Fall’s festival season is just around the corner and all the major festivals are slowly unveiling their lineups. The Toronto International Film Festival joined in the fun by announcing the Netflix drama The Swimmers as the opening film at the upcoming event.
Directed by the rising star Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil), the film draws inspiration from a true story of two young sisters who made their way to the 2016 Rio Olympics to compete in swimming after escaping Syria.
TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey described The Swimmers as an exciting, epic journey that marks the arrival of an important filmmaker, adding they’re thrilled to screen it at the festival.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling… I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honor everyone who risks everything to reach a better, safer life,” said Bailey.
The 2022 TIFF is taking place between September 8 and 18, with several highly anticipated films premiering at the festival. The lineup currently includes Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Billy Eichner’s Bros, and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans.
