Here’s TIFF with five more titles announced: David and Nathan Zellner’s “Alpha Gang,” Rachel Morrison’s “Love of Your Life,” Bassam Tariq’s “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” Benjamín Naishtat’s “Glaxo,” and Ben Shirinian’s “The Housewife.”
Following their deadpan “Sasquatch Sunset,” which premiered at Sundance 2024, the Zellner brothers have had “Alpha Gang” plagued by delays and recasting. Original stars Channing Tatum, Steven Yeun, and Zoë Kravitz exited, and the project recast some of those roles with Chris Pine, Riley Keough, Lily-Rose Depp, and Dave Bautista joining the ensemble, which still includes Cate Blanchett and Léa Seydoux.
The film, which now has a first look image, seen above, centers on a group of alien invaders disguised as a leather-clad biker gang from the 1950s. Sent to conquer Earth, their plans are complicated when they begin to experience human emotions.
Mike Gioulakis (“It Follows,” “Us,” “Split”) handled cinematography, reuniting with the Zellners after their collaboration on “Sasquatch Sunset.”
“Alpha Gang” has been labeled an “international premiere,” which means it will likely world premiere at Telluride, a potentially promising sign of its quality. The other films announced by TIFF this morning are all world premieres.
“Love of Your Life” is Oscar-nominated “Mudbound” DP Rachel Morrison’s sophomore directorial effort after 2024’s “The Fire Inside.” It stars Margaret Qualley, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Catherine Keener. The story follows “Maya, a smart, wry nurse, [who] is swept up in an immersive love that sets her life on a trajectory she never would have imagined.”
The other showy title announced is “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” which stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devoutly religious hitman who “embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children after his wife dies, confronting forces closing in and beliefs threatening to unravel.” Giancarlo Esposito, John Cho, and Tramell Tillman co-star. Tariq recently directed three episodes of the acclaimed Riz Ahmed-starring Prime Video series “Bait.”
The 51st TIFF runs from Sept. 10–20.
“Coyote vs. Acme,” came very close to never getting released, yet, it almost doubled the weekend box office of Ridley Scott’s much-pricier “The Dog Stars.”