Every year, the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off the fall movie season with its wide array of international movies premiering to cinephiles from all over the world. With hundreds of features, documentaries and short films, I run down the most anticipated South Asian films at the Fest. The TIFF 2026 South Asian offerings are pretty intense, ranging from Midnight Madness vampire westerns and gritty biographical sieges, to ground-breaking trans dramas and visually surreal shorts. Whether you’re meticulously assembling your festival rush list or scouting the world’s next big auteur voices, here are the most anticipated South Asian feature films and short programs demanding your attention at TIFF 2026.
DOROTHY is Karthik Subbaraj’s pulpy tribute to classic action
Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj’s next big film is Dorothy. This action drama uses stunning visuals and a throwback to classic cinema, making it a unique premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story sees the lives of two childhood friends, suffering a loss that sets them on different paths. Despite growing up together, the two friends come to odds with one another, in a violent story of love and friendship.
A period drama set in the 90s, Dorothy is an Indian film from the Tamil industry that is the perfect premiere for TIFF. While uniquely Indian, its pulpy action elements will appeal to audiences from all over. Referencing everything from Bruce Lee films to gritty crime dramas, Dorothy is definitely a highlight for South Asian films at TIFF this year. After films like RRR receiving worldwide acclaim, I’m looking forward to how Dorothy is received by TIFF audiences.
Before Bandit Queen, she was Phoolan.
From the subject of one of the first ever cross over hits, Bandit Queen from filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, comes another story of the legendary outlaw, focusing on a pivotal moment in her life. Phoolan is a biographical film about one of India’s greatest outlaws, turned politician, whose story still resonates as a larger-than-life tale of how one woman’s exploits made her a force to be reckoned with.
Richie Mehta is best known for his grounded and subdued crime drama, Delhi Crime, and he brings those same sensibilities to Phoolan. Based on an autobiography by Phoolan Devi herself, the film focuses on a key moment of her life: an action-packed siege that is sure to take TIFF by storm. I’m extremely excited for this one, as Delhi Crime was one of my favourite Indian series of all time. And Phoolan is sure to be just as riveting and gritty.
The Difficult Bride form Bangladesh explores a unique subject matter.
Coming from Bangladesh, The Difficult Bride is a unique story that focuses on a common issue through a surreal lens. Following the story of a young bride about to embark on a joyous occasion, some unseen forces attempt to send a message that takes her down a journey of female volition, in a world of cultural and familial expectations.
I’m most excited for The Difficult Bride, as it seems like a very unique approach to what at first blush seems like a social issue. Many films have dealt with the concept of womanhood and autonomy in South Asian society. But the story hints at supernatural elements along with cultural obligations that make this a film to really look out for during TIFF 2026. Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain is a TIFF veteran and one of the biggest female voices in contemporary cinema, making any project from her immediately on every ‘most anticipated’ list.
Half: A South Asian vampire Western at TIFF 2026?
One of my most anticipated TIFF 2026 movies is a weird genre bending film, that on-paper, sounds absolutely incredible! Continuing the tradition of a badass South Asian film premiering during TIFF’s Midnight Madness is the Indian film Half. Twin half-blooded vampire siblings taking on highway hijackers in a ridiculously gory martial arts-infused epic Western? Yes, please! The film falls into the ‘curry western’ subgenre, a play on ‘spaghetti westerns’, inspired by the likes of Sergio Leone and John Ford, with elements of Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn. And if those names weren’t enough, the action choreographer, Very Tri Yulisman, will be recognizable to fans of The Raid 2 and The Night Comes For Us.
An Indian hybrid vampire story set in those genres, with unrelenting action and brutality, makes it the perfect entry into TIFF’s Midnight Madness, making it a highly anticipated film in more ways than one. It’s going to be a treat to be in theatres for this one, with an infamous TIFF crowd that this will absolutely play to.
The Surgeon Is John Wick with Michelle Yeoh.
While not exactly a South Asian film, the director of The Surgeon is Roshan Sethi, creator of The Resident and director of A Nice Indian Boy. Directing the Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh in this thriller that sees a surgeon have to fight back against kidnappers who want her to use her skills to save one of their own. Co-starring Martin Freeman, The Surgeon seems to be taking an action thriller with a medical premise.
Michelle Yeoh will always be the epitome of a brilliant actor who is also very physically talented as well. So placing her in a high-stakes action thriller is sure to be an immensely riveting watch. While this feels like a departure for director Sethi, I am still very excited to see how this pairing comes together in a movie that feels like it’ll be incredibly thrilling to watch.
The Short Cuts Programme at TIFF 2026.
With many South Asian feature films premiering at TIFF 2026, there are a few short films debuting as part of the festival’s Short Cuts program that feel like must-watches themselves.
Shaunak Sen’s Termite
Termite is a gritty drama taking place in Old Delhi about two middle-aged termite exterminators. Their regularly structured lives take a sharp turn after one of them receives a surprise marriage proposal. Directed by Shaunak Sen, an acclaimed filmmaker known for his Oscar-nominated documentary feature, All That Breathes.
Zarrar Kahn’s The Lion Does Not Concern Himself
One of my favourite filmmakers is the director of the critically acclaimed film, In Flames, which also had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Kahn returns to the fest with a short, The Lion Does Not Concern Himself, an endearing comedy of a struggling gym trainer who believes his way to fame is through playing to the incel crowd.
Rahul Roye’s Aman
One of the most interesting shorts of TIFF 2026 has to be Aman. On the eve of his gender affirming surgery, a trans man discovers something that may change the course of his life. With his sibling in tow, the two embark on a journey that seems to upend both their lives. It’s a film I’m very fascinated by and can’t wait to watch.
Till The Milk Runs Dry
Another interesting short this year is Till The Milk Runs Dry, an exploration of the pressure and obligations within South Asian society, through the lens of a dancer at a prestigious Bharatanatyam dance academy. While not a new premise, filmmaker Kalainthan Kalaichelvan looks to dive into this topic with a more visually interesting take, showcasing the turmoil through dream-like visuals.
The Toronto International Film Festival 2026 runs from September 10-20, 2026.
What’s your most anticipated South Asian title at TIFF 2026? Drop your top picks below! If you want real-time festival coverage, deep-dive reviews, and industry insights throughout TIFF, make sure to follow @theshahshahid on X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram.
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