Having already announced documentary as well as gala and special presentation lineups, TIFF now unveils 10 world premiering films selected for this year’s Platform program. The 2023 Platform jury is also revealed today, consisting of of Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, Cannes Jury Prize-winning director, writer, and actor Nadine Labaki and Anthony Shim, whose 2022 film Riceboy Sleeps won the Platform Prize last year.

The Platform Prize—consisting of $20,000 CAD—is given to the best film as selected by the jury. Notable past recipients of the Platform Prize also include Hany Abu-Assad’s Huda’s Salon (2021), Kamila Andini’s Yuni (2021), Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal (2019), Alice Winocour’s Proxima (2019), Kazik Radwanski’s Anne at 13,000 Ft. (2019), Sarah Gavron’s Rocks (2019), Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin (2017), Pablo Larraín’s Jackie (2016), Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016), William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth (2016) and Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise (2015).

Dream Scenario, the Nicolas Cage-starring A24 feature from Sick of Myself director Kristoffer Borgli, will open the 2023 Platform program.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s extraordinary films in the Platform programme, and especially delighted to present Kristoffer Borgli’s latest film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, as Platform’s opening film,” said Robyn Citizen, Director, Programming & Platform Lead. “This surrealist satire-comedy has sharp, timely observations about social media culture — especially ‘going viral’ — and its impact on the way that we interact with others in our day-to-day life. Cage delivers some of his finest work. This year’s diverse selection is distinguished by bold character studies and classic stories told through dynamic narrative and genre approaches. Audiences will witness the emergence of thematic threads like social exile and reconnection, woven in unexpectedly thrilling ways by an array of captivating local and international voices.”

Find the full Platform slate below, featuring films from 12 countries across three continents.

Dear Jassi Tarsem Singh Dhandwar | India
World Premiere

Platform Programme – Opening Night Film
Dream Scenario Kristoffer Borgli | USA
World Premiere

Great Absence Kei Chika-ura | Japan
World Premiere

I Told You So (Te l’avevo detto) Ginevra Elkann | Italy
World Premiere

The King Tide Christian Sparkes | Canada
World Premiere

Not A Word (Kein Wort) Hanna Slak | Germany/Slovenia/France
World Premiere

The Rye Horn (O Corno) Jaione Camborda | Spain/Belgium/Portugal
World Premiere

Sisterhood (HLM Pussy) Nora El Hourch | France
World Premiere

Shame on Dry Land (Syndabocken) Axel Petersén | Sweden
World Premiere

Spirit of Ecstasy (La Vénus d’argent) Héléna Klotz | France
World Premiere