TIFF 2018: Platform Programme

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival® unveiled today the 12 feature films that comprise the Platform lineup for 2018, marking a year rich in distinct voices and assured directorial efforts that address difficult subject matters unflinchingly. Ranging from period pieces to police dramas, and even incorporating elements of sci-fi, the films in this year’s lineup also stand out for the variety of genres they explore and the number of complex contemporary anxieties they consider.

“This year’s Platform selection stands out for the assured and precise directing on display,” said TIFF Director & CEO Piers Handling. “We are thrilled to present a slate that perfectly embodies the essence of the programme with so many risk-taking, challenging, and, at times, formally inventive titles that are the result of audacious directors making bold choices.”

The programme’s lineup for 2018 includes four features (30%) directed or co-directed by women, and seven titles that feature strong women in leading roles. Hailing from the Americas, Europe, and Asia, all but two of the titles will be making their World Premiere at the Festival. Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel’s Jessica Forever is the standout feature directorial debut in the programme.

Now in its fourth year, Platform is the Toronto International Film Festival’s juried programme that champions risk-taking, with a lineup of up to 12 works with high artistic merit and a bold directorial vision. A three-person jury selects the winner of the Toronto Platform Prize, an award of $25,000 CAD made possible by Air France, which will be presented to the best film in the lineup at the Awards Ceremony on the last day of the Festival.

Previous titles that have screened as part of the programme include Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin(2017), Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country (2017), Pablo Larraín’s Jackie (2016), Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight(2016), and Eva Husson’s Bang Gang (2015).

Films screening as part of the Platform programme include:

Angelo Markus Schleinzer | Austria/Luxembourg World Premiere

Cities of Last Things Ho Wi Ding | Taiwan/China/USA/France World Premiere

Destroyer Karyn Kusama | USA International Premiere

Platform Opening Film:
Donnybrook Tim Sutton | USA World Premiere

The Good Girls (Las niñas bien) Alejandra Márquez Abella | Mexico World Premiere

Her Smell Alex Ross Perry | USA World Premiere

The Innocent Simon Jaquemet | Switzerland/Germany World Premiere

Platform Closing Film:
Jessica Forever Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel | France World Premiere

Mademoiselle de Joncquières Emmanuel Mouret | France World Premiere

Out of Blue Carol Morley | UK World Premiere

The River Emir Baigazin | Kazakhstan/Poland/Norway North American Premiere

Rojo Benjamín Naishtat | Argentina/Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany World Premiere