Seven co-productions selected for the Toronto International Film Festival

The 50th edition of North America’s leading film festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, takes place from September 4–14, 2025, and this year seven co-productions from Film i Väst have been selected. "The Last Viking" by Anders Thomas Jensen, "Eagles of the Republic" by Tarik Saleh, and "The Love That Remains" by Hlynur Pálmason have been selected for the Centrepiece section. "Un Poeta" by Simón Mesa Soto, "Sentimental Value" by Joachim Trier, "The Testament of Ann Lee" by Mona Fastvold, and "Palestine 36" by Annemarie Jacir—which will also have its world premiere at the festival—have been selected for the Special Presentations section.

Palestine 36

1936. As villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain’s 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

The Last Viking

"The Last Viking" is about Anker, who is released after 14 years in prison for robbery. Anker’s brother, Manfred, is the only one who knows where the money from the robbery is hidden. However, he has developed a mental illness that causes him to no longer remember where it is concealed. Together, the brothers embark on a surprising journey — not only to find the money but also to discover who they really are. "The Last Viking" is a humorous, clever, and unsettling fable about identity.

The Eagles of the Republic

In "Eagles of the Republic" Egypt’s most adored actor, George Fahmy (Fares Fares) is pressured to star in a film commissioned by the highest authorities. He reluctantly accepts the role and finds himself thrown into the inner circle of power. Like a moth drawn to the flame he begins an affair with the mysterious wife of the general overseeing the film.

The Love That Remains

"The Love That Remains" tenderly captures a year in the life of a family as parents navigate their separation. Through both playful and heartfelt moments, the film portrays the bittersweet essence of fading love and shared memories, set against the backdrop of the changing seasons.

Un Poeta

A dark comedy about promise, expectation & failure. After success in his early 20s, Óscar Restrepo's devotion to poetry has ended up taking him nowhere. Now in his 50s, estranged from his daughter and living with his mother, his life has succumbed to a cliché of unemployment, addiction, insanity and depression. Forced into a grade-school teaching job that he doesn't want, an unexpected opportunity to redeem himself arrives in the form of a remarkably talented teenage student. But, will introducing her into the sordid world of the poets only result in making her life as miserable as his own?

Sentimental Value

Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star. Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father — and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics.

The Testament of Ann Lee

"The Testament of Ann Lee" is an epic fable about Ann Lee, one of the founders of the American Shaker movement. She was depicted by her followers as the female Christ and played a key role in building one of the largest utopian communities in U.S. history. Lee is one of the rare female religious leaders of the 18th century, and her followers worshipped her through expressive song and dance.

Photo: Still from Palestine 36 / Hélène Louvart