From biographies to short stories, plays, and podcasts, the art of adaptation is alive and well at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. Before the festival kicks off on September 11, I’ve been perusing bookstores and libraries, keeping an eye out for some of the lineup’s source materials. While last year’s festival saw adaptations of fan-favorites like Hamnet and literary classics like Frankenstein, this year’s lineup doesn’t have those easily recognizable heavy-hitters but there are several hidden gems and under-the-radar adaptations on the horizon. Here are five upcoming adaptations to have on your radar for TIFF 51.
1. Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder
No stranger to adaptation, Heder won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 94th Academy Awards for CODA (2021), and is at the helm of the highly anticipated Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, an adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin’s bestselling novel of the same name.
Being Heumann is having its world premiere at TIFF as a Gala Presentation, and is an adaptation of the 2020 biography, “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist,” by Judy Heumann and Kristen Joiner. It tells the story of Judy Heumann, who became paralyzed from polio as an infant and documents her struggles growing up in New York City, fighting for disability rights in San Francisco, and the dedication she has poured into paving better paths for others.
2. The Idiot(s), directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert
Another biography appearing at TIFF 51 is the cheekily coined film, The Idiot(s), an adaptation of “The Gambler Wife: A True Story of Love, Risk, and the Woman Who Saved Dostoyevsky,” by Andrew D. Kaufman. Bringing to life the story of renowned writer Fyodor Dostoevsky (Johnny Flynn) and his wife Anna (Aimee Lou Wood), there is a focus on the latter that provides long overdue context to not only her own life but her contributions to Dostoevsky’s work.
The Idiot(s), making its Canadian Premiere in the Special Presentations category, is not only an adaptation of the 2021 novel, but will also appeal to fans of the Russian literary giant. The book’s title refers to his 1866 novel “The Gambler”— and Dostoevsky’s gambling addiction — while the film’s title evokes his 1869 novel “The Idiot.” Anna had her hand in helping Dostoevsky through his demons and his writing, which the film and book both explore.
3. A Long Winter, directed by Andrew Haigh
If you’re looking for a shorter read before TIFF, acclaimed director Andrew Haigh has adapted Colm Tóibín’s novella “A Long Winter.” Originally released as a short story and then given its own standalone publication, the storied Irish author unravels a quiet, poignant tale of a young man in a blizzard, grappling with grief and identity. Haigh moves the story from Spain to Montana in his film adaptation, with Fred Hechinger in the starring role.
Haigh’s previous adaptations include All of Us Strangers (2023), Lean on Pete (2017), and 45 Years (2015). With a supporting cast including Kit Connor and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, A Long Winter looks to be another intimate drama from Haigh. The film’s mountainous, blistery backdrop, which was filmed in the Canadian Rockies, combined with Tóibín as a credited screenwriter make this an emotional, potentially haunting, contender to look out for at TIFF.
4. Prima Facie, directed by Susanna White
Some adaptations go from page to stage to screen, allowing for a range of interactions with the text. One play coming to TIFF is the highly acclaimed “Prima Facie,” with the original playwright Suzie Miller as screenwriter. Miller’s 2019 one-woman show earned Jodie Comer an Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her 2022 West End performance and the highly sought after Tony Award for Best Actress for her 2023 turn on Broadway. All that to say, Cynthia Erivo has some big shoes to fill — or robes, rather — in the film adaptation.
Prima Facie, which will be having its World Premier at TIFF, follows a barrister, Tessa, (Erivo) known for defending accused sex criminals, who suddenly finds herself on the other end of the accusations. Erivo brings new layers to the role of Tessa — as both a woman of color and as her first return to the big screen since her turn in another stage-to-screen adaptation, the widely popular “Wicked.” Erivo’s performances as Elphaba in Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025) garnered worldwide praise and attention. All eyes at TIFF will be on the wickedly talented trio of Erivo, White, and Miller for this tense courtroom drama.
5. American Hostage, created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers
Adapted from the 2022 podcast of the same name, American Hostage is a TV series starring Jon Hamm, having its World Premiere in the Primetime category at TIFF. Hamm is reprising his role as radio reporter Fred Heckman. The story follows the real events of a 1977 hostage situation in Indianapolis when a man is turned down for a mortgage extension and decides to hold his broker hostage. His first demand is an on-air phone call with Heckman.
The podcast-to-TV-show pipeline is an interesting emerging genre of adaptation. Scripted, fictionalized podcasts are so close to TV series already. Simply missing the visual component, these productions often put just as much — if not more — emphasis and value on the auditory elements as any series would. That being said, when they are so similar, it’s warranted to ask: why both? However, when done artfully, the answer is usually: why not? We will see at TIFF whether that’s the case for American Hostage.
List Courtesy of Kasey Dunifer
Feature image designed by Kasey Dunifer