“Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs” Anchors TIFF’s Summer Programming With Multiple Screenings Of All 12 of Nolan’s Directed Features
TIFF invites audiences to explore time, dreams, and bold new worlds through two upcoming marquee series at TIFF Lightbox: Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs (July 8–August 20) presented by Air France, and a fall anime series titled Drawn Universes: Visions in Animation guest-curated by acclaimed Japanese director Masaaki Yuasa. Presented ahead of this summer’s premiere of The Odyssey, the Nolan retrospective celebrates the Oscar-winning, self-taught filmmaker with screenings of his work, exclusively on 35mm and 70mm film.
Nolan made his directorial debut with Following in the Discovery section at TIFF ’98, and he last returned for TIFF ’17 with a special screening of Dunkirk in celebration of IMAX’s 50th anniversary. To launch the TIFF series, The Ringer and Spotify’s The Big Picture will host a live recording of their podcast at TIFF Lightbox with Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, marking the first time an episode will be recorded in Canada.
“The marquee series at TIFF Lightbox was envisioned to present big artists and ideas that capture and shape popular imagination,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “Christopher Nolan is one of the most influential voices in contemporary cinema today where each new film is a cultural event, while anime continues to explode as an art force shaping global entertainment across mediums. These programmes offer audiences of all ages a compelling look at the scale, creativity, and innovation that define film today.”
“We’ve enjoyed many hours of lively conversation around Christopher Nolan’s films, so we’re thrilled to join TIFF for this summer’s series,” said Fennessey and Dobbins. “We can’t wait to bring our show to Canada for the first time to record a very special episode and screen one of our Nolan faves, Tenet, for Toronto movie lovers.”
INTERSTELLAR
Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs
July 8–Aug 20, Presented by Air France
Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs anchors TIFF’s summer programming with multiple screenings of all 12 of Nolan’s directed features, including many presented in stunning 70mm in Cinema 1, the Lightbox’s largest and most technically advanced cinema. Alongside the films, TIFF’s marquee series features a lineup of special guests and events, beginning with The Big Picture’s live podcast recording on July 8, followed by a deep dive on Tenet (July 9) with co-hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins.
Additional programming includes a Silver Screenings presentation of The Right Stuff (July 24), a film Nolan cited as one of his favourites, preceded by an in‑cinema talk from a space exploration expert along with a free pop‑up planetarium activation in the Lightbox atrium, which will also be available ahead of each screening of Interstellar; these events are all presented in partnership with Space Place Canada and Astronomy in Action. A Quote Along screening of Barbie will take place directly before Oppenheimer (July 18) as a playful nod to the Summer of 2023’s “Barbenheimer.” Rounding out the lineup is the free and interactive Introduction to Film Formats event (July 12), which will explore the art and craft of analogue film, programmed in collaboration with IMAX. For more information, visit tiff.net/nolan.
Nolan Films & Events:
July 8, 7pm: The Big Picture: Live from TIFF Lightbox
July 9, 7pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm, with Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
July 10, 6:30pm: Memento (2000) in 35mm
July 11, 4pm: Following (1998) in 35mm with guest Adam Nayman
July 12, 3pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
July 14, 6pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm
July 16, 6pm: The Prestige (2006) in 35mm with Scott Hammell, magician and stunt artist
July 17, 6pm: Following (1998) in 35mm
July 18, 4pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
July 19, 3pm: Memento (2000) in 35mm
July 19, 7pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm
July 22, 7pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
July 25, 3pm: Inception (2010) in 35mm, with a pre-screening discussion with Nolan author and journalist Dan Jolin
July 26, 3pm: The Prestige (2006) in 35mm
July 28, 6:30pm: Insomnia (2002) in 35mm
July 31, 6pm: Batman Begins (2005) in 35mm
August 1, 6pm: The Dark Knight (2008) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Academy Award–winning sound designer Richard King
August 2, 6pm: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
August 6, 6:30pm: Inception (2010) in 35mm
August 7, 6:30pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
August 8, 3pm: Batman Begins (2005) in 35mm
August 9, 4pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
August 12, 6pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
August 14: 6pm: Insomnia (2002) in 35mm
August 15, 3:30pm: The Dark Knight (2008) in 35mm, recorded introduction by Academy Award–winning sound designer Richard King
August 15, 8pm: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
August 16, 4pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
August 18, 7:30pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
August 20, 5:30pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm preceded by Nolan Trivia, presented by Air France
Tickets for Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs July programming will be available for TIFF Members on Thursday, June 11 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, June 12. Tickets for August programming will be available for TIFF Members on Thursday, July 16 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, July 17. To learn more, visit tiff.net/join.
