The Nordic line-up in Toronto 2026
In a remote Sámi village high in the mountains, 20-year-old Ejva inherits her late father's reindeer herd. As she struggles to keep the herd thriving, local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept. But everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Now, Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.
Directed by Amanda Kernell
Screenwriter Amanda Kernell
Produced by Nordisk Film Production
Production countries Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Bulgaria
Sales TrustNordisk
SCREENINGS
September 12 5:50 Scotiabank Theatre
September 15 6:00 TIFF Lightbox
September 17 9:15 Scotiabank Theatre
September 18 12:00 Scotiabank Theatre
PLATFORM
Brace Your Heart
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Growth of the Soil
A stranger appears over the mountain, carrying little more than his determination. Isak, a man without a past, seeks a place to settle and carve life from the earth. High above the tree line, he finds a barren stretch of land, as unforgiving as it is full of promise. The land tests him to his limits, until he meets Inger, a solitary woman shaped by resilience and quiet secrecy. Together, they endure the elements and build a life, cultivating both the soil and a growing family as the seasons turn.But as years pass and the world closes in, and time, hardship, and desire reshape them, one question remains: is love forever?
Directed by Hans Petter Moland
Screenwriter Hans Petter Moland, Gard B. Eidsvold
Produced by 4 1/2 FICTION AS, Scanbox entertainment
Production countries Norway,
Sales Beta Cinema
SCREENINGS
September 12 5:15 TIFF Lightbox
September 13 9:00 Scotiabank Theatre
September 13 12:00 Scotiabank Theatre
CENTREPIECE
Woman Unknown
Marie, a young nanny and housemaid, is about to marry the wealthy older widower, Christian, for whom she is working. But Marie guards a shameful secret. During World War II, she was in an intimate relationship with a German soldier. Now Marie´s past threatens to catch up with her, and she is forced to fight for the preservation of her new status as lady of the house in post-war anarchy.
Directed by May el-Toukhy
Screenwriter May el-Toukhy, Maren Louise Kähne
Produced by Nordisk Film Production
Production countries Denmark, Sweden, Latvia
Sales TrustNordisk
SCREENINGS
September 11 12:00 Scotiabank Theatre
September 15 2:30 TIFF Lightbox
September 17 8:30 TIFF Lightbox
September 20 4:35 Scotiabank Theatre
DISCOVERY
What Lies Between Us
A quiet suburban community is shaken by the alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy by two of his peers. As the town reels, successful real estate agent Anne Sofie discovers her own son may be more involved than she imagined. Determined to protect him and the family’s reputation, she makes a choice that sets her on a collision course with the other boys’ mothers. As accusations against her son begin to spread, the pressure mounts and to shield her family, Anne Sofie pins the blame on one of the other boys. But as her relationships fracture and her moral compass wavers, she’s forced to make a life-altering decision.
Directed by Amalie Naesby Fick
Produced by Zentropa Productions
Screenplay Sara Isabella Jønsson, Nikolaj Arcel
Production country Denmark
Sales TrustNordisk
SCREENINGS
September 11 5:30 Scotiabank Theatre
September 11 8:30 TIFF Lightbox
September 13 9:00 Scotiabank Theatre
September 19 9:30 Scotiabank Theatre
Originally set for Papua New Guinea to learn more about earth, an alien crash-lands in a Swedish forest and ends up with the two aging brothers Arne and Stefan in Norrbotten. The brothers lead a quiet small-town life, concerned with hunting team disputes and Arne’s growing illness. Stefan doesn’t want a free loathing space man in his home, while Arne welcomes and names the alien Roland. The brothers begin to teach him about the important things in life: moonshine, hunting and the concept of love, but as Arne’s illness starts to flare up, Stefan is forced to face the inevitable, a life without his brother.
Directed by Lars Vega, Theodor Österberg
Produced by Nexiko Drama
Screenplay Lars Vega
Production country Sweden
Sales TrustNordisk
SCREENINGS
September 11 8:40 Scotiabank Theatre
September 11 12:45 TIFF Lightbox
September 12 9:45 Scotiabank Theatre
September 20 9:50 Scotiabank Theatre
DISCOVERY
Arne Goes to Space
Vyan, a Kurdish female sniper, has survived war by shutting down her emotions. When she learns her younger sister, believed lost during ISIS’ 2014 assault, may still be alive in Mosul, she returns to a city shaped by death and destruction. Her search becomes both a rescue mission and a confrontation with the trauma she has spent years trying to silence.
Directed by Halkawt Mustafa
Screenwriter Halkawt Mustafa
Produced by Hene Films
Production countries Norway, Iraqi Kurdistan
Sales True Colours
SCREENINGS
September 14 4:15 TIFF Lightbox
TIFF MARKET
No Paradise if You Are Killed by a Woman
TIFF DOCS
Rescue
On a dead-calm morning in the Mediterranean, the migrant rescue ship of Doctors Without Borders spots a deflating rubber boat. Dozens of people are struggling in the water. Among the refugees is Roro, a Yemeni mother traveling with her husband, Hani, their two-month-old baby, and two young sons. As the rescue begins, a Libyan militia intervenes and abducts Roro and the children, dragging them back to Libya. Meanwhile, Hani is rescued and arrives in Europe alone. A family is violently torn apart across the Mediterranean. While Hani fights from Europe to reunite the family, Roro struggles to survive captivity in Libya and to protect her children. Trapped by a violent system deeply entangled with EU border politics, she relentlessly attempts to cross the sea again. RESCUE is a gripping story of survival and injustice, and a powerful portrait of a young mother whose strength drives the film.
Directed by Sine Plambech
Produced by Elk Film
Production countries Denmark, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Iceland
SCREENINGS
September 12 5:30 Scotiabank Theatre
September 15 12:15 Scotiabank Theatre
September 17 6:15 Scotiabank Theatre
TIFF SHORTCUTS 01
The End
A dark, poetic tale of death and existence set in a large, international airport. An airplane has serious problems but cannot reach the control tower, the pig employees are engrossed in a reality series. A pushy slug seller in the Tax-Free shop tries to deeply immoral products. A dolphin barista at an exorbitantly expensive Smoothie bar loses his mind. A mysterious figure moves in the periphery, soon ready to get us all.
Directed by Niki Lindroth von Bahr
Screenplay Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Jen Silverman
Produced by Kalle Wettre / Clara Marquardt, Damien Mergherbi, Justin Pechberty / Lars Amby, Johan Oettenger (Malade AB, Les Valseurs / Wired Fly with support from the Swedish Film Institute/Axel Petersén)
Production countries Sweden, France
Sales New Europe Film Sales
SCREENINGS
September 10 12:45PM Scotiabank Theatre
September 10 6:10PM Scotiabank Theatre
September 15 9:00PM Scotiabank Theatre
TIFF SHORTCUTS 06
Please
A dark comedy about humankind’s desire to love and to be loved. An animated short centred around neediness, intimacy, and romance.
Directed by Anna Mantzaris
Produced by Apparat Filmproduktion
Production countries Sweden, France, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland
Sales Miyu Distribution
SCREENINGS
September 15 8:55AM Scotiabank Theatre
September 15 2:15PM Scotiabank Theatre
September 19 10:00AM Scotiabank Theatre