What to know
- TIFF 2026 runs Sept. 10–20 with 293 titles, including a slate of music-focused films.
- Highlights include documentaries on Neil Peart, Darlene Love, BLACKPINK’s Lisa and The Pretenders.
- The lineup also features an unusual Our Lady Peace doc told through the eyes of a devoted fan.
The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from Sept. 10-20, features 293 titles, and a small portion of them, as usual, are music-related, mainly documentaries but also a couple where music is central to the plot.
This year, TIFF has documentaries about the late Rush drummer Neil Peart; Darlene Love, directed by Toronto’s own Barry Avrich; hot ticket Lisa of K-pop’s BLACKPINK and season 3 of The White Lotus; rock band The Pretenders and an unusual take on Our Lady Peace from the perspective of an excessively devoted fan.
Now Toronto combed through the schedule to highlight the music-related films. Tickets are on sale now on TIFF.net.
Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple
Directors: Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn
WORLD PREMIERE
Canada | 2026 | English
TIFF program: Special Presentations
Screenings: Wed., Sept. 16, 9:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 19, 9 p.m.
The Toronto filmmakers behind Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage return with a documentary about the late Rush drummer and lyricist. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are part of the film, along with some of the elite drummers who were influenced by Peart, including Stewart Copeland, Danny Carey, Chad Smith and Gavin Harrison. It’s both a portrait of the musician and a chance to revisit the playing that made him one of rock’s most revered drummers.
Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been
Director: Barry Avrich
WORLD PREMIERE
Canada | 2026 | 115m | English
TIFF program: TIFF Docs
Screenings: Sun., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.; Mon., Sept. 14, 1 p.m.; Tues., Sept. 15, 7:30p.m.; Thurs., Sept. 17, 8:40 a.m.; Sat., Sept. 19, 1:45 p.m.
Toronto filmmaker Barry Avrich profiles Darlene Love, whose biggest songs of the 60s include “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” “He’s a Rebel,” and “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” plus years of uncredited studio vocals. She became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2011 and is one of the most recognizable voices of her generation. Cher, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick and David Letterman all weigh in in the film.
Always Lalisa
Director: Sue Kim
WORLD PREMIERE
USA | 2026 | English
TIFF program: Gala Presentations
Screenings: Fri., Sept. 11, 9:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 12, 10:30 a.m.; Fri., Sept. 18, 9 a.m.; Sun., Sept. 20, 4:45 p.m.
BLACKPINK’s Lisa is profiled in Always Lalisa, which follows the Thai-born superstar as she steps further into her solo career. She’s already one of the biggest names in K-pop, but is expanding into acting and other areas of entertainment while continuing to perform as part of the massive girl group BLACKPINK.
Gail
Director: Michael Maxxis
WORLD PREMIERE
Canada | 2026 | 92m | English
TIFF program: TIFF Docs
Screenings: Sat., Sept. 12, 6:20 p.m.; Thurs., Sept. 17, 9:55 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 20, 12:30 p.m.
For three decades, Gail Lichtman has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and money to following Our Lady Peace. A unique perspective for a rock doc, Michael Maxxis focuses on her, as the Canadian rock band heads out on its 30th-anniversary tour. The film explores the human factor to fanaticism.
Pretenders
Director: Joss Crowley
WORLD PREMIERE
United Kingdom | 2026 | 107m | English
TIFF program: Gala Presentations
Screenings: Sun., Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m.; Tues., Sept. 15, 3 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 18, 2:15 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 19, 2:45 p.m.
Joss Crowley looks at rock singer Chrissie Hynde’s path from Ohio to London and the formation and evolution of the ironic rock band, using new interviews with Hynde alongside archival material. Five decades into her career, she remains one of rock’s most influential and coolest frontwomen.
Girl Group
Director: Rebel Wilson
WORLD PREMIERE
United Kingdom | 2026
TIFF program: Gala Presentations
Screenings: Fri., Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 12, 6:45 p.m.; Thurs., Sept. 17, 9:40 p.m.
Rebel Wilson follows up The Deb with another music-themed comedy, this time writing, directing and starring as a former pop star whose glory days are behind her. After being kicked off the reunion tour of her old girl group, she ends up doing community service and mentoring. The cast includes Jennifer Coolidge, Nicole Scherzinger, Melanie C, Ashley Roberts and Shaznay Lewis.
Bleeding Hearts
Director: Andrew Morgan
WORLD PREMIERE
USA | 2026 | English
TIFF program: TIFF Docs
Screenings: Thurs., Sept. 17, 3:20 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 18, 2 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 20, 7:35 p.m.
The different kind of doc examines couple singer-songwriter Zella Day and musician Jesse Woods, who form the alt country band Chaparelle with producer Beau Bedford. Onstage and off stage, how does this relationship work?
Congo Boy
Director: Rafiki Fariala
Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy | 2026 | 95m
TIFF program: Centrepiece
Seventeen-year-old Robert dreams of becoming a musician, but life in Bangui, Central African Republic, is tough. After his parents are imprisoned, he is left responsible for his four younger siblings while juggling school, odd jobs and his music.
Screening: Sun., Sept. 20, 10:15 a.m., Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 7.
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka
USA | 2026 | 122m | Japanese, English, Spanish
TIFF program: Centrepiece
Screenings: Tues., Sept. 15, 8:30 p.m., Royal Alexandra Theatre; Wed., Sept. 16, noon, Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 1.
Rinko Kikuchi stars as Haru, a Tokyo ballroom dancer whose world is turned upside down after the death of her husband and dance partner. When friends persuade her to return to the studio, she finds herself drawn to a new instructor.
The Violinist
Directors: Raul Garcia and Ervin Han
Singapore, Canada and other international co-production territories | 2026 | 114m
TIFF program: Centrepiece
As a reporter investigates an ageing violin legend and her treasured instrument, a story stretching across 80 years begins to emerge in this animated feature.
Screenings: Fri., Sept. 18, Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 10; Sun., Sept. 20, 4:25 p.m., Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 7.
