The 2026 TIFF website is wonderfully navigable and an engaging entertainment all of its own if, instead of browsing a daunting and still growing list of films (385 at last count), you filter your search.
You can do so in a number of ways. You can pick among the 18 program categories the films are grouped in (things like TIFF Classics, Short Cuts, Midnight Madness and Unhidden Gems, for example). Or, as we did, you can select from an impressive list of genre keywords: from 2slgbtq+, Aboriginal+Indigenous, and Action+Adventure, to Sports, War, and Western.
(“Canadian”, by the way, isn’t one of the genres. Instead, all films with Canadian credentials sport a maple leaf next to their titles. We counted 41.)
Music and Musicals were the two categories we selected as our initial filters, and our search yielded 19 movies (out of 244 when we did our search) that, for a whole range of reasons, were deemed worthy of “musical” designation. With the assistance of the photos, trailers and descriptions accompanying each title, we’ve winnowed that list of nineteen down to nine. These are not necessarily your “top nine” - but as a group they’re representative of the beauty and richness of what can happen when these two mighty art forms share the bed.
The descriptions that follow, edited down, are directly from the TIFF website.
Congo Boy
Rafiki Fariala
The film draws upon the director’s own experience as a displaced Congolese finding purpose in art. Featuring a rousing performance from newcomer Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset, Congo Boy is about forging a path for yourself while never forgetting where you came from.
Adrien Lallau’s handheld camera generates an immediacy, while César Simonot’s editing establishes the film’s singular rhythms in tandem with Robert’s rapping, which is where this inspiring film reveals its colossal heart.
Gail
Michael Maxxis
WORLD PREMIERE
The titular character of Michael Maxxis’ documentary is a New York City subway station agent from the Bronx who, in her free time, is a dedicated superfan of the Canadian band Our Lady Peace. … an unconventional music doc, music is a key component. With an original score by Canadian composer Lesley Barber (Bonjour Tristesse, TIFF ’24) and orchestral arrangements by Eric Rosse (who produced Tori Amos’ groundbreaking album Little Earthquakes), music amplifies the dynamic soundscape of Gail’s Our Lady Peace experience. A raw and resolute look at how music can impact one person.
Neil Peart: No One's Disciple
Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn
If the surest means of determining the talent of the musician behind the kit is the number of air drummers in a packed arena, then no one matched Neil Peart. During his four-decade tenure with Canadian power trio Rush, Peart continually astonished and thrilled both fans and fellow drummers … The remembrances and anecdotes of the musicians and other intimates help fill out the portrait that Dunn creates via archival interviews and other footage.
The Violinist / La Violinista
Ervin Han, Raúl García
A journalist’s curiosity over the story behind a virtuoso’s violin unearths the melodic tale of Fei and Kai, two children drawn close at the cusp of WWII through music while surviving the turbulent historical changes happening in Singapore. … The Violinist is a treat for the ears. Its recurring original theme music stands out even among the great classics, lingering far beyond the credits. It’s no surprise the film was awarded best original soundtrack at the Annecy Animation Film Festival, as well as the Cristal, the highest honour, for best feature film. …This rare animation from Singapore is also a rare exploration of the nation’s wartime past.
Turtle Island Rap
Alexandra Lazarowich
Documentary filmmaker Alexandra Lazarowich’s feature debut following her acclaimed short film Fast Horse. “The bumpy road to success … the journey of three young Indigenous artists, Wiidaaseh, A$h Da Hunter, and Travis Thompson, from the hustle to the stage. In cinema verité style, the hard-won triumphs and trials are seen as their individual journeys are taken with warmth and humour, even when things are tough. Each artist is incredibly candid, sharing their family issues, disappointments and more, surrounded by their support networks and communities.
Stuffed
Theo Rhys
Love, death, and taxidermy collide in this gloriously twisted musical, one of the year’s funniest, most original, and unexpectedly heartfelt romances. Love and desire can make us do the strangest things. Stuffed gleefully asks just how far we’re willing to go.
Co-writer and composer Joss Holden-Rea's wonderfully idiosyncratic songs weave seamlessly into the narrative, creating a musical language as bold and adventurous as the film itself.
Bursting with gothic invention, Stuffed seems destined for cult status.
Viva Carmen / Carmen, l'oiseau rebelle
Sébastien Laudenbach
A vibrant reframing of Bizet’s famous opera through the lens of a pack of Sevillian street children who are determined to subvert Carmen’s tragic fate. With an intimate approach to music and bold brushstrokes that dance, this animated feature sings brightly. …
With a notable absence of the opera’s full musical numbers, the score — composed by Amine Bouhafa and the director’s sister Isabelle Laudenbach — interpolates Bizet’s patterns to craft a minimalist composition …
And finally, a cautionary note: the genre filter works remarkably well, but it’s by no means perfect. Here are two others that certainly fit the “music and musicals” bill.
Below
Jesse McKeown
WORLD PREMIERE
A six-episode thriller series created by Canadian screenwriter Jesse McKeown that is the opening program for TIFF’s Primetime programming category.
Something monstrous lurks off the coast in this suspenseful, Newfoundland-set limited series … Below strikes a rich balance between the warmth of a close-knit family, steeped in tradition and the genuine love of a place, with the chilly depths of marine monstrousness. As the times change around them, the locals know one thing always remains true: the sea holds many mysteries and is very, very deep. Below features an original score by Canadian composer Mark Korven, who is known for raw, eerie, and organic horror soundscapes based on the sounds of acoustic instruments.
Everything Else is Noise / Lo demás es ruido
Nicolás Pereda
A chamber piece (pun intended?), grounded in a trio of women classical composers and musicians. For her interview with a local Mexico City television channel, Rosa (Rosa Estela Juárez Vargas) has asked to use the cozy, plant-filled apartment of her friend Teresa (Teresita Sánchez) as a backdrop. Everything Else is Noise incisively skewers gender biases in the creative fields while exploring the blurred line between reality and performance, as well as the refusal to conform to expectations — be it as a mother, a daughter, or an artist.
MJ Buell is a long-time member of the WholeNote core team and an occasional writer.
