The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is pulling out all the stops for its 50th anniversary edition, with the world premiere of Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery leading the next wave of high-profile additions to the lineup. The latest installment in Johnson's hit murder mystery series marks a return to TIFF for the director, whose previous films Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022) also made their world debuts at the prestigious Canadian festival.
Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, the gentleman sleuth with the unmistakable Southern drawl, in Wake Up Dead Man. The film introduces a new all-star ensemble cast including Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott. The film's inclusion in the TIFF lineup cements it as one of the most anticipated titles of the fall season, continuing the franchise's tradition of combining razor-sharp social commentary with classic whodunnit intrigue.
Another major world premiere set for TIFF is Roofman, an action-comedy starring Channing Tatum. Based on the true story of a former Army Ranger turned thief who lives undetected inside a Toys "R" Us, the film promises a blend of adrenaline and offbeat humor.
Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, will receive its Canadian premiere at the festival. This Shakespearean-based period drama, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell’s novel, stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, in a fictional retelling of the life and loss of their son, Hamnet. While it premieres elsewhere first, its TIFF screening is a major stop in its awards campaign.
TIFF also revealed a wide-ranging slate of newly announced gala and special presentation films, including Nicholas Hytner's The Choral, Agnieszka Holland's Franz, Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, Paul Greengrass' The Lost Bus, Rebecca Zlotowski's A Private Life, HIKARI's Rental Family, Peter Ho-Sun Chan's She Has No Name, and Clement Virgo's Steal Away.
"Since its inception, TIFF has championed global cinema that opens our eyes and brings us together. We are delighted to share 11 more titles from our gala and special presentations programs that showcase the remarkable originality and excellence of today's most exciting and acclaimed directors."
— Anita Lee, TIFF’s Chief Programming Officer
The 2025 festival runs from to , celebrating five decades of cinematic discovery. It will open with John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary tribute directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds. The film promises an intimate and celebratory look at Candy’s life and influence.
Other previously announced titles include Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers and Nia DaCosta’s Hedda, both generating early awards buzz. TIFF is expected to reveal more additions as the premiere draws closer.
With a blend of returning favorites, exciting new voices, and a deep bench of premieres, TIFF 2025 is shaping up to be one of the festival’s most memorable editions yet.
TIFF 2025 Gala Premieres:
- The Choral — Nicholas Hytner, UK (World Premiere)
- Homebound — Neeraj Ghaywan, India (North American Premiere)
- Hamnet — Chloé Zhao, UK (Canadian Premiere)
- A Private Life — Rebecca Zlotowski, France (North American Premiere)
- Roofman — Derek Cianfrance, USA (World Premiere)
- She Has No Name — Peter Ho-Sun Chan, China (North American Premiere)
Special Presentations:
- Franz — Agnieszka Holland, Czech Republic/Germany/Poland (World Premiere)
- The Lost Bus — Paul Greengrass, USA (World Premiere)
- Rental Family — HIKARI, USA/Japan (World Premiere)
- Steal Away — Clement Virgo, Canada/Belgium (World Premiere)
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — Rian Johnson, USA (World Premiere)
Tags: tiff 2025, knives out 3, toronto international film festival 2025