Babajide Fadoju reports…
The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival announced five additions to its Special Presentation program today. It’s the 51st edition of TIFF, which will run from Sept. 10-20, 2026, and the fest has long served as a launchpad for Oscar-winning fare, particularly its coveted People’s Choice Award. Past People’s Choice Award winners that have won big at the Oscars include “Chariots of Fire” (1981), “American Beauty” (1999), “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and “Green Book” (2018), among many others.
Alpha Gang (Dir. David Zellner, Nathan Zellner)
This sci-fi comedy from the Zellner brothers (“Sasquatch Sunset”) concerns a gang of humanoid aliens who visit Earth with the intent to wipe everyone out only to take a liking to its people. The film boasts a big cast including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Dave Bautista, Léa Seydoux, Lily-Rose Depp and Adria Arjona.
Glaxo (Dir. Benjamín Naishtat)
Brazilian filmmakers have been on a heater of late, and this film from director Benjamín Naishtat (“Rojo”) may continue that streak. A decades-spanning film set in a small provincial town between the 1950s and 1980s, “Glaxo” follows four young men whose lives intersect in a tale of lust and revenge amid a backdrop of unrest in Brazil.
Love of Your Life (Dir. Rachel Morrison)
The sophomore directorial feature from filmmaker Rachel Morrison, an acclaimed DP who became the first woman nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar in 2018 for “Mudbound,” is a romantic drama produced by Ryan Gosling about a nurse (Margaret Qualley) swept up in a great love affair. The film also stars Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aaron Pierre, Gabriel Basso and Catherine Keener.
The Housewife (Dir. Ben Shirinian)
In his feature directorial debut, Ben Shirinian will tackle this tale of a young New York Times journalist (Tye Sheridan) on a mission to track down a possible Nazi officer in Queens, New York, only to see his reporting complicated when he gets entangled with the man’s wife (Naomi Watts). Michael Imperioli and Luke Evans round out the cast.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother (Dir. Bassam Tariq)
The sophomore feature from Bassam Tariq (“Mogul Mowgli”) stars two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as a devoutly religious hitman named Latif who must embark on a journey across Houston, Texas, to protect his loved ones as his enemies close in. Ali is joined by John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito and Tramell Tillman.