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
Three Minutes – A Lengthening
Bianca Stigter
Netherlands/United Kingdom
Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace
Heather Hatch
Canada
Photo courtesy of TIFF