Every September, the world’s movie industry comes to Toronto.

Some of the biggest actors in the world walk the red carpet, filmmakers unveil their latest work and audiences get an early look at movies that could become the year’s biggest hits.

But while the world comes to Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF is also giving Canadians plenty of reasons to celebrate homegrown talent.

The 51st festival runs from September 10 to 20, 2026, and this year’s lineup includes familiar Canadian stars, homegrown stories, Indigenous artists, musicians and a new generation of Canadian filmmakers. FilmOntario has identified 15 productions with Ontario connections in the festival. See FilmOntario’s full Ontario-at-TIFF guide.

Here are some of the Canadian actors, artists and films we’re watching.

⭐ Annie Murphy is back at TIFF

If you know Annie Murphy from Schitt’s Creek, you already know why this one is worth watching.

Murphy stars in All That She Wants, a modern romantic comedy about a casual encounter between a millennial and a Gen Zer that leads to life-changing consequences.

The film premieres September 13 at 9:30 p.m.

It’s another opportunity for one of Canada’s most recognisable television stars to take the spotlight on the international film scene.

FilmOntario’s TIFF guide has the full screening information.

🎬 Jay Baruchel takes on a Canadian legend

The Stunt Driver might be one of the most distinctly Canadian stories at this year’s festival.

Jay Baruchel stars as Canadian stunt driver Ken Carter in the true story of a man who became a world champion and attempted an extraordinary mile-long jump across the St. Lawrence River.

Canadian director Michael Dowse reunites with Baruchel for the film, which also stars Laurence Leboeuf, Ben Foster and Ed Helms.

The movie has its world premiere September 11 at 8:45 p.m. and had its post-production completed entirely in Ontario. Read more about the film and its upcoming theatrical release.

🕶️ Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Hudson Williams star in YAGA

Here’s another impressive Canadian combination.

YAGA stars Canadians Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Hudson Williams in an adaptation of Kat Sandler’s award-winning play.

The story centres on a mysterious disappearance in a small coastal town as the truth gradually comes to light.

And yes, the Carrie-Anne Moss who played Trinity in The Matrix is Canadian. 🇨🇦

For Schitt’s Creek fans, there’s another familiar face here too: Noah Reid.

YAGA premieres September 17 at 9 p.m. and had its post-production completed entirely in Ontario. See the FilmOntario listing.

🎸 Rush fans have a reason to celebrate

TIFF is also bringing together some of Canada’s most famous musicians for Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple.

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson team up with four celebrated drummers — Stewart Copeland, Danny Carey, Chad Smith and Gavin Harrison — to celebrate the life and legacy of Rush drummer Neil Peart.

For Canadians who grew up with Rush, this is about as Canadian a TIFF event as you can get.

The film premieres September 16 at 9:30 p.m. Visit Rush’s official website and see the current TIFF screening information.

🏃 Terry Fox gets the big-screen treatment

Some Canadian stars don’t need Hollywood careers to be famous.

Run Terry Run takes audiences back to one of the most extraordinary chapters in Canadian history: Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.

Filmmaker Sean Menard uses never-before-seen footage to explore the preparation, determination and personal side of Fox’s attempt to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

The film premieres September 19 at Roy Thomson Hall.

For Maple Wow, this is one of the most important Canadian stories at TIFF. Terry Fox’s legacy reaches far beyond sport. His determination helped inspire generations of Canadians and millions of people around the world.

Learn more about Terry Fox and the Terry Fox Foundation, or see the Roy Thomson Hall screening information.

🌟 Anna Lambe is one to watch

TIFF isn’t only about the stars we already know.

In the Heart of the South stars Anna Lambe, best known to many viewers from the Canadian series North of North.

The Toronto-set story features an Inuk protagonist and supernatural elements, bringing together horror, mystery and a distinctly Canadian setting.

The film premieres September 10 at 9 p.m.

For audiences discovering Lambe for the first time, TIFF could be another step in the rise of an exciting Canadian actor.

🎤 Indigenous artists are bringing their stories to TIFF

One of the most interesting Canadian films at this year’s festival is Turtle Island Rap.

The documentary follows three young Indigenous hip-hop artists — Wiidaaseh, A$h Da Hunter and Travis Thompson — as they work towards making it from the hustle to the stage.

Directed by Alexandra Lazarowich, whose previous documentary Fast Horse was also rooted in Indigenous storytelling, the film marks her feature documentary debut.

What makes this particularly exciting is that we’re not simply watching established stars tell Indigenous stories. We’re meeting emerging Indigenous artists telling their own stories through music.

Core Music Agency has more information about the three artists and the film.

🎬 Meet the Canadians you may be talking about next

Some of the most interesting people at TIFF aren’t household names yet.

Yuula Benivolski makes her feature debut with The Black Box Is Orange, an autobiographical essay film that draws on personal memory and incomplete archives to explore her childhood in a militarised border town.

The Toronto artist and filmmaker premieres the film September 13 at 6:45 p.m.

David Bezmozgis is another Canadian filmmaker to watch. The Toronto writer adapts his own literary prize-winning work for The Betrayers, a political thriller about the limits of love and loyalty.

And Alexandra Lazarowich is introducing audiences to three young Indigenous musicians with Turtle Island Rap.

These are the Canadians who may not yet have the name recognition of Annie Murphy or Jay Baruchel — but TIFF is one of the places where that can change.

🎥 More Canadian stories on the big screen

The Canadian presence at TIFF goes well beyond the biggest names.

Sunburn follows a group of young people trying to get through a Toronto heatwave and blackout while finding unexpected connections. It premieres September 14.

Julián is a joyful animated adaptation of Jessica Love’s beloved children’s book about a young boy whose dream of becoming a mermaid changes his relationship with his grandmother. It premieres September 13.

Neverman stars Broadway and cabaret performer Justin Vivian Bond as a transgender gay-rights activist living with Alzheimer’s disease. It premieres September 14.

And Below brings a Newfoundland-set story to TIFF, with Josh Hartnett and Canadian actor Mackenzie Davis among its stars.

🇨🇦 Ontario is having a big TIFF moment

There is a bigger story behind all these individual films.

FilmOntario has identified 15 productions with Ontario connections at this year’s festival.

That includes films featuring Canadian stars, films made by Canadian filmmakers and productions that used Ontario’s highly developed production and post-production infrastructure.

And that matters beyond the red carpet.

Behind every production are actors, writers, directors, producers, editors, camera operators, visual-effects artists, technicians and countless other people working in Canada’s screen industry.

TIFF itself says its organisation generates an estimated $240 million in annual economic impact, making the festival an important part of Toronto’s cultural and economic life. Learn more about TIFF and its impact.

🇨🇦 Canada has plenty of stories worth watching

For eleven days, Toronto becomes one of the centres of the movie world.

International stars will walk the red carpet. Major studios will promote their next releases. Audiences will discover films from around the globe.

But look a little closer and there’s a pretty impressive Canadian story unfolding too.

Annie Murphy. Jay Baruchel. Carrie-Anne Moss. Noah Reid. Hudson Williams. Anna Lambe. Geddy Lee. Alex Lifeson.

Indigenous musicians and filmmakers. Emerging actors. Established directors. And stories about Canadians who have left their mark on the world.

The world may be coming to Toronto for TIFF. But Canada has plenty of stories worth putting on the big screen. 🇨🇦

Explore the full TIFF 2026 programme and discover the Canadian films and talent appearing at this year’s festival.