Day four of TIFF 2026 landed on Sunday, September 13, and it was one of the festival’s busiest days yet, packed with star power, a major world premiere, and a Tribute Awards gala honoring one of cinema’s greats.
Prima Facie World Premieres at Roy Thomson Hall
The day’s biggest moment belonged to Prima Facie, which held its world premiere at Roy Thomson Hall at 5:45 p.m. Directed by Susanna White and adapted by Suzie Miller from her own acclaimed stage play, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as a formidable defence barrister whose relationship with the justice system is upended after she is sexually assaulted by a colleague. The film also features Daniel Ings, Simon Russell Beale, Elizabeth Dulau, and Noma Dumezweni.
The crowd rewarded Erivo and the filmmakers with a standing ovation following the screening, and the film is already being talked about as one of the hottest sales titles at this year’s market.
Other Day 4 Highlights
- Josephine had its Canadian premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre at 1 p.m.
- The TIFF Tribute Awards gala took place at the Fairmont Royal York, honoring Penélope Cruz among this year’s recipients.
- Other major titles making noise on Day 4 included The Debut, The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd, and Alpha Gang.
- Stars spotted around the festival included Cynthia Erivo, Javier Bardem, Amanda Seyfried, Channing Tatum, Julianne Moore, and Lily-Rose Depp.
With warm afternoon temperatures around 26°C and a chance of showers, it was a fittingly dramatic backdrop for one of TIFF’s biggest days so far.