Some of the top documentary filmmakers in the world soon will be packing their bags for Toronto, preparing for a curtain call at one of the world’s most important cinematic events.
The 51st edition of the Toronto Film Festival again features a dynamic roster of documentaries, ranging from Oscar winner Alex Gibney’s anticipated film on Elon Musk to two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple’s examination of the union movement in New York City (where democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who built his mayoral campaign in part around labor rights and the needs of the working class, now serves as chief).
On the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, we welcome TIFF Docs programmer Thom Powers for a conversation about the festival’s nonfiction lineup. He tells us about a slate of world premieres that includes the intriguingly titled The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs, directed by Èlia Gasull Balada and Matteo Norz. That film looks at the remarkable career of Indigenous artist Sara Flores, who has become a sensation in her 70s, “traveling from her home in the Peruvian Amazon to be feted in galleries worldwide.”
Powers tells us how Tehran, Under the Skin, a world premiere documentary directed by Afsaneh Salari, reveals a fascinating reality about contemporary Iranian society. He also gives us insight into Edward Said: Between Worlds, a film about the celebrated Palestinian-born scholar and activist that arrives at a time when conflict and bloodshed in Palestine, Israel and the broader Middle East dominate the news cycle.
The TIFF documentary slate abounds in high-profile projects across many sections, from TIFF Docs to Galas and Special Presentations. Powers argues that Rapinoe, Rebeca Huntt’s feature on the world-famous women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe, defies expectations of the “celebrity documentary.” He also highlights the world premiere of Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, a film about the under-appreciated musical icon whose praises are sung by Bruce Springsteen, Cher and Dionne Warwick. (That’s from director Barry Avrich, who stirred controversy last year at TIFF with a documentary that was invited to premiere at the festival, then disinvited, then reinvited).
Powers also explains why Low Lies the Land and Rescue, two world premieres in the TIFF Docs program, make his list of must-see recommendations.
That’s on the new episode of Doc Talk hosted by Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley) and Matt Carey, Deadline’s senior documentary editor. The pod is a production of Deadline and Ridley’s Nō Studios.
Listen to the episode above or on major podcast platforms including Spotify, iHeart and Apple.
