The Toronto International Film Festival is only days away, and there are a lot of movies to look forward to! I talked with fellow ForReel festival-goers Taylor Beaumont and Todd Pengelly in our TIFF Curtain Raiser video about some of the movies we’re looking forward to, including selections like Aftersun, On The Come Up, and The Eternal Daughter. You can watch us talk about those and six other interesting TIFF selections here.

As part of our coverage of TIFF, this Pre-Fest series continues to highlight some of the festival’s most anticipated films; movies you should keep on your radar, whether you’re attending the festival or just keeping a pulse on what we’re buzzing about from home. After all, many of these films will make their way to theaters or streaming mere months or even weeks following their premieres at TIFF.

Here are four TIFF selected films you should keep on your radar:

The Menu

Program: Special Presentations

Anya-Taylor Joy and Nicholas Hoult play Margot and Tyler, a couple who travel to a remote island for a lavish dining experience. The destination: Hawthorne, a restaurant run by celebrity chef Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes. The company in attendance is an ensemble of characters, each with their own secrets. And the menu: full of surprises.

Directed by Mark Mylod, The Menu is a film to have on your radar because it’s one that has the potential to have some wicked twists in the story while also being extremely entertaining. Seth Reiss and Will Tracy wrote the screenplay - two writers who are well versed in penning satire - and Adam McKay is a producer, who also produced Fresh, a favorite at Sundance this year that has its own twisted premise.

And if nothing else, the cast promises to be a captivating ensemble. Anya Taylor-Joy dazzled in recent mainstream hits The Northman and Last Night In Soho, while Nicholas Holt (for those indulging in Rings Of Power and want to expand your Tolkien Cinematic Universe) caught my attention with his role in Tolkien as a younger portrayal of the titular author before Lord of the Rings. Rounding out the cast is Hong Chau, John Leguizamo, Janet McTee, and Judith Light. With this collection of cast and crew talent, The Menu is sure to be a wild ride.

After its world premiere at TIFF, The Menu will make its US Premiere at Fantastic Fest, then is slated to release in theaters November 18th.

Maya and the Wave

Program: TIFF Docs

The waves can be treacherous for any surfer. But for Maya Gabeira - world champion Brazilian surfer and main subject of Maya and the Wave - conquering the waves is only half the battle. On top of facing the physical demands of her profession (including a near death experience) Maya also has a steep uphill battle to face in a sport that forces her to work harder than her male counterparts for equal recognition. Stephanie Johnes’ documentary follows Maya in her effort to overcome these challenges as she strives to make her mark in the world of surfing.

Among the distinguished selection of documentaries making their world premieres at TIFF, Maya and the Wave is one to seek out because of its unfiltered eye on Maya, her career, her setbacks, and her successes. Maya’s story is harrowing, with her drive to achieve her goals being even more formidable than the unyielding forces opposing her. Maya and the Wave offers a thrilling perspective of Maya’s journey. And what’s more, the film boasts gorgeous footage of waves, coastlines, and surfing. I’m sure many will find that all of these aspects culminate into a riveting cinematic experience.

Causeway

Program: Special Presentations

Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bryan Tyree Henry, Causeway follows Lynsey (Lawrence) after a devastating incident when she was working for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan. She returns home to New Orleans after an arduous recovery process and meets James (Henry), who struggles with similar physical and mental trauma as her. As their friendship begins to evolve into something more complex, Lynsey has to question how to handle the relationship.

A debut directorial feature from Lila Neugebauer, Causeway, looks to be a deep and vulnerable perspective on how its characters deal with trauma and building relationships in spite of it. Jennifer Lawrence is always a draw for me to a movie, with her performance in Causeway being described as “heart-rending” and “penetrating” - compelling qualities that tend to apply to much of Lawrence’s work. Causeway is an A24 production that will eventually be distributed by Apple TV+, and these are two sources of entertainment that have championed some of my favorite films this year, with 2022 films like After Yang, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Marcel The Shell WIth Shoes On under the A24 banner, and Apple TV+ distributing the Sundance hit Cha Cha Real Smooth.

Perhaps Causeway can make it onto my favorites list as well. The film is scheduled to release on Apple TV+ on November 4th.

The Fabelmans

Program: Special Presentations

When Steven Spielberg has a new movie, it’s best to take notice. Described as his “most personal film yet”, The Fabelmans is based on the influential filmmaker’s childhood and the development of his love and passion for filmmaking. Through The Fabelmans family (featuring a high profile cast that includes Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy, Michelle Williams as Sammy’s Mother, Paul Dano as Sammy’s Father, and Seth Rogen as Sammy’s Uncle), Spielberg conveys the dynamics and tensions between these characters that ultimately seeps into his revered work as a filmmaker.

The Fabelmans is, without question, one of the most highly anticipated films at TIFF - perhaps even the most anticipated film at TIFF. This being Spielberg’s debut appearance at TIFF already makes this film’s presence at the festival special. But of course, we’re talking about Spielberg: a name that has been synonymous with quality filmmaking and compelling storytelling for decades. Not only will The Fabelmans give the world a glimpse into what influenced Spielberg’s ability to tap into his seemingly inherent sense of filmmaking magic, but chances are this film will be another exhibition of Spielberg filmmaking magic itself.

The Fabelmans is scheduled to release in theaters November 11th.

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