23-07-2025
John Early's Surprise Directorial Debut ‘Maddie's Secret' Will Open TIFF 2025's Discovery Section
This year's Toronto International Film Festival Discovery lineup is getting off to a secretive start, as the section, dedicated to new work from first- and second-time filmmakers, will open with John Early's surprise feature directorial debut 'Maddie's Secret.'
Billed by TIFF in today's announcement 'as an unmissable directorial debut satirizing and skewering content culture from iconic alt-comedian John Early,' the filmmaker stars in the film alongside long-time compatriot Kate Berlant, Vanessa Bayer, Eric Rahill, Claudia O'Doherty, Chris Bauer, Kristen Johnston, and Conner O'Malley.
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The Discovery program has championed a number of major names over the years, such as Ildikó Enyedi, Alfonso Cuarón, Julie Dash, Jean-Marc Vallée, Christopher Nolan, Maren Ade, Yorgos Lanthimos, Barry Jenkins, Dea Kulumbegashvili, Emma Seligman, and Elegance Bratton.
The 2025 Discovery selection was programmed by Dorota Lech, Jason Anderson, Kelly Boutsalis, Diana Cadavid, Robyn Citizen, June Kim, and Jason Ryle. The lineup includes 23 World Premiere titles, spanning 30+ countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
Over the past few weeks, TIFF has rolled out some early picks for its selection, including Colin Hanks' opening night documentary 'John Candy: I Like Me,' plus new films from Steven Soderbergh, Nia DaCosta, Chandler Levack, Alejandro Amenábar, and Sung-hyun Byun, the addition of 11 starry titles in the Gala and Special Presentations program just last week (plus that full lineup), and yesterday's release of the Platform jury and lineup.
2025 Discovery Program (in alphabetical order):
'100 Sunset' | Kunsang Kyirong | Canada | World Premiere
'Amoeba' | Siyou Tan | Singapore/Netherlands/France/Spain/South Korea | World Premiere
'As We Breathe' | Şeyhmus Altun | Turkey/Denmark | World Premiere
'Babystar' | Joscha Bongard | Germany | World Premiere
'Bayaan' | Bikas Ranjan Mishra | India | World Premiere
'Dinner with Friends' | Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada | World Premiere
'Egghead Republic' | Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja | Sweden | World Premiere
'Forastera' | Lucía Aleñar Iglesias | Spain/Italy/Sweden | World Premiere
'Ghost School' | Seemab Gul | Pakistan | World Premiere
'Julian' | Cato Kusters | Belgium/Netherlands | World Premiere
'Laundry' | Zamo Mkhwanazi | Switzerland/South Africa | World Premiere
'Little Lorraine' | Andy Hines | Canada | World Premiere
'Maddie's Secret' | John Early | USA | World Premiere
'Mārama | Taratoa Stappard | New Zealand | World Premiere
'Nika & Madison' | Eva Thomas | Canada | World Premiere
'Noviembre' | Tomás Corredor | Colombia/Mexico/Brazil/Norway | World Premiere
'Oca' | Karla Badillo | Mexico/Argentina | World Premiere
'Our Father' | Goran Stankovic | Serbia/Italy/Croatia/North Macedonia/Montenegro/Bosnia and Herzegovina | World Premiere
'Out Standing' | Mélanie Charbonneau | Canada | World Premiere
'Retreat' | Ted Evans | United Kingdom | World Premiere
'Sink' | Zain Duraie | Jordan/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/France | World Premiere
'The Man in My Basement' | Nadia Latif | United Kingdom/USA | World Premiere
'The Son and the Sea' | Stroma Cairns | United Kingdom | World Premiere
This year's official screening venues will once again include TIFF Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Cineplex's Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, Glenn Gould Studio at the Canadian Broadcast Centre, Cinema Park at David Pecaut Square, and the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The seventh edition of the TIFF Tribute Awards Gala will take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
On the last day of the festival, TIFF announces the winners of its various awards. Alongside the popular People's Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, this September introduces the brand-new International People's Choice Award. Also returning are the esteemed Jury Prizes including the Platform Award, now celebrating its tenth year, and honors from FIPRESCI and NETPAC.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025. More festival details will be shared in the coming weeks, with this week set to play home to some major other announcements.
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