TORONTO, September 9, 2026 – The 51st Toronto International Film Festival will open tomorrow, September 10. This year’s TIFF runs from September 10 to 20, with nearly 300 films set to screen in Toronto.
The first major red carpet on opening day will be for Being Heumann. The film’s team is expected to arrive at David Pecaut Square at 6 p.m. before heading to Roy Thomson Hall for the film’s world premiere.
The film is directed by CODA filmmaker Siân Heder. Ruth Madeley stars as American disability rights activist Judy Heumann, with Mark Ruffalo and others also appearing. Based on Heumann’s real-life experience, the story focuses on her work advocating for disability rights in the United States.
Several Chinese-language and Chinese-related films will also be shown at TIFF this year.
A Girl Unknown, directed by Zou Jing, has a screening on opening day at 12:05 p.m. on September 10. It will also screen on September 16, 17 and 20. The film follows a girl from the age of six to 18 as she moves through different families and experiences changing questions of identity and family relationships.
It’s My Time, starring Michelle Yeoh, is scheduled to screen at Roy Thomson Hall at 9:30 p.m. on September 17. The film is directed by Bai Xue and follows a 70-year-old woman as she searches for a new direction in life. Additional screenings are scheduled for September 18 and 20.
Fan Bingbing also has a new film at TIFF this year. Diary of a Mad Old Man, her collaboration with director Wayne Wang, will premiere at Roy Thomson Hall at 9:30 p.m. on September 18, with another screening on September 20. Fan will also receive the TIFF Special Tribute Award this year.
The Taiwanese film Arrested Memory is part of the Midnight Madness program. The film stars Ethan Juan, Moon Lee and Hsieh Ying-xuan. Its premiere is scheduled for 11:59 p.m. on September 17 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, with two additional screenings on September 18 and 19.
This year’s TIFF will continue until September 20. As the festival opens tomorrow, premieres, red carpets and filmmaker events will unfold across the city over the next two weeks.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
