TIFF Platform Lineup Includes Nicolas Cage Comedy ‘Dream Scenario’ On Opening Night; Barry Jenkins, Nadine Labaki & Anthony Shim To Serve On Sidebar Jury

The Toronto Film Festival on Wednesday revealed the 10 titles in its Platform program, a sidebar that will tee off with A24’s Kristoffer Borgli comedy Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage. This year’s Platform includes movies from 12 countries across three continents, all of which are making their world premiere at TIFF, which this year runs from September 7-17.

In addition, the fest today unveiled this year’s Platform jury, which includes Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins as chair; Cannes Jury Prize–winning director, writer, and actor Nadine Labaki; and 2022 Platform Prize–winning filmmaker Anthony Shim.

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The Platform program, going into its eighth year, is curated for its bold directorial visions. The movies in the 2023 program are eligible for the Platform Prize, an award of CA$20,000 selected by the in-person international jury.

“I am delighted to announce that we have an international dream jury with acclaimed filmmakers Barry Jenkins, Nadine Labaki, and Anthony Shim as jury members for the Platform program at TIFF,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF in a statement.

“Together, they represent the bold and independent spirit of the Platform Prize.”

“We are thrilled to present this year’s extraordinary films in the Platform programme, and especially delighted to present Kristoffer Borgli’s latest film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, as Platform’s opening film. This surrealist satire-comedy has sharp, timely observations about social media culture — especially ‘going viral’ — and its impact on the way that we interact with others in our day-to-day life. Cage delivers some of his finest work,” added Robyn Citizen, Director, Programming & Platform Lead.

“This year’s diverse selection is distinguished by bold character studies and classic stories told through dynamic narrative and genre approaches. Audiences will witness the emergence of thematic threads like social exile and reconnection, woven in unexpectedly thrilling ways by an array of captivating local and international voices.”

Notable previous Platform selections include 2022 winner Riceboy Sleeps from Canadian director Shim, Hany Abu-Assad’s Huda’s Salon (2021), Kamila Andini’s Yuni (2021), Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal (2019), Alice Winocour’s Proxima (2019), Kazik Radwanski’s Anne at 13,000 Ft. (2019), Sarah Gavron’s Rocks (2019), Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin (2017), Pablo Larraín’s Jackie (2016), Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016), William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth (2016) and Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise (2015).

Borgli’s Sick of Myself made its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen produced Dream Scenario under their Square Peg banner, with Borgli also writing the script. The pic also stars Michael Cera.

The Program lineup also includes movies with a sprinkling of stars as the SAG-AFTRA strike continues with the Lorenzo Mieli-produced I Told You So from Ginevra Elkann starring Danny Huston, Valeria Golino, Alba Rochrwacher and Greta Scacchi. The movie, set in Rome, takes place during a January weekend when a sudden heatwave arrives. The sun is initially pleasant, but the heat quickly escalates to a frightening degree, resulting in people and animals losing their self-control.

Then there’s the Canadian thriller The King Tide, from Christian Sparkes, starring Frances Fisher. Logline: After the mayor of an idyllic island village discovers a child with mysterious powers awash on their shores, the once peaceful community devolves into civil war, torn over the belief that the child is the next savior.

Héléna Klotz’s drama Spirit of Ecstasy stars the French folk rock singer Pomme as Jeanne Francoeur, who after being abused by her gendarme father and forced to provide for her younger siblings, looks to making a living in the world of finance.

In regards to those independent movies at festivals being able to trot out their stars, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told Deadline on Tuesday that there is a way for them to promote at the upcoming fall film festivals: “If they can quality for an interim agreement.”

After that, it’s up to which stars want to show up.

Here’s this year’s TIFF Platform program:

Dear Jassi Tarsem Singh Dhandwar | India
World Premiere

Opening Night Film
Dream Scenario Kristoffer Borgli | USA
World Premiere

Great Absence Kei Chika-ura | Japan
World Premiere

I Told You So (Te l’avevo detto) Ginevra Elkann | Italy
World Premiere

The King Tide Christian Sparkes | Canada
World Premiere

Not A Word (Kein Wort) Hanna Slak | Germany/Slovenia/France
World Premiere

The Rye Horn (O Corno) Jaione Camborda | Spain/Belgium/Portugal
World Premiere

Sisterhood (HLM Pussy) Nora El Hourch | France
World Premiere

Shame on Dry Land (Syndabocken) Axel Petersén | Sweden
World Premiere

Spirit of Ecstasy (La Vénus d’argent) Héléna Klotz | France
World Premiere

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