by Tim Gordon
The Discovery Programme has always been TIFF’s heartbeat for fresh voices and fearless storytelling — and in the Festival’s 50th anniversary year, it’s beating louder than ever. This year’s Discovery slate brings together 26 films from first- and second-time directors, each offering daring perspectives and inventive storytelling that signal where cinema is headed next.
Opening the programme is John Early’s satirical directorial debut, Maddie’s Secret, a sharp and hilarious skewering of content culture from one of the most distinctive voices in alt-comedy. From there, Discovery spans continents and genres with everything from Māori Gothic (Mārama) to surreal satire (Egghead Republic), to tense historical dramas (Noviembre) and intimate, character-driven debuts (Nika & Madison).
Since its inception, Discovery has been the launchpad for auteurs like Barry Jenkins, Chantal Akerman, Julie Dash, and Yorgos Lanthimos. This year’s slate continues that tradition, a vibrant mix of voices ready to break through.
2025 DISCOVERY PROGRAMME — Full Lineup
100 Sunset Picture of Maple Leaf – Kunsang Kyirong | Canada | World Premiere
A Parkdale apartment complex becomes the setting for intrigue, desire, and deception in this slow-burning mystery.
Amoeba – Siyou Tan | Singapore/Netherlands/France/Spain/South Korea | World Premiere
Four teenage girls form a gang in a country where chewing gum and defiance are both outlawed.
As We Breathe – Seyhmus Altun
When a chemical fire spreads smoke across her village, a young girl helps her father manage old wounds and new dangers.
Babystar – Joscha Bongard
Instagram vs. reality takes a twisted turn when the teenage daughter of family vloggers realizes she’s more victim than star.
Bayaan – Bikas Ranjan Mishra
A rookie detective confronts corruption and silenced victims while investigating a revered religious leader accused of abuse.
Dinner With Friends – Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada
Eight friends navigate fractured connections, joyful reunions, and the brutal honesty of adulthood.
Egghead Republic – Pella Kågerman & Hugo Lilja
Freaky sci-fi collides with gonzo journalism in this audacious satire of media, power, and indie-sleaze culture.
Forastera – Lucía Aleñar Iglesias
In Mallorca, a grieving family reels, and a teenage girl quietly steps into her grandmother’s role.
Ghost School – Seemab Gul
A ten-year-old defies superstition to uncover why her school closed, untangling eerie rumors and corruption.
Julian – Cato Kusters
A poignant story of love, equality, and persistence, inspired by a unique campaign for marriage rights.
Laundry – Zamo Mkhwanazi
A young man fights for his family and his own identity under apartheid’s brutal shadow.
Little Lorraine – Andy Hines | Canada
A 1986 Cape Breton mining explosion launches a drama of grief, resilience, and a cocaine-smuggling twist.
Maddie’s Secret – John Early
Opening Night Film – A biting satire of content culture from the alt-comedy star and the Discovery section’s perfect tone-setter.
Mārama – Taratoa Stappard
A Māori woman, far from home, uncovers gothic horrors in an English manor, a bold tale of identity and reckoning.
Nika & Madison – Eva Thomas | Canada
Two estranged friends reevaluate their bond after a devastating encounter with the police.
Noviembre – Tomás Corredor
Blending fiction and archival footage, Corredor revisits the 1985 Palace of Justice siege in a haunting reflection on chaos and conviction.
Oca – Karla Badillo
A young nun embarks on a mystical pilgrimage, encountering trials of faith, privilege, and redemption.
Our Father – Goran Stankovic
Based on true events, an addict seeks salvation in a Serbian monastery where “treatment” crosses into torment.
Out Standing – Mélanie Charbonneau | Canada
The story of Sandra Perron, Canada’s first woman infantry officer, fuels this fierce, inspiring drama.
Retreat – Ted Evans
A young woman visits a wellness retreat for Deaf people, only to discover nothing is as it seems.
Sink – Zain Duraie
A mother’s fight to help her son navigate mental health challenges becomes a portrait of love and resilience.
The Man in My Basement – Nadia Latif
When a stranger (Willem Dafoe) offers big money to rent his basement, Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) is pulled into a chilling web of family secrets.
The Son and the Sea – Stroma Cairns
On Scotland’s rugged coast, three young men reach a turning point, learning with quiet grace what it means to grow up.
Why Discovery Matters
For 50 years, TIFF has been a launchpad for the filmmakers of tomorrow, and Discovery is its most fearless incubator. This year’s lineup blends raw first features and second efforts into a single, thrilling mosaic of ideas, genres, and voices, proving again that cinema’s future will come from the bold and the brave.
