Hustlers Trailer #1 (2019) / STXfilms (YouTube)

Money! All I need is money!

Well, TIFF patrons will need money and a ticket to catch Cardi B and Keke Palmer showing off their best pole tricks. Plus, they’ll be extending Hot Girl Summer by doing what we do best—finessing a man.

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Hit by the financial crisis of 2008, a savvy group of former strippers take matters into their own hands by hustling their Wall Street clients. What’s the over-under on Palmer snatching a wad of bills out of a white guy’s hand and yelling, “But, the gag is…!”?

4. The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, Discovery / TIFF Next Wave, Directed by Ali LeRoi, World Premiere

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson
The Obituary of Tunde Johnson
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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Though the content is heavy as fuck, this film is one I’m most looking forward to.

Tunde Johnson (Steven Silver) is a gay African American teenager living in Los Angeles who is thrust into a fate worse than death—having to relive a huge trauma over and over again. That trauma? Getting shot and killed by the police, of course. Imagine Groundhog Day as a chilling horror film. Whew.

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5. Just Mercy, Gala Presentations, Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, World Premiere

Just Mercy
Just Mercy
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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This one is a possible tear-jerker (whether from sheer frustration or sadness) with a splash of hope at the end, from the looks of the trailer.

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Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, who are each hosting one of the keynote conversations at the festival, star in the drama chronicling the trial of Walter McMillan (Foxx). McMillan was sentenced to death in 1988 and is approached by Harvard-educated lawyer, Bryan Stevenson (Jordan), who dedicates his life to defending a man suffocated by an unjust system.

6. Thirsty, Short Cuts, Directed by Nicole Delaney, World Premiere

Thirsty
Thirsty
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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The short film showcase at any festival always holds a special place in my heart. In my opinion, it takes an extra dash of talent to tell a full story in a succinct yet effective manner.

Thirsty stars Jay Ellis, who is pivoting from the Lawrence Hive wars to dive into the love interest ofa mosquito.

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You read that right. A mosquito voiced by Maya Rudolph, in fact. It’s a hilarious concept on the subject of desire and definitely one to catch. Plus with shorts, you’ll get to watch the short you want and a few more that may surprise you. Hidden gems!

7. Clemency, Gala Presentations, Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, International Premiere

Clemency
Clemency
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Starring Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Wendell Pierce, and Danielle Brooks, Clemency follows a death row prison warden (Woodard) as she wars with the psychological ramifications of her traumatizing career.

You likely have heard that one before because Clemency has had a robust festival season, screening (and winning!) at Sundance this year. Now, our neighbors to the north will be able to dive into this film. Since I didn’t get to head to Utah this year, I’m hoping I can check it out while I’m in T-Dot.

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8. Atlantics, Contemporary World Cinema / TIFF Next Wave, Directed by Mati Diop, North American Premiere

Atlantics
Atlantics
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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We have another festival award-winning director in Mati Diop, who became the first-ever black woman filmmaker to win an award at Cannes.

Atlantics will explore the lives of Senegalese young lovers who are on a desperate quest for their best lives. I didn’t get to lollygag in Cannes, France, either so I’ll be putting this one on the list, as well!

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9. A Dry White Season, TIFF Cinematheque, Directed by Euzhan Palcy

A Dry White Season
A Dry White Season
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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If you’re a film enthusiast, Euzhan Palcy’s name needs to always be on the edge of your lips when discussing filmmakers who have made their mark. Palcy made history as the first black female director to be produced by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and is the only female filmmaker to have helmed a film with Marlon Brando after urging him out of retirement.

That film? A Dry White Season, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary at TIFF, and follows the moral and political awakening in apartheid-era Johannesburg. The film is based on André Brink’s novel of the same name.

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10. Our Lady of the Nile (Notre-Dame du Nil), Contemporary World Cinema, Directed by Atiq Rahimi, World Premiere / Opening Night Film

Our Lady of the Nile (Notre-Dame du Nil)
Our Lady of the Nile (Notre-Dame du Nil)
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF
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This one is another hidden gem and is an adaptation of Scholastique Mukasonga’s award-winning novel of the same name. The film follows Rwandan schoolgirls at a Belgian-run Catholic boarding school in a coming-of-age tale.

I’m all about more coming-of-age tales for black girls, especially as we expand toward the African diaspora. More of this please.

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That’s all, folks! And that’s just a taste of what TIFF has to offer in blackness. There’s so much more, like Waves starring Sterling K. Brown and Kelvin Harrison, Jr.! Make sure to also check out the In Conversation series, too!

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The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival takes place in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) Sept. 5-15, 2019. For more information, including ticket purchases, head on over to tiff.net.