The Zellners’ Starry Sci-Fi ‘Alpha Gang,’ Mahershala Ali in ‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Set for TIFF Special Presentations

The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival is coming into focus, with the first films and opening night (Siân Heder’s “CODA” follow-up “Being Heumann”) announced just last week.

On Thursday, the festival shared five additional films that will screen as part of this year’s Special Presentations program, with more titles to be announced starting next week. Celebrated filmmakers Rachel Morrison, Benjamín Naishtat, Ben Shirinian, Bassam Tariq, plus David and Nathan Zellner all feature in the Special Presentations section. The 51st edition of TIFF will take place September 10-20.

“Each year, we strive to curate a selection of films that feels most relevant to the moment with the power to spark a rich dialogue with our public audience, and these Special Presentations titles are true reflections of that,” said Anita Lee, chief programming officer, TIFF in an official statement. “From debut directors to the most anticipated sophomore films of the year to vanguard voices, this group of films showcase the authenticity, the unexpected, and the ambition of cinema now. They are sure to be among the festival’s most talked-about titles, captivating audiences and generating buzz long after the credits roll.”

Among the selection, the aliens-among-us science-fiction film “Alpha Gang” is the latest from David Zellner and Nathan Zellner (“Sasquatch Sunset,” “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter”), and stars Riley Keough, Cate Blanchett, Dave Bautista, Chris Pine, Lily-Rose Depp, and more, in a story of aliens on Earth who start to develop human-centric feelings. “Alpha Gang” is billed as an international premiere, meaning we’re likely to see it at Telluride rather than Venice first.

Argentine filmmaker Benjamín Naishtat (“History of Fear,” “Puan”) returns with the world premiere of “Glaxo.” Set between the 1950s and ’80s, the film tells the story of four male friends whose lives are shattered by the arrival of a policeman and his wife in their small working-class town.

Rachel Morrison’s world premiere of “Love of Your Life” will bring Margaret Qualley and Patrick Schwarzenegger to TIFF for a romantic drama, co-starring Aaron Pierre, Gabriel Basso, and Catherine Keener. Morrison is the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of “Mudbound” and two years ago directed the sports drama “The Fire Inside,” also in TIFF Special Presentations.

Ben Shirinian’s world premiere of “The Housewife” stars Naomi Watts, Tye Sheridan, Michael Imperioli, and Luke Evans; the fact-based tale is set in 1964 and follows Sheridan as a New York Times journalist investigating a former Nazi officer living in Queens. As he gets closer to the truth, he forms an unexpected bond with the suspect’s wife.

Finally, “Mogul Mowgli” director Bassam Tariq gets a feature off the ground after a year lost to Marvel’s beleaguered “Blade,” also with Mahershala Ali. The actioner “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother” stars Ali as a devoutly religious hitman traversing Houston, Texas, to protect his family. John Cho, Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Giancarlo Esposito also star, with Orion Pictures opening the movie starting September 25.

More TIFF films will be announced in the coming days.