‘Nightbitch,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ Elton John Documentary to World Premiere at 49th Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival announced the first of six films that will world premiere in the gala and special program section of the 2024 edition of the festival, including Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award on September 8. The 49th Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 5–15, 2024. 

Nightbitch features Adams as an artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mum seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that, when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. The film, based on the novel by Rachel Yoder, is written and directed by Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) and produced by Annapurna Pictures. It’s set for theatrical release on December 6 from Searchlight Pictures.

Elton John pulls back the curtain on his life for the first time in Elton John: Never Too Late; fans of South Korean cinema and series will recognize Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min, and Jeon Yeo-been all starring in Harbin; Tom Hiddleston plays the title character in The Life of Chuck, based on the 2020 Stephen King short story of the same name; the dark comedy; Rez Ball is a coming-of-age film about Indigenous basketball produced by LeBron James; and The Wild Robot is an animated film featuring an acclaimed ensemble cast led by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, a robot shipwrecked on an island that must adapt to its new surroundings. Featuring Kit Connor, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy and Mark Hamill.

“We know the TIFF audience has been eagerly anticipating what films will be coming to Toronto this September, and today’s announcement is a snapshot of what’s to come this year: a wonderfully wide range of titles that span genres and generations, with discoveries for everyone,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “TIFF is renowned for finding and showcasing works from both emerging and established filmmakers from all around the world, and for creating an unmatched groundswell of excitement, often paving the way for awards season, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of industry delegates and public filmgoers that attend each year. As we approach our 50th Festival, we are proud to evolve and expand our offerings to meet the needs of the industry and our audiences while always remaining true to what TIFF stands for — transforming the way people see the world through film.”

In addition to screenings, the Festival provides unique in-person opportunities including live post-screening Q&As, the In Conversation With… series, a five-day industry conference, and Festival Street, which returns for opening weekend along King Street West, from Peter Street to University Avenue, celebrating all things film. The free, family-friendly street festival will take place September 5–8, and will feature live performances, partner activations, and outdoor screenings.

TIFF recently announced that it is launching a new official content market at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. Envisioned as the North American hub for buying and selling screen-based projects, intellectual property, and immersive and innovative content across all platforms, the market will elevate Canadian and international talent while driving global distribution and sales. Recently, the Canadian federal government announced an investment of $23 million CAD in this initiative; the three-year investment has enabled the organization to accelerate planning and development work, which is currently underway.

Elton John: Never Too Late | R.J. Cutler, David Furnish | USA 
World Premiere | Gala 
Disney+ 

Harbin | Woo Min-ho | South Korea 
World Premiere | Gala 
CJ ENM 

The Life of Chuck | Mike Flanagan | USA 
World Premiere | Special Presentation 
Sales Title – Rights Available (WME)

Nightbitch | Marielle Heller | USA
World Premiere | Special Presentation 
Searchlight Pictures 

Rez Ball | Sydney Freeland | USA 
World Premiere | Special Presentation 
Netflix 

The Wild Robot | Chris Sanders | USA 
World Premiere | Gala 
DreamWorks Animation 

More Festival details will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for TIFF ’24 go on-sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 16. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 13.