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The Toronto International Film Festival highlights lesser-known films worth watching this weekend, including "God Bless You, Mr. Kopu," directed by Alex Liu and starring Simon Rex and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Another hidden gem is "Run Terry Run," a documentary by Sean Menard that honors Canadian hero Terry Fox with new interviews and restored footage, screening on Saturday and Sunday before its theatrical release on October 9th. Additionally, the festival features the animated adaptation of Jessica Love’s children's book "Julián Is a Mermaid" directed by Louise Bagnall, which celebrates self-expression in vibrant animation. Lastly, Sharon Kleinberg’s directorial debut "I Am Mario (Soy Mario)" explores themes of identity and parenthood through the story of a transgender man facing an unexpected pregnancy.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) showcased several hidden gems this year, with God Bless You, Mr. Kopu being one of them. This film directed by Kiwi filmmaker Alex Liu features Simon Rex as an American salesman who convinces a cash-strapped Tongan immigrant to sell his cleaning product, promising quick riches. The movie blends Tarantino-esque thrills and cultural satire, highlighting the high costs involved in such schemes. Another notable title is Run Terry Run, a documentary by Sean Menard celebrating Canadian hero Terry Fox, whose next run is scheduled for Sunday. Both films offer unique storytelling and are part of TIFF's diverse programming beyond the spotlight.
Written for “TIFF Hidden Gems” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The Toronto International Film Festival has delivered its annual share of red carpets and pre-Oscar buzz, but some of the most intriguing discoveries happened outside the spotlight, in the quieter corners of the programming lineup.
asserted
some → deliver → lineup
Here are four under-the-radar TIFF titles worth adding to your watchlist.
asserted
titles → add → watchlist
God Bless You, Mr. Kopu
A cash-strapped Tongan immigrant falls under the spell of a slick American salesman (Simon Rex of “Red Rocket”) who arrives in New Zealand hawking a cleaning product he promises will make them rich.
asserted
them → bless → product
His expensive car suggests he may be onto something, but as the pair start knocking at the doors of locals, it becomes clear the cost of doing business might be higher than expected.
uncertain
cost → suggest → business
Kiwi filmmaker Alex Liu’s twisty feature debut is an over-the-top collision of Tarantino-esque thrills and timely cultural satire, anchored by a delightful repartee between Rex and breakout star Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as the ambitious protégé.
asserted
debut → anchor → protégé
Release date to be determined.
asserted
date → determine → ?
Run Terry Run
Documentarian Sean Menard’s gentle tribute to Canadian hero Terry Fox couldn’t come at a better time (the next Terry Fox Run is Sunday).
asserted
Run → come → time
Though Fox remains a celebrated national icon, the finer details of his story have inevitably faded in the decades since his death.
asserted
details → remain → death
But Menard makes the 21-year-old amputee’s audacious goal to run across the country, raising money for cancer research, feel immediate again.
asserted
goal → make → research
Using new audio interviews with people who travelled alongside Fox, along with the stunning high-definition restoration of dozens of previously unseen reels of 16-mm footage, the film brings Fox’s journey back to life, from the sweat to the tears.
asserted
film → use → tears
Julián
Jessica Love’s acclaimed children’s book “Julián Is a Mermaid” gets an uplifting animated adaptation from Louise Bagnall, the Oscar-nominated director of 2019 short “Late Afternoon.”
asserted
Julián → get → Afternoon
Seven-year-old Julián spends the summer in Brooklyn with his Dominican grandmother, and as the two form a close bond, he shares his wish of one day becoming a mermaid in the local Coney Island Mermaid Parade.
asserted
he → spend → Parade
Rather than manufacture a conflict around his hopes, “Julián” embraces the child’s confidence to express himself, becoming a celebration of acceptance told with bursts of vibrant colour and lively music.
asserted
Julián → manufacture → colour
The Canadian co-production may be billed as a family film, but its warmth and emotional generosity should resonate with viewers of all ages.
uncertain
warmth → bill → ages
I Am Mario (Soy Mario)
Mario has built a quiet life in Mexico.
asserted
Mario → build → Mexico
He has a steady job as a cab driver, a close relationship with his family, and has chosen to keep his identity as a transgender man mostly private.
asserted
He → have → man
He imagines he might be a father one day, but when a drunken encounter with a co-worker makes that an unexpected reality, he must decide what to do about his pregnancy.
uncertain
he → imagine → pregnancy
Sharon Kleinberg’s directorial debut offers no easy answers as it explores the meaning of masculinity.
asserted
it → offer → masculinity
Her decision to cast untrained actor Oustin de León in the central role gives a raw and affecting naturalism to the experience of being a trans man, told with nuance that’s rarely seen on screen.
asserted
that → cast → screen
Release date to be determined.)
asserted
date → determine → ?
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