TIFF unveils documentary lineup, Stanley Nelson’s “Attica” to open program

Documentaries about subjects ranging from the Attica prison riot to Kenny G make up the 2021 Toronto Toronto International Film Festival’s TIFF Docs program, unveiled Wednesday (Aug. 4) “As an audience-first ...

August 4, 2021

Documentaries about subjects ranging from the Attica prison riot to Kenny G make up the 2021 Toronto Toronto International Film Festival’s TIFF Docs program, unveiled Wednesday (Aug. 4)

“As an audience-first film festival, mesmerizing film lovers with boundary-pushing stories is pivotal,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s artistic director and co-head in a release. “It’s exciting that even in this exceptional time in our industry, we’re able to bring such thought-provoking selections to these coveted TIFF programs.”

The opening night film for TIFF Docs will be the world premiere of Attica (pictured) from director Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders, The Murder of Emmett Till), about the five-day prison revolt in New York in 1971 that remains America’s largest and deadliest prison riot.

Also screening as part of TIFF Docs is Becoming Cousteau from Liz Garbus (Who Killed Garrett Phillips?, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark), a glimpse into the archives of the iconic undersea explorer, and Becoming Kenny G, Penny Lane‘s witty and provocative look at the easy-listening saxophonist, which is part of Bill Simmons’ new Music Box documentary strand with HBO.

Here’s the full lineup for the TIFF Docs program:

Attica
Stanley Nelson
USA

Beba
Rebecca Huntt
USA/Mexico

Becoming Cousteau
Liz Garbus
USA

Burning
Eva Orner
Australia

Comala
Gian Cassini
Mexico

The Devil’s Drivers
Mohammed Abugeth, Daniel Carsenty
Qatar/France/Lebanon/Germany

Flee
Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Denmark/France/Sweden/Norway

Hold Your Fire
Stefan Forbes
USA

Listening to Kenny G
Penny Lane
USA

Oscar Peterson: Black + White
Barry Avrich
Canada

The Rescue
E. Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
USA/United Kingdom