Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is now officially underway!
If there’s one thing you can always expect, it’s that you’re sure to see some fantastic documentary features throughout the festival. Luckily, this year is no different! TIFF has us covered with a slew of documentary feature films to watch during what’s sure to be a great 10 days.
The docs span a variety of topics, and you’re sure to find at least one (if not more) that you’ll want to grab a ticket for.
Without further ado, here are 10 documentary feature films you should consider taking in at TIFF 2026.
Always Lalisa
Directed by Sue Kim | USA | World Premiere | Gala Presentations
Given Lisa’s global recognition, it’s no surprise that a documentary was made about her. As part of the girl group BLACKPINK, Lisa reached superstar status. Sue Kim’s documentary follows the musical artist’s journey from her first milestones, such as dance competitions, to her breakout K-Pop stardom as she creates her own label and breaks into the Western market. Always Lalisa focuses on this journey over the course of a year, combining behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and performances to showcase Lisa’s tenacity and work ethic as an artist.
Showtimes:
- Friday, September 11 at 9:30pm
- Saturday, September 12 at 10:30am
- Friday, September 18 at 9:00am
- Sunday, September 20 at 4:45pm
Cheyenne
Directed by Taimi Arvidson | USA | World Premiere | TIFF Docs
Following a group of cowgirls who ride wild broncos after nearly a century of exclusion because of their gender, Taimi Arvidson’s documentary is a daring look into the lives of four fearless women. Ally, Bee, Brooke, and Lake all enter the arena for very different reasons, and over several months, the doc showcases them on the circuit as they try to win the sought after spot on the showdown known as the Daddy of ’em All: Cheyenne Frontier Days. Combining the action of the rodeo arena and the quiet moments where the quartet enjoy each other’s friendship, Cheyenne is an impressive look at a largely unseen world.
Showtimes:
- Sunday, September 13 at 12:15pm
- Tuesday, September 15 at 3:30pm
- Sunday, September 20 at 1:05pm
Edward Said: Between Worlds
Directed by Maiken Baird | USA | World Premiere | TIFF Docs
Viewers will have the chance to reengage with Edward Said’s voice in Maiken Baird’s documentary. The world lost one of its most intricate thinkers when Said passed away from leukemia in 20o3. Born in Palestine in 1935, his life was marked by conflict and being uprooted, specifically the Nakba in 1948. Alongside Palestinian-American producers Sarah Mowaswes and Razan Ghalayini, and Said’s daughter Najla, Edward Said: Between Two Worlds brings together interviews, other documentaries, and public talks that showcase all of facets of Said.
Showtimes:
- Saturday, September 12 at 6:10pm
- Sunday, September 13 at 8:50pm
- Sunday, September 20 at 1:15pm
Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story
Directed by Adrian Buitenhuis | Canada | World Premiere | Gala Presentations
Taking us back to the disability rights movement, Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story weaves activism and athleticism. For those who don’t know, Rick Hansen grew up playing sports. However, a car accident at the age of 15 paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen was the first student with a disability to graduate from the University of British Columbia with a degree in physical education, and went on to win six Paralympic medals in wheelchair racing. Inspired by Terry Fox’s Marathon on Hope, Hansen began the Man in Motion Tour. Over 26 months, Hansen spanning 34 countries and going 40,075 km in his wheelchair, raising $26 million. Combining original interviews, audio recordings, and archival material, audiences will get an in-depth view into Hansen’s life and journey.
Showtimes:
- Friday, September 11 at 1:30pm
- Saturday, September 12 at 11:15am
- Saturday, September 19 at 9:30am
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
Directed by William Greaves, David Greaves | USA | Canadian Premiere | Wavelengths
In August 1972, iconic filmmaker William Greaves had a gathering of luminaries from the Harlem Renaissance at Duke Ellington’s house. 50 years later, completed by Greaves’ son, David, that get-together can be seen on the big screen in Once Upon a Time in Harlem. The conversations flow effortlessly and candidly, holding a bit of everything: humour, insight, and legacy.
Showtimes:
- Tuesday, September 15 at 6:20pm
- Wednesday, September 16 at 10:00am
Rehearsals For a Revolution
Directed by Pegah Ahangarani | Czech Republic, Spain | Canadian Premiere | Centrepiece
Pegah Ahangarani is a celebrated Iranian actor, and she comes to TIFF with her first feature – a documentary that balances the personal and the political. In five chapters, the film confronts monumental turning points in Iran’s history. The winner of Cannes’ L’Œil d’Or documentary prize, Ahangarani’s Rehearsals For a Revolution should be on your watchlist this TIFF.
Showtimes:
- Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00pm
- Thursday, September 17 at 9:00pm
- Saturday, September 19 at 5:50pm
Re/Pair
Directed by Lacey Schwartz Delgado | USA | World Premiere | TIFF Docs
Black and Jewish personalities from across various platforms and walks of life come together in Lacey Schwartz Delgado’s Re/Pair to discuss the crisis in the relationship between Black and Jewish communities. The conversations are intentional and interwoven into discourse consisting of various historical moments, polarizing debates about Israel and Palestine, and much more, the documentary shows the power of dialogue and open conversation as a way to reinforce and rebuild community bonds.
Showtimes:
- Monday, September 14 at 3:45pm
- Wednesday, September 16 at 9:55pm
- Friday, September 18 at 9:00pm
Rescue
Directed by Sine Plambech | Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Sweden | World Premiere | TIFF Docs
Hani is in search of his wife, Roro, and their two children after they were abducted by a militia on the Mediterranean Sea. Having caught some of the melee, director Sine Plambech continues to film over the next several months as the militia holds hostages for ransom and the European Union (EU) sends billions of Euros to various North African countries in an attempt to stop migration. Rescue depicts the perilous journeys that many migrants face in search of a better life, while focusing on Hani’s hope that he will be able to reunite with his wife and their children.
Showtimes:
- Tuesday, September 15 at 12:15pm
- Thursday, September 17 at 6:15pm
Run Terry Run
Directed by Sean Menard | Canada | Gala Presentations
Every Canadian knows knows Terry Fox and learned about his run across the country. Having lost his leg to osteosarcoma, Fox began his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness and funds for cancer research on April 12, 1980. Beginning his journey in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Fox made it all the way to Thunder Bay, Ontario, before the spread of cancer forced him to stop. Every year since his passing, the Terry Fox Run honours his enduring legacy and hope. Sean Menard’s Run Terry Run, includes material that the Fox family gave to Menard so that audiences could really get to know Terry beyond his courageous run.
Showtimes:
- Sunday, September 13 at 3:25pm
- Saturday, September 19 at 4:15pm
- Sunday, September 20 at 10:00am
The Final Act
Directed by Sophie Deraspe | Canada | World Premiere | TIFF Docs
Sophie Deraspe’s documentary focuses on the growing access to medically assisted dying and both the philosophical and ethical questions that arise. The Final Act allows viewers into the lives and final moments of various people who have made the decision to have medically assisted deaths. While it is surely a difficult watch, Deraspe’s documentary is an important one that must be seen.
Showtimes:
- Sunday, September 13 at 11:00am
- Tuesday, September 15 at 3:15pm
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