TIFF Lineup: Pam Anderson’s ‘Last Showgirl,’ Ben and J. Lo Project ‘Unstoppable,’ Papal Thriller ‘Conclave’ and More

The Toronto International Film Festival is bringing back the star power after last year’s Hollywood labor strikes led to a drought of household names at the annual gathering.

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Projects from Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Riz Ahmed, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and more will see world premieres in Toronto come September, as well as key awards contenders like Edward Berger’s “Conclave” and Sean Baker’s “Anora.”

In the special presentations section, Gia Coppola will deliver her anticipated drama “The Last Showgirl” starring Anderson. The “Baywatch” star plays a dancer who, after her long-running Las Vegas revue is abruptly canceled, is forced to reconcile with her failures and find a path forward. The film screened as a work-in-progress for potential buyers in Cannes this May, and will no doubt be one of the highest-profile sales titles at the market surrounding TIFF this year.

“Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe,” about the iconic Italian tenor, will also run at the fest. It joins the previously announced music doc “Elton John: Never Too Late.” The nonfiction selection is rounded out by the anticipated “Piece by Piece,” director Morgan Neville’s animated telling of the life and work of Pharrell Williams through Lego figures; as well as “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band,” in which the boss narrates an evocative look at his band’s career.

Narrative world premieres include “Unstoppable,” about a wrestling champ born without his right leg and raised in an abusive household, starring Jharrel Jerome and Lopez and produced by Damon and Affleck; “Hard Truths,” the latest from Mike Leigh and a reunion with his “Secrets & Lies” star Marianne Jean-Baptiste; and Ron Howard’s starry ensemble “Eden” with Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby and Jude Law. Tony Hale (“Veep”) will be in town with “Sketch,” about a single dad reeling from the loss of his wife when his daughter’s darkly comic drawings come to life and wreak havoc on their small town.

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Director John Crowley (“Brooklyn,” “Boy A”) will bring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield together for A24’s romantic drama “We Live in Time.” Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Ann Dowd and Constance Wu will take the screen with “The Friend,” from directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and Ed Burns’ “Millers in Marriage” starring Julianna Margulies will have its debut.

Awards hopefuls like Jacques Audiard’s Cannes-winning “Emilia Perez,” Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada,” the critically acclaimed “All We Imagine as Light,” Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here,” Samuel L. Jackson’s “The Piano Lesson” and Angelina Jolie’s “Without Blood” will all screen.

For the first time, festival programmers are offering up insights over their selection. Watch the reel from TIFF below. This year’s festival will take place from Sept. 5-15.

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