The film Steve, directed by Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy, has been chosen to open the Platform program at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), organizers announced Monday. This announcement marks the first public recognition of the festival’s upcoming lineup, highlighting one of Murphy’s key projects following his acclaimed work in Oppenheimer.
Highlighting Emerging Talent in TIFF’s Platform Program
The Platform section at TIFF focuses on showcasing promising filmmakers early in their careers, selecting 10 films annually for competition. For 2025, alongside Steve, nine other films will contend for the Platform Award, which includes a $20,000 CAD prize awarded to a standout entry by a small jury. This year’s jury is chaired by Carlos Marqués-Marcet, the previous year’s winner for They Will Be Dust, and includes Oscar-nominated actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste and director Chloé Robichaud, both of whom have strong connections to TIFF and cinema.
New Collaborations and Film Premieres Led by Cillian Murphy
Steve signifies Murphy’s second feature film following the success of Oppenheimer, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film is penned by Max Porter, adapting his book Shy. Murphy’s collaboration with director Tim Mielants continues after their work on the 2024 film Small Things Like These and the third season of the television series Peaky Blinders, where Mielants directed all episodes. The film is expected to draw significant attention at the festival, offering audiences a further glimpse at Murphy’s expanding career outside mainstream blockbusters.
Diverse Global Films Competing in the 2025 Platform Section
Among the other nine contenders, Pauline Loquès’ Nino stands out as the only International Premiere, having previously screened at Cannes 2025 during Critics’ Week. This film follows three significant days in the life of the main character, Nino, portrayed by Théodore Pellerin, through Paris. All other Platform films will have their World Premieres at TIFF.
The remaining films include Between Dreams and Hope by Farnoosh Samadi, Bouchra by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani, The Currents by Milagros Mumenthaler, Hen by György Pálfi,
Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts)
by Bretten Hannam, To the Victory! by Valentyn Vasyanovych, Winter of the Crow by Kasia Adamik, and The World of Love by Yoon Ga-eun. Past Platform selections have included critically acclaimed films such as William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, and Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal.
Anticipating the Festival’s 50th Edition and Its Expanded Lineup
The 50th Toronto International Film Festival will run from September 4 to 14, 2025, with additional film announcements planned through releases between July 23 and August 8. The inclusion of Steve as the Platform opener signals TIFF’s continued dedication to uplifting new voices and diverse perspectives within the international film community, while providing a prestigious platform for films intersecting emerging talent and established stars like Cillian Murphy.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Cillian Murphy a billionaire?
A. By 2025, Cillian Murphy’s net worth is estimated to be around $20 million. Most of his money comes from his successful acting career in films. He has appeared in many well-received movies and TV series and has been involved in various stage plays.
