Sunil Sadarangani talks about TIFF 2025 Centrepiece: A Global Celebration of Cinematic Vision — “Homebound” Neeraj Ghaywan from India is North American Premiere & Gala Presentation

 

TIFF 2025 Centrepiece:  A Global Celebration of Cinematic Vision — “Homebound”  Neeraj Ghaywan from India is North American Premiere | 

Gala Presentation

By  Sunil Sadarangani and Magrira 

For its landmark 50th edition, the Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled a sweeping and ambitious lineup for its Centrepiece programme, highlighting 55 feature films from nearly 50 countries. The selections reflect TIFF’s long-standing commitment to international storytelling, championing diverse voices and boundary-pushing cinema. The Centrepiece slate includes world premieres, North American debuts, and acclaimed works from the global festival circuit — all unified by bold direction and a deep sense of place.

This year’s lineup is as expansive in geography as it is in perspective, offering a cinematic tapestry that spans continents, cultures, and generations. Countries represented include Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Among the most anticipated premieres is "Homebound", an Indian Hindi-language drama directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, known for "Masaan", which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. "Homebound" follows the intertwined lives of two childhood friends from a North Indian village who aspire to join the police force. The film is executive-produced by Martin Scorsese and produced by Dharma Productions.

Other films gaining early traction include "The Cost of Heaven", from Quebecois director Mathieu Denis; "The President’s Cake", by Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi; "Good Boy", a psychological thriller from Poland’s Jan Komasa; and "The Last Viking", directed by Denmark’s Anders Thomas Jensen. Additional standouts include Richard Linklater’s "Blue Moon", Pietro Marcello’s "Duse", Christian Petzold’s "Miroirs No. 3", and "The Condor Daughter", by Bolivian director Álvaro Olmos Torrico.

TIFF’s newly appointed Lead Programmer for Canada, Jason Anderson, leads a curatorial team that includes Diana Cadavid, Kelly Boutsalis, Robyn Citizen, Claire Diao, Giovanna Fulvi, June Kim, Dorota Lech, Anita Lee, Peter Kuplowsky, Andréa Picard, and Jason Ryle.

This is a robust year for world premieres with the Centrepiece offering 19 world premieres, including Gail Maurice’s "Blood Lines", a pastoral family drama; Adam Carter Rehmeier’s outlaw romance "Carolina Caroline", starring Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner; Pete Ohs’ Polish-American love story "Erupcja", featuring Lena Góra and Charli XCX; and Kirk Jones’ "I Swear", the true story of John Davidson, who helped reshape public perception of Tourette Syndrome.

Other highlights include Eimi Imanishi’s "Nomad Shadow", Mary Stephen’s "Palimpsest: The Story of a Name", and "Saipan", directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa, which dramatizes the infamous fallout between Irish football legend Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup.

From Bolivia and Peru comes "The Condor Daughter", a tale of ancestral inheritance and personal ambition. In "The Cost of Heaven", Denis explores the complexities of societal unrest through a Québécois lens. Hasan Hadi’s "The President’s Cake" is a harrowing portrait of a nation buckling under the weight of dictatorship and sanctions. "Unidentified", from Saudi trailblazer Haifaa Al Mansour, reframes the crime thriller through a feminist lens.

Newcomer Cal McMau’s "Wasteman", a gritty reinvention of the prison drama, introduces rising star David Jonsson. Dutch filmmaker Nanouk Leopold returns with "Whitetail", a slow-burning psychological thriller, while "Youngblood", directed by Hubert Davis and co-written by the late Charles Officer, reimagines the 1986 film with Blair Underwood and Shawn Doyle.

TIFF's full Centrepiece roster features an extraordinary range of global talent. The complete list of films includes:

"A Useful Ghost", "Arco", "Barrio Triste", "Blood Lines", "Blue Heron", "Blue Moon", "Carolina Caroline", "Dandelion’s Odyssey", "Diya", "Duse", "Eagles of the Republic", "Erupcja", "Exit 8", "Follies", "Girl", "Good Boy", "Hamlet", "Honey Bunch", "I Swear", "In Search of The Sky", "Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream", "Left-Handed Girl", "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain", "Lucky Lu", "Mama", "Memory of Princess Mumbi", "Milk Teeth", "Miroirs No. 3", "Motor City", "My Father’s Shadow", "New Years Rev", "Nomad Shadow", "Olmo", "Orphan", "Palimpsest: The Story of a Name", "Renoir", "Saipan", "Space Cadet", "The Blue Trail", "The Condor Daughter", "The Cost of Heaven", "The Fox King", "The Last One for The Road", "The Last Viking", "The Little Sister", "The Love That Remains", "The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo", "The President’s Cake", "The Sun Rises On Us All", "Two Prosecutors", "Under The Same Sun", "Unidentified", "Wasteman", "Whitetail", and "Youngblood".

TIFF’s 50th anniversary marks a defining moment in its history, reinforcing its status as a global cultural hub. This year’s Centrepiece films tackle urgent social issues, celebrate personal histories, and stretch the cinematic form in bold, imaginative ways.

The Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs from September 14, 2025. 

For more information, visit tiff.net.