Our 15 Most-Expected Films Debuting at Venice, TIFF, and NYFF

      After showcasing the 50 must-see films set to hit theaters this fall, we shift our focus to festival-bound films that currently lack distribution or a confirmed release date for 2025. Examining selections from Venice, Toronto, the New York Film Festival, and others, we've compiled 15 titles we are eagerly anticipating in the coming weeks.

      Below, you will find our 15 most-anticipated festival premieres. Stay tuned for our reviews and any updates regarding their potential theater releases this fall by subscribing to our daily newsletter.

      **Back Home (Tsai Ming-liang; TIFF and NYFF)**

      Noted for his observational style that often immerses characters in genuine settings and allows external elements to influence the narrative, Tsai Ming-liang fluidly navigates between fiction and documentary like few others. His new film, Back Home, features Days star Anong Houngheuangsy in his homeland of Laos. At just 65 minutes, it offers a much-needed break from everyday life and the chance to explore a distant place through Tsai’s serene, unique lens. – Nick N.

      **The Christophers (Steven Soderbergh; TIFF)**

      The prolific Steven Soderbergh has already released two films this year: the formally engaging ghost story Presence and the excellent, tightly plotted spy thriller Black Bag. He is set to premiere his third film of the year, the comedy The Christophers, marking his fourth collaboration with writer Ed Solomon (No Sudden Move, Mosaic). Starring Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, Jessica Gunning, and James Corden, the film follows the children of a once-renowned artist who hire a forger to complete unfinished, abandoned works to secure their inheritance. – Jordan R.

      **Cover-Up (Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus; Venice, TIFF, and NYFF)**

      For filmmakers aiming to maintain secrecy until their project premieres, those in the documentary genre may find it somewhat easier, and Laura Poitras has succeeded once more. After her remarkable Golden Lion winner All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, she collaborates with Mark Obenhaus for Cover-Up, which delves into the work of fearless political reporter Seymour Hersh. This film arrives at a timely moment as scrutiny increases within the U.S. – Jordan R.

      **The Fence (Claire Denis; TIFF and NYFF)**

      While Claire Denis is without question one of the leading filmmakers today, her recent forays into English-language cinema have made new works feel somewhat less eventful. However, anticipation remains high for The Fence, which revisits racial tensions in Africa, featuring Denis regular Isaach de Bankolé as a local man confronted by a dubious construction manager (Matt Dillon) while searching for his deceased brother’s body. The initial nocturnal image of de Bankolé is sure to stir excitement among fans of her elegantly brutal films. With all else considered, The Fence might emerge as this fall's standout premiere; even if it's not Denis's best work, it will be treasured for providing a new Tindersticks soundtrack. – Nick N.

      **Duse (Pietro Marcello; Venice, TIFF, and NYFF)**

      Despite the rollout of his breakthrough film Martin Eden being disrupted by the pandemic, Pietro Marcello returned with the exquisite fable Scarlet. Now, he presents Duse, a drama starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as the iconic Italian actress Eleonora Duse. With Marcello’s expansive historical vision and grand filmmaking approach, this film is anticipated to be a distinctive biopic that avoids conventional pitfalls. – Jordan R.

      **Gavagai (Ulrich Kohler; NYFF)**

      An often underrated voice in global cinema, Ulrich Köhler (In My Room) is back with what promises to be a significant work. A metacinematic interpretation of Medea, it follows two actors (Jean-Christophe Folly and Maren Eggert) filming Euripides’s play in Senegal under the direction of an anxious filmmaker (Nathalie Richard), all while managing an offscreen affair. An unforeseen event at its Berlin premiere raises important questions about perspective and intention. As with Köhler's previous films, humor is expected to be part of the mix. – Nick N.

      **Girl (Shu Qi; Venice and TIFF)**

      The legendary Shu Qi, known for her collaborations with Hou Hsiao-hsien, returned to screens earlier this year in Bi Gan's Cannes premiere Resurrection, which will appear at several festivals before a Janus Films release. She has now completed her directorial debut, Girl, a coming-of-age narrative about friendship, set to premiere at Venice and TIFF. – Jordan R.

      **Late Fame (Kent Jones; Venice and NYFF)**

      For a certain generation of film lovers, Kent Jones's critiques and programming have long served as guiding stars. Since leaving the New York Film Festival in 2019, he has been mostly absent, and though he has