The Toronto International Film Festival returns September 5 – 15, 2024 for its 49th edition. The festival’s “Centrepiece” lineup was recently announced. The category is described “Compelling stories, global perspectives.”

Check out the Centrepiece lineup below:

A Missing Part – Directed by Guillaume Senez. “A father’s desperate quest to reunite with his daughter becomes the source of rising tension and heart-rending poignancy in this sensitively rendered third feature by Belgian filmmaker Guillaume Senez.”

Addition – Directed by Marcelle Lunam. “A mathematician struggles to balance her compulsive counting habit (and imaginary friendship with Nikola Tesla) with a budding romance in this charming adaptation of Toni Jordan’s bestselling novel.”

An Unfinished Film – Directed by Lou Ye. “Lou Ye recalls the days of the Chinese lockdown through a hybrid of documentary, web videos from the COVID era, and fragments from his past films, spinning a powerful drama in recognition of a nation’s collective trauma.”

Anywhere Anytime – Directed by Milad Tangshir. “Reminding us that for many, something as simple as a bike can guarantee or raze someone’s survival, Milad Tangshir’s fiction feature debut is a bold nod to Vittorio De Sica’s 1948 classic Bicycle Thieves and heralds a courageous and striking cinematic voice.”

April – Directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili. “A powerful convergence of existence and womanhood, April is the timely second feature of writer-director Dea Kulumbegashvili, who tells the story of an ob-gyn in eastern Georgia who performs illegal abortions.”

Beloved Tropic – Directed by Ana Endara. “In Panama City, the delicate connection between a pregnant Colombian immigrant with status issues and a well-to-do matriarch with dementia propels documentarian Ana Endara’s accomplished narrative feature debut.”

Bound in Heaven – Directed by Huo Xin. “The debut feature of renowned scriptwriter Huo Xin, Bound in Heaven is a poignant tale of love and resilience starring Ni Ni, Zhou You, and Liao Fan. This deeply touching film tackles domestic violence and terminal illness with assured direction and outstanding performances.”

By the Stream – Directed by Hong Sangsoo. “The latest film by prolific South Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo reunites actors Kim Minhee and Kwon Haehyo in a bittersweet, autumnal tale of loneliness, connection, and creativity that transpires during an annual skit festival at a women’s university.”

Cloud – Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. “Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud is a suspenseful thriller in which a young internet reseller, Ryosuke Yoshii (Masaki Suda) ignites a cyber-fueled storm of malice. Blurring digital and physical threats, it’s a chilling dive into the dark side of modern connectivity.”

Crocodile Tears – Directed by Tumpal Tampubolon. “In this slow-burning suspense thriller from debut filmmaker Tumpal Tampubolon, a young man and his overbearing mother’s lives on their isolated crocodile farm are turned upside down with the appearance of a young woman.”

Don’t Cry, Butterfly – Directed by Dương Diệu Linh. “Homemaker and breadwinner Tam learns through live TV that her husband is having an affair. She’s determined to turn her situation around, but instead of confronting him, she’s certain mystical means are the answer.”

Edge of Night – Directed by Türker Süer. “Set in a climate of distrust where the state demands absolute — if not blind — loyalty and the only options are to adapt or rebel, Edge of Night is the captivating debut of writer-director Türker Süer.”

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara – Directed by Erin Lee Carr. “This gripping documentary charts the global rise of Canadian pop duo Tegan and Sara, their advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, and their at once liberating and fraught relationship with social media.”

Flow – Directed by Gints Zilbalodis. “A motley but irresistible crew of animals band together for an unforgettable adventure in the watery world created by animator and filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis.”

Front Row – Directed by Merzak Allouache. “In his 19th feature film, prolific Algerian movie maestro Merzak Allouache (Omar Gatlato; The Rooftops; Divine Wind, TIFF ’18) opts for a chaotic family dramedy about feuding matriarchs behaving badly at the beach.”

Happy Holidays – Directed by Scandar Copti. “In this panoramic family drama from Oscar-nominated Palestinian director Scandar Copti (Ajami, TIFF ʼ09), a ruinous mixture of personal quests, poor choices, and intractable social pressures test the stamina of cherished relationships, both well-worn and still blooming.”

Happyend – Directed by Neo Sora. “In near-future Tokyo, rebellious students struggle to find their path in a society dangerously close to complete and total surveillance.”

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life – Directed by Laura Piani. “In Laura Piani’s charming and witty debut, an aspiring author looking to get more out of life takes up a writing residency and finds herself in the sort of romantic entanglements that could come from the pages of a Jane Austen novel.”

Julie Keeps Quiet – Directed by Leonardo van Dijl. “Belgium’s Leonardo van Dijl applies great care and skill to this enthralling and empathetic portrait of a talented teenager who finds herself at the centre of a tennis academy’s emerging scandal.”

Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle Without End – Directed by Michael Jonathan. “A teenage boy born of two cultures must navigate a brutal war between the Māori and colonial British forces in this powerful retelling of one of New Zealand’s most pivotal historical battles, featuring screen legends Temuera Morrison and Cliff Curtis.”

Kill the Jockey – Directed by Luis Ortega. “Boasting a truly memorable couple within an already essential filmography, Argentinian auteur Luis Ortega returns to the Festival with Kill the Jockey, a heartfelt and wholly unforgettable thriller.”

Little Jaffna – Directed by Lawrence Valin. “Lawrence Valin makes an impressive debut, directing and acting in this dynamic, socio-political crime drama about a police officer who infiltrates a Tamil gang in Paris.”

Matt and Mara – Directed by Kazik Radwanski. “Struggling with a new baby and a distracted husband, an academic is more than happy to hang out with a college pal who crashes back into her life. But what sort of relationship are they resuming, precisely?”

Measures for a Funeral – Directed by Sofia Bohdanowicz. “Measures for a Funeral brilliantly spotlights a young academic’s run towards one woman — acclaimed early 20th-century Canadian violinist Kathleen Parlow — as she simultaneously flees from another, her failed musician mother.”

My Sunshine – Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama. “From Hiroshi Okuyama, a rising star in Japanese cinema, this beautifully crafted film follows adolescent figure skaters as they navigate budding emotions. It evokes the nuanced storytelling of master director Kore-eda Hirokazu.”

Pimpinero: Blood and Oil – Directed by Andrés Baiz. “Set in the early 2010s, this gripping thriller by director Andrés Baiz (Griselda, Narcos) takes place in the treacherous desert bordering Colombia and Venezuela, where gasoline smugglers or pimpineros risk their lives transporting illegal fuel.”

Presence – Directed by Steven Soderbergh. “Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh shakes the horror genre to life by adopting the point of view of a housebound spirit, granting us singular access to a family passing through troubled times — and casting an unforgettably eerie atmosphere.”

Santosh – Directed by Sandhya Suri. “In rural Northern India, the widow of a slain police officer takes his place on a force rife with compromised ethics. The arrival of a charismatic female inspector, who takes the title character under her wing, challenges the prevailing patriarchy even as the pair discover how deep it runs.”

Seven Days – Directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi. “Ali Samadi Ahadi’s latest explores an agonizing struggle. When imprisoned human rights activist Maryam is granted a rare medical leave, she has the chance to escape Iran but at the expense of her battle for equality and democracy.”

Souleymane’s Story – Directed by Boris Lojkine. “An undocumented Guinean immigrant (Abou Sangare, whose work here won the Un Certain Regard Best Actor prize at Cannes) in Paris tries to juggle his responsibilities as a food delivery bike courier with the preparations needed for his asylum review hearing.”

Sunshine – Directed by Antoinette Jadaone. “The latest from Filipina filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone is a dramatic story of a young gymnast who finds out she’s pregnant just before trying out for the national team.”

Sweet Angel Baby – Directed by Melanie Oates. “Eliza is an unassuming and beloved member of a small fishing community in Newfoundland who sees all of her relationships put in jeopardy after her secret social media persona is exposed.”

The Exiles – Directed by Belén Funes. “Starring Antonia Zegers (The Club), Spanish director Belén Funes’ emotionally intelligent second feature focuses on a mother-daughter relationship complicated by unprocessed grief and financial strife.”

The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos – Various Directors. “Anchored by a stunning performance from Temi Ami-Williams (Eyimofe), the debut from Nigeria’s Agbajowo Collective, part thriller, part magical realism, is a riveting indictment of the unchecked development and forced evictions besetting Africa’s largest city.”

The Mother and the Bear – Directed by Johnny Ma. “When her grown daughter Sumi has a bad fall in Winnipeg, anxious widow Sara (Kim Ho-jung) travels from Korea to be with her — and discovers she doesn’t really know Sumi at all.”

The Mountain – Directed by Rachel House. “Rachel House’s heartfelt debut film follows a brave trio on the journey of a lifetime, where they learn the true meaning of friendship and the power of their cultural legacy. Executive produced by Taika Waititi.”

The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. “From renowned filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig (winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival) is a social drama turned cat-and-mouse thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat.”

The Swedish Torpedo – Directed by Frida Kempff. “This beautifully textured period drama from director Frida Kempff tells the story of Sally Bauer, a Swedish mother who pursues her dream of swimming the English Channel before the Second World War envelops Europe.”

The Village Next to Paradise – Directed by Mo Harawe. “One of the breakout debuts from this year’s Cannes Film Festival, writer-director Mo Harawe’s sensitive and empathetic The Village Next to Paradise announces a bold new voice in art house and a new era for Somali cinema.”

To a Land Unknown – Directed by Mahdi Fleifel. “From burgeoning Palestinian auteur Mahdi Fleifel (A World Not Ours, TIFF Docs ’12; A Drowning Man, Short Cuts ’17) comes an intuitive thriller about displaced cousins who will stop at nothing for a reliable path out of purgatory.”

Under the Volcano – Directed by Damian Kocur. “A Ukrainian family of four on vacation in the Canary Islands become refugees overnight when Russia’s ongoing occupation of Ukraine turns into a full-scale invasion, in Damien Kocur’s tense and timely sophomore feature.”

Universal Language – Directed by Matthew Rankin. “Matthew Rankin’s second feature is a lovingly detailed, charmingly impossible story of a Canada where Persian and French are the two official languages, and loneliness is the common currency.”

When the Light Breaks – Directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson. “A tragedy unleashes an unwieldy storm of emotion and confusion for a group of young friends in this intimately scaled and keenly felt fourth feature by Iceland’s Rúnar Rúnarsson.”