Toronto: Jodie Comer’s ‘Stuffed’ to Open Discovery Program
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Toronto has confirmed that the dark musical "Stuffed", starring Emmy winner Jodie Comer and Harry Melling, will open the festival's Discovery programme, alongside the reveal of the section's full 2026 line-up. The announcement gives the Discovery slate a strong debut-filmmaker focus, with numerous first-time directors receiving world or international premieres at the 51st edition of the festival.
Comer plays a taxidermist who forms an unlikely pact-turned-romance with a lonely volunteer, played by Melling, in the feature debut of writer-director Theo Rhys, co-written with Joss Holden-Rea. Other newly announced world premieres include David Turpin's Irish film "Ancestors" with Rupert Everett, Sung Kang's directorial debut "Drifter", Ghasideh Golmakani's Iranian satire "Head to Head", and Ulrike Tony Vahl's "Krux". The sidebar also features "Magazine" with Lily McInerny and Tom Nicoll's "Salvation", plus international premieres of "Bedford Park" and "Voices", alongside a broader 21-film Discovery slate drawn from countries including Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Spain and Ghana. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from 10 to 20 September 2026, with further programme announcements still to come.
- Jodie Comer's "Stuffed" will open Toronto's Discovery programme in September 2026
- Full 21-film Discovery slate revealed, heavy on debut directors
- Festival runs 10-20 September; more line-up announcements still expected
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Toronto's Discovery programme is a section of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) set aside for first- and second-time feature directors, giving newer filmmakers a platform alongside the festival's bigger-name premieres. TIFF has now announced that this year's Discovery slate will open with "Stuffed", a dark musical starring Jodie Comer and Harry Melling, marking the feature debut of writer-director Theo Rhys.
The 2026 Discovery line-up includes 21 films in total, many receiving their world or international premieres, with contributions from directors working in the UK, Ireland, Iran and elsewhere. Notable names attached include Rupert Everett in David Turpin's "Ancestors" and Sung Kang making his directorial debut with "Drifter".
The announcement matters as part of the build-up to the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from 10 to 20 September 2026. TIFF is one of the largest and most closely watched film festivals in the world, often serving as an early indicator of awards-season contenders, and further programme announcements are still expected before the festival begins.