TIFF's Primetime Programme Features Debuts from Kit Steinkellner, Daniel Syrkin, Eric Khoo, and More

The Toronto International Film Festival® Primetime programme revealed its lineup of five bold series with representation from six countries across the globe: France, the United States, Israel, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. In its fourth year, the programme continues its momentum with leading-edge work by Kit Steinkellner, Daniel Syrkin, Eric Khoo, and Eli Horowitz, Micah Bloomberg & Sam Esmail.

"Cinematic television has provided a new lane for the consumer's experience of cinematic art," said Michael Lerman, Primetime Programmer at TIFF. "These series not only push the boundaries of what can be presented, but also demonstrate how it can transcend culture, visual arts, and communications."

This year's lineup features Amazon Studios' World Premiere of Homecoming, starring Julia Roberts. Based on the podcast by creators and showrunners Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, the series is a gripping psychological thriller that uncovers the truth behind a military reintegration facility's questionable motives. Also featured is Thomas Cailley's sci-fi series Ad Vitam, about a collective suicide masterminded by seven teenagers that occurs after the world's longest-living human being turns 169 years old. Threatened by humanity's efforts to extinguish death and aging, a rebellion rises against regeneration technology, leaving many to question the meaning of life and immortality.

Despair and deceit are also examined in 2018's Primetime selections with Facebook Watch's newest series, Sorry For Your Loss. From creator Kit Steinkellner and director James Ponsoldt, the show explores the life of a young widow as she grieves the loss of her husband while being forced to deal with the truth of her past.

Adding vast global appeal to this lineup, Eric Khoo's Folklore: A Mother's Love & Pob is a six-part, modernized horror anthology series directed by six Asian directors, including Joko Anwar and Pen-ek Ratanaruang. The series will be rooted in superstitions and mythologies from each director's respective country and will be presented in the local language of the country the episode is based in. Daniel Syrkin's comedy Stockholm brings four friends together as they cover up the death of their friend, who was nominated for a Nobel Prize.

The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.

Series screening as part of the Primetime programme include:

Ad Vitam France, 2 episodes Director: Thomas Cailley International Premiere

Folklore: A Mother's Love & Pob Indonesia/Thailand/Singapore, 2 episodes Showrunner: Eric Khoo
Directors: Joko Anwar, Pen-ek Ratanaruang
World Premiere

Homecoming USA, 4 episodes
Creators: Eli Horowitz, Micah Bloomberg Director: Sam Esmail
World Premiere

Sorry For Your Loss USA, 4 episodes
Showrunner: Lizzy Weiss
Creator: Kit Steinkellner
Directors: James Ponsoldt, Jessica Yu, Allison Anders World Premiere

Stockholm Israel, 4 episodes Writer: Noa Yedlin
Director: Daniel Syrkin International Premiere

For film synopses, cast lists, images, and more information, see tiff.net/primetime.

Festival tickets go on sale September 3 at 10am (TIFF Member pre-sale September 1 from 10am to 4pm). Buy tickets online at tiff.net, by phone at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets.

About TIFF

TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

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