Markets

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the lineup for its 2025 Centrepiece programme, a vibrant showcase of international cinema that reflects TIFF’s enduring commitment to diverse storytelling. The programme, which runs as part of TIFF’s milestone 50th edition (September 4–14), features 55 titles from nearly fifty countries, offering a panoramic view of global creativity and cultural narratives.

Among the standout selections, Italy takes center stage with Duse, the highly anticipated new film by Pietro Marcello, known for his visionary adaptation of Martin Eden. Duse will have its International Premiere at TIFF, reinforcing Marcello’s status as one of Italy’s most influential auteurs on the global stage. Another Italian gem is The Last One for The Road, directed by Francesco Sossai, which will have its North American Premiere, continuing Italy’s tradition of intimate, character-driven storytelling.

This year’s Centrepiece features works from celebrated filmmakers including Richard Linklater (Blue Moon), Christian Petzold (Miroirs No. 3), Jan Komasa (Good Boy), Anders Thomas Jensen (The Last Viking), and Álvaro Olmos Torrico (The Condor Daughter). The programme spans genres and geographies, from the deserts of Western Sahara in Eimi Imanishi’s Nomad Shadow, to the electrifying stadiums of the 2002 World Cup in Saipan, directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa.

Italian audiences will find resonance in titles that explore heritage and identity, such as Palimpsest: the Story of a Name by Mary Stephen, a personal reflection on family legacy, and The President’s Cake by Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi, an unflinching depiction of life under dictatorship.

Notable world premieres include Blood Lines by Gail Maurice, I Swear by Kirk Jones, and Unidentified, a gripping thriller by Saudi Arabian director Haifaa Al Mansour, which examines societal obsessions with femicide narratives.

For Italian industry professionals, TIFF’s Centrepiece serves as an essential barometer of global trends, highlighting emerging markets such as Bolivia, Chad, and Kenya, alongside powerhouses like France, Germany, and Japan. The inclusion of diverse co-productions reflects the increasing importance of cross-border collaborations in the international audiovisual landscape.

As TIFF prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Centrepiece programme stands as a testament to cinema's ability to transcend borders, amplify marginalized voices, and foster global dialogue.

For more details and the complete lineup, visit tiff.net.