Eddie Huang, Creator of ABC Just got off the ship Comedy, to have its world premiere at Toronto Film Festival’s TIFF Docs sidebar Vice is bankrupta documentary about the rise and fall of Vice Media.
Huang will chronicle the events at Shane Smith’s Vice Media, the scrappy media company once valued at $5.7 billion that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023, paving the way for a sale of the company.
The world also takes a bow in Toronto documentary series The Blue Road—The Story of Edna O’Briendirected by Sinéad O’Shea, who conducted hours of interviews with the legendary Irish novelist during the last year of O’Brien’s life; Jane Gaten and eccentric Brought to you by doc producer Billy Corben man of war, about a former U.S. Green Beret involved in the failed 2020 coup that overthrew Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; and Steve Pinker’s the last republicanabout former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who broke ranks and disavowed Donald Trump.
Works by Marah Strauch and Bryce Leavitt will also have world premieres space cowboy, On the world of skydiving and free-fall cinematography; directors Joanne Robertson and Neil Diamond So surreal: behind the maskwhich highlights efforts to return artifacts to the Yupik and Kwakwakwakwa peoples; and Halima Elhatabi’s living togetherThe film follows Montreal apartment seekers as they chase their ideal roommate.
Ted Passon also made his world debut Patrice: The MovieThis is; by Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc Tataabout co-director Vdovîi trying to reconnect with her estranged father; Anastasia Botuari’s temporary shelter, The story of Ukrainian refugees starting a new life in Iceland after Russia invaded their homeland in 2022; Santiago Estanou Fierro’s freedom; speed cube Director Sue Kim’s latest documentary, the last sea womanabout older female freedivers; and Ari Weinstein’s your tomorrow.
TIFF’s Doc program has pre-ordered 21 titles from 24 countries, many of which are for sale. These include the North American premiere of Raoul Peck’s latest film, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, The film, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, depicts the life of a pioneering black South African freelance photographer. Peck world premieres his James Baldwin documentary I’m not your black person at TIFF in 2016.
Toronto also hosted the Canadian premiere There is no other land, Directors Basel Adela, a young Palestinian activist, and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist, gave their acceptance speeches at the Berlin Film Festival after winning the award for a film about the Israeli government’s attempts to expel Palestinians from Jordan. The documentary on the West Bank of the River was brutally boycotted.
Toronto earlier announced documentaries for other events in 2024, including documentaries by RJ Culter and David Furnish Elton John: It’s never too late; Cosima Spender Andrea Bocelli: Because I believe; and Tom Zimney’s Road Diaries: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The complete list of TIFF file headers is as follows:
sisters storyLaila Amini, International Premiere
The Blue Road—The Story of Edna O’BrienSinéad O’Shea World Premiere
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, Raoul Peck. North American Premiere
Start from ground zeroWissam Moussa, Nidal Damo, Ahmed Hassouna, Alaa Ayoub, Karim Satum, Bashar Al Babisi, Qamis Masharawi, Nida Abu Hasna, Tamer Nijim, Ahmed Al Danaf, Reema Mahmoud, Mohammad Sharif, Basil El Mah Kusi, Mustafa Kulab, Rabab Khamis, Mustafa Kulab, Alaa Damo, Hana Eleiwa, Mahdi Kreirah, Aws Al Banna, Islam Al Zeriei, Etimad Washah, North American Premiere
living together, Halima El-Khatabi, World Premiere
man of war, Jen Gatien, Billy Corben World Premiere
Lord Exorcist, Elizabeth Lo North American Premiere
There is no other land, Yuval Abraham, Basel Adela, Hamdan Baral, Rachel Soule, Canadian Premiere
Patrice: The MovieTed Parson, World Premiere
Russians at War, Anastasia Trofimova, North American Premiere
So Surreal: Behind the Mask, Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson, World Premiere
space cowboyMarla Strauch, Bryce Levitt, World Premiere
Sudan, Remember Us, Hindmedeb, North American Premiere
Tata, Lina Vdovîi, Radu Ciorniciuc World Premiere
temporary shelterAnastasiia Bortuali, world premiere
Fierro’s freedomSantiago Estanou, World Premiere
the last sea womanSue Kim, World Premiere
The last republican, Steve Pinker, World Premiere
Vice is bankruptEddie Huang, World Premiere
Make a wish like a starPeter Kerekes North American Premiere
your tomorrowAli Weinstein, World Premiere
