Heads up moviegoers and star spotters: the Toronto International Film Festival is going to look a lot different this year.

Any other September, I’d be clearing my calendar to catch as many red carpets, screenings and events as possible. Instead, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the fest landscape, with many going fully virtual. TIFF is adopting a hybrid model for its upcoming festival, running Sept. 10-19, with 50 films screening digitally and in select theatres and drive-ins. There will also be plenty of socially-distanced virtual events, including press conferences and industry talks, to complement TIFF’s signature programming.

Whether this is your first TIFF or you’re a seasoned festival veteran, it will be a new experience for everyone. Here’s your look at what’s playing, which stars are joining in the fest action, and other recommendations to help you make the most of your pandemic-friendly TIFF!

Movies

TIFF has made one thing clear this year — they aren’t losing the magic of moviegoing! With 50 films selected to screen from incredible local and global talent in multiple accessible formats, there truly is something for everyone. Above all, viewers are sure to appreciate several highly-relevant themes among this year’s selections, including advocacy, inclusion and change. Artistic Director and Co-Head of TIFF, Cameron Bailey, said, “This year’s lineup reflects that tumult (of rethinking just about everything surrounding the festival). The names you already know are doing brand new things this year, and there’s a whole new crop of exciting new names to discover.”

What’s playing? Here are some highlights!

The iconic Spike Lee is bringing his latest work, David Byrne’s American Utopia, to TIFF as the 2020 opening presentation. Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman’s brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, which was met with great critical acclaim and is based on his recent album and tour of the same name. In TIFF’s announcement, festival co-head Joana Vicente highlights this film’s relevance to our global situation, as it “takes audiences on a musical journey about openness, optimism, and faith in humanity” and reveals how we can come together during challenging times through the power of entertainment. Fun fact: Toronto’s own Jacquelene Acevedo is one of the 11 talented global artists who shared the stage with Byrne during his Broadway run — look out for her in the film! If you miss this at TIFF, the film will be available to stream on Crave in Canada at the same time as the American HBO premiere this fall.

In remarkable fest news, 45% of TIFF 2020 titles are directed, co-directed or created by women. There are many great women and works of art to spotlight, but I’m super excited for one in particular. In her directorial debut, actress Regina King presents One Night in Miami…. Already picked up by Amazon Studios, this gala presentation, based on Kemp Powers’ play, is a fictionalized account of a 1964 meeting between the triumphant minister Malcolm X, boxer Muhammad Ali, pop star Sam Cooke, and football star Jim Brown, as they face timely questions like: Should successful Black entertainers speak out against racism? How best can Black celebrities serve the Black community? Are money and fame reward enough for humiliation?

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I know a lot of my readers love Idris Elba, so here’s a treat for all of you: Concrete Cowboy, which also features rising stars Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things) and Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, When They See Us), is screening at TIFF 2020. While spending the summer in North Philadelphia, a troubled teen is caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s vibrant urban-cowboy subculture. This is the perfect option if you’re looking for a story about finding yourself, your purpose and reconnecting with family.

Also screening at the fest is Swedish filmmaker Nathan Grossman’s Hulu special I Am Greta, which will document young activist Greta Thunberg’s viral calls for government action on the climate crisis and her role in inspiring student strikes and protests around the world. A global icon!

Where, and how, can you watch this year’s TIFF selections? It’s easy!

All 50 films, including the exciting titles I teased above, will play at one or more of TIFF’s in-person venues, or digitally via Chromecast and a new Bell-sponsored Digital Cinema platform (both geolocked to Canadian viewers). See below for this year’s official scaled-down list of theatres:

• TIFF Bell Lightbox
• RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place
• Visa Skyline Drive-In at CityView (my favourite!)
• West Island Open Air Cinema at Ontario Place

If you’re heading downtown for a screening, don’t forget your mask! In accordance with local Stage 3 reopening guidelines, theatre capacity is limited with strict physical distancing measures in place. Safety first, movie watching second!