by Tim Gordon
TIFF is marking the 10th anniversary of its Primetime programme with a bold and diverse lineup of exceptional series from across the globe, showcasing the creative power and cultural influence of serialized storytelling.
Since its launch in 2015, Primetime has premiered prestige series and auteur-driven television from around the world, and over the past decade has expanded its commitment to the medium through initiatives like the Series Accelerator, year-round premieres at TIFF Lightbox, and the announcement that series will be a core component of TIFF: The Market in 2026.
This year’s slate features six World Premieres, beginning with the section’s opener, The Lowdown, from creator, executive producer, writer, and director Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs), starring executive producer Ethan Hawke. Netflix’s new Canadian original series Wayward, created by Mae Martin and Ryan Scott and starring Martin alongside Sarah Gadon and Toni Collette, joins the lineup, along with Black Rabbit from Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman, who also directs select episodes. Documentary series Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League, from Richard Brown and Tebogo Malope, will make its debut as the only nonfiction title in the programme. Also premiering are Hansal Mehta’s Gandhi and Houman Seyyedi’s The Savage.
Audiences will also see the North American Premieres of Portobello – The Fall of Enzo Tortora, directed by Italian master Marco Bellocchio, who will be honoured with TIFF’s Luminaries distinction; Rise of the Raven, from Balázs Lengyel; A Sámi Wedding, co-directed by Norway’s Pål Jackman and Åse Kathrin Vuolab; and Reunion, directed by William Mager.
Every Primetime screening includes an extended Q&A with the creators and cast, offering an inside look at the artistry, craft, and ambition driving today’s most compelling episodic work.
Primetime 2025 Lineup:
A Sámi Wedding | Åse Kathrin Vuolab, Pål Jackman | Norway – World Premiere
Black Rabbit | Zach Baylin, Kate Susman | USA – World Premiere
Gandhi | Sameer Nair, Hansal Mehta | India – World Premiere
Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League | Richard Brown, Tebogo Malope | Rwanda/UK/USA – World Premiere
Portobello – The Fall of Enzo Tortora | Marco Bellocchio | Italy/France – International Premiere
Reunion | William Mager, Luke Snellin | UK – North American Premiere
Rise of the Raven | Balázs Lengyel, Robert Dornhelm | Hungary/Austria/Germany – North American Premiere
The Lowdown | Sterlin Harjo | USA – World Premiere
The Savage | Houman Seyyedi | Iran – International Premiere
Wayward | Mae Martin, Ryan Scott | Canada – World Premiere
TIFF 2025 runs September 4–14, 2025.
