LISA, Our Lady Peace, Darlene Love Will Be Featured in Music-Driven Films at TIFF 2026

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is returning for its 51st edition from Sept. 10 to 17.

For cinephiles who double as music fans, there's an array of movies to dive into — from a documentary following K-pop superstar LISA and a documentary chronicling singer Darlene Love’s acclaimed career to a film following an Our Lady Peace superfan to a feature documentary following three aspiring Indigenous hip-hop artists.

Below, seven music-themed films to catch at TIFF.

Always Lalisa

TIFF

K-pop global superstar LISA will give fans a rare look into the behind-the-scenes of her career in Always Lalisa. An intimate documentary tracing her journey as an artist, the film will make its world premiere at the festival. The Sue Kim-directed film highlights one year of the Billboard Canada cover star's career, including stories from LISA's early days of “childhood ambition” to her success with girl group BLACKPINK to her transformation into a solo act.

Learn more here.

Bleeding Hearts

TIFF

This real-life love story follows musicians Zella Day and Jesse Woods who create their collaborative alt-country band Chaparelle with producer Beau Bedford. Directed by Andrew Morgan, Bleeding Hearts will receive its world premiere next month. The film festival describes the film as “a documentary with as much drama as a season of Nashville,” a reference to the mid-2010s country music TV drama.

Learn more here.

Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been

TIFF

Canadian director and TIFF mainstay Barry Avrich will profile one of the most acclaimed soul singers in Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, which will receive its world premiere at the festival. The film will reportedly include interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Cher and Dionne Warwick, who will “sing the praises of an underappreciated musical icon in this high-spirited and warm-hearted portrait.”

Learn more here.

Gail

TIFF

One superfan of Canadian alt-rock band Our Lady Peace gets her time to shine in this music documentary titled Gail. With the tagline “more than a fan, less than a friend,” the Michael Maxxis-directed documentary follows the longtime listener throughout the band’s 30th anniversary tour. Gearing up for its world premiere at the festival, it’s set to feature an original score by Canadian composer Lesley Barber and orchestral arrangements by Eric Rosse.

Learn more here.

Turtle Island Rap

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Viva Carmen

The North American premiere of Sébastien Laudenbach’s Viva Carmen (Carmen, l'oiseau rebelle) is shaping up to be a colourful affair. Fusing an intimate approach of music and dance, the film is described as “a vibrant reframing” of French composer Georges Bizet’s famous opera through the lens of Sevillian street children who want to overturn the titular character’s tragic fate.

Learn more here.

Voices

Former NFL player Deantè Gray is making his directorial debut with Voices, described as “a striking Motown-infused 1960s period musical,” slated to have its international premiere at the festival. It follows a rising soul duo who overdose just hours before their big break, prompting a bellhop and his closest friends to try and seize the moment, but their plans don’t come to fruition as they envisioned.

Learn more here.

The full TIFF lineup and schedule will be revealed on Aug. 11.