TIFF Discovery Opens Stuffed

TIFF’s Discovery program will open with Stuffed, a body-horror musical about a taxidermist and a lonely volunteer, marking Theo Rhys’s feature debut after his 2021 short gained awards. The film stars Jodie Comer and Harry Melling and expands the project with new music and lyrics by Joss Holden-Rea, premiering at the Toronto festival in 2026. The Discovery lineup also features 23 other world premieres, including David Turpin’s Ancestors about the AIDS crisis in 1980s London, Sung Kang’s directorial debut Drifter, and Iranian satire Head to Head, among others, underscoring TIFF’s emphasis on international and inventive voices. This year’s festival runs September 10–20, 2026, and TIFF executives highlight that the Discovery program has a storied history of launching future Hollywood talent, with past alums like Christopher Nolan and Alfonso Cuarón. Additional program highlights include various first looks and international premieres such as Bedford Park and Magazine, reflecting a diverse slate that pairs bold genre work with socially resonant dramas. The release of Stuffed’s key images and reception of early hype have helped position TIFF’s lineup as one of the year’s most anticipated festival premieres.