the Middle Ages, this adaptation of Jim Crace’s novel explores the tensions in a village when mysterious strangers arrive. Contact: The Match Factory (info@matchfactory.de)
Eden, directed by Ron Howard
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas, Daniel Brühl
A thrilling story of a group of people who abandon civilization to start anew on the Galapagos Islands, only to find their utopia crumbling. Contact: US – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. – AGC Studios (sales@agcstudios.com)
The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet
Cast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola
This dark tale follows an architect fleeing postwar Europe who encounters a mysterious client that changes the trajectory of his life. Contact: North America – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. – Focus Features (communications@focusfeatures.com)
Rich Flu, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
A parable about a virus that only kills wealthy people, leading to global chaos and societal upheaval. Contact: CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), XYZ Films
The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola
Cast: Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song, Dave Bautista
This drama centers on a dancer whose long-running Las Vegas show is abruptly closed. Contact: North America – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. – Goodfellas (feripret@goodfellas.film)
The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, David Dastmalchian, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Based on a Stephen King novella, this film follows the life of an ordinary man across three chapters. Contact: US – WME Independent (filmsalesinfo@wmeagency.com), Intl. – FilmNation Entertainment (nyoffice@filmnation.com)
The Cut, directed by Sean Ellis
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Caitriona Balfe, John Turturro
A psychological thriller about a boxer who comes out of retirement to fight for the championship title.
Contact: North America – WME Independent (filmsalesinfo@wmeagency.com) and UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com), Intl. – The Exchange (info@theexchange.ws)
All of You, directed by William Bridges
Cast: Brett Goldstein, Imogen Poots
Set in a near-future world where people can find their soulmates through a test, this romantic drama explores what happens when love defies science. Contact: Media Rights Capital (jluo@mrcentertainment.com)
Sharp Corner, directed by Jason Buxton
Cast: Ben Foster, Cobie Smulders
This psychological thriller follows a man obsessed with preventing future tragedies after a car crash occurs in his garden. Contact: US – Range Media Partners (owheeler@rangemp.com), US & Intl. Neon (sales@neonrated.com)
The Deb, directed by Rebel Wilson
Cast: Charlotte MacInnes, Natalie Abbott
In her directorial debut, Wilson brings a musical comedy about two cousins navigating a small-town debutante ball. Contact: WME (dmcintosh@wmeagency.com)
K-Pops, directed by Anderson .Paak
Cast: Anderson .Paak, Soul Rasheed
Grammy-winning musician Anderson .Paak makes his directorial debut in this family drama about a washed-up drummer reconnecting with his estranged son. Contact: WME Independent (filmsalesinfo@wmeagency.com) and Stampede Ventures (sales@stampedeventures.com)
Nutcrackers, directed by David Gordon Green
Cast: Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Tim Heidecker
Stiller stars as a workaholic who unexpectedly becomes the caregiver for his orphaned nephews. Contact: UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com)
The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo
Cast: Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce
This heartwarming film follows a teacher who rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, which leads to an awakening of his social conscience. Contact: US – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. – Rocket Science (info@rocket-science.net)
Relay, directed by David Mackenzie
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Lily James, Sam Worthington
A fixer breaks his own rules to protect a client in this tense thriller. Mackenzie, known for Outlaw King, brings a gripping, morally complex narrative to TIFF. Contact: US – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com) and UTA Independent Film Group (filmsales@unitedtalent.com), Intl. Black Bear (info@blackbearpictures.com)
The Luckiest Man in America, directed by Samir Oliveros
Cast: Paul Walter Hauser, Shamier Anderson, David Straithairn
Based on the true story of a contestant who exploited a flaw in the game show Press Your Luck, this film takes audiences back to the 1980s and explores the consequences of one man’s winning streak. Contact: North America – CAA Media Finance (filmsales@caa.com), Intl. Protagonist Pictures (info@protagonist pictures.com)
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FilmTake Away: A Crucial Moment for Theatrical Buyers
As TIFF 2024 unfolds, the question of whether theatrical releases can compete with streaming platforms remains unresolved. While some films have already secured distribution, the fate of others hangs in the balance as buyers weigh the opportunities in this evolving market. With TIFF poised to expand its industry influence, the coming years may determine whether the festival can truly become the marketplace it envisions.