Toronto International Film Festival unveiled the 10 World Premiere features that comprise the 2023 Platform program, opening with Kristoffer Borgli’s satire-comedy film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage.
The 2023 Platform jury members will be Academy Award–winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, joined by Cannes Jury Prize–winning director, writer, and actor Nadine Labaki, and 2022 Platform Prize–winning filmmaker Anthony Shim.
“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. “Together, they represent the bold and independent spirit of the Platform Prize.”
Platform is TIFF’s competitive program that champions bold directorial visions. The films selected for this year’s program hail from 12 countries across three continents, all of which will be making their World Premiere at TIFF.
“We are thrilled to present this year’s extraordinary films in the Platform program, 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,” said 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 Anthony 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), Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016), William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth (2016), and Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise (2015).
The Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 7–17, 2023.
2023 Platform Programme
Dear Jassi
Tarsem Singh Dhandwar | India
World Premiere
Platform Program – 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