This summer, TIFF is bringing Christopher Nolan cinematic journey to TIFF Lightbox ahead of the premiere of The Odyssey.
Fans and movie lovers are invited to Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs, at TIFF Lightbox from July 8 to August 20, featuring all 12 of the Academy Award-winning director’s films with 35mm and 70mm prints.
“The marquee series at TIFF Lightbox was envisioned to present big artists and ideas that capture and shape popular imagination,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF.
“Christopher Nolan is one of the most influential voices in contemporary cinema today where each new film is a cultural event, while anime continues to explode as an art force shaping global entertainment across mediums. These programmes offer audiences of all ages a compelling look at the scale, creativity, and innovation that define film today.”
Leading into the TIFF series, The Ringer and Spotify’s The Big Picture will host a live recording of their podcast at TIFF Lightbox with Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, marking the first time an episode will be recorded in Canada.
“We’ve enjoyed many hours of lively conversation around Christopher Nolan’s films, so we’re thrilled to join TIFF for this summer’s series,” said Fennessey and Dobbins. “We can’t wait to bring our show to Canada for the first time to record a very special episode and screen one of our Nolan faves, Tenet, for Toronto movie lovers.”
Nolan is no stranger to TIFF, either. He made his directorial debut with Following in the Discovery section at TIFF ’98, and presented a special screening of Dunkirk at TIFF ’17. The Odyssey debuts on July 17, 2026.
For more information, visit tiff.net/nolan.
Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs
July 8 to August 20, Presented by Air France
Programming includes a Silver Screenings presentation of The Right Stuff (July 24), a film Nolan cited as one of his favourites, preceded by an in‑cinema talk from a space exploration expert along with a free pop‑up planetarium activation in the Lightbox atrium, which will also be available ahead of each screening of Interstellar; these events are all presented in partnership with Space Place Canada and Astronomy in Action. A Quote Along screening of Barbie will take place directly before Oppenheimer (July 18) as a playful nod to the Summer of 2023’s “Barbenheimer.” Rounding out the lineup is the free and interactive Introduction to Film Formats event (July 12), which will explore the art and craft of analogue film, programmed in collaboration with IMAX.
TIFF
- July 8, 7pm: The Big Picture: Live from TIFF Lightbox
- July 9, 7pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm, with Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
- July 10, 6:30pm: Memento (2000) in 35mm
- July 11, 4pm: Following (1998) in 35mm with guest Adam Nayman
- July 12, 3pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
- July 14, 6pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm
- July 16, 6pm: The Prestige (2006) in 35mm with Scott Hammell, magician and stunt artist
- July 17, 6pm:Following (1998) in 35mm
- July 18, 4pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
- July 19, 3pm: Memento (2000) in 35mm
- July 19, 7pm: Tenet (2020) in 70mm
- July 22, 7pm: Oppenheimer (2023) in 70mm
- July 25, 3pm: Inception (2010) in 35mm, with a pre-screening discussion with Nolan author and journalist Dan Jolin
- July 26, 3pm: The Prestige (2006) in 35mm
- July 28, 6:30pm: Insomnia (2002) in 35mm
- July 31, 6pm: Batman Begins (2005) in 35mm
- August 1, 6pm: The Dark Knight (2008) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Academy Award-winning sound designer Richard King
- August 2, 6pm: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
- August 6, 6:30pm: Inception (2010) in 35mm
- August 7, 6:30pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
- August 8, 3pm: Batman Begins (2005) in 35mm
- August 9, 4pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
- August 12, 6pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
- August 14: 6pm: Insomnia (2002) in 35mm
- August 15, 3:30pm: The Dark Knight (2008) in 35mm, recorded introduction by Academy Award-winning sound designer Richard King
- August 15, 8pm: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in 35mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
- August 16, 4pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm, with recorded introduction by Dan Jolin
- August 18, 7:30pm: Interstellar (2014) in 70mm
- August 20, 5:30pm: Dunkirk (2017) in 70mm preceded by Nolan Trivia, presented by Air France
Tickets for Christopher Nolan: Grand Designs July programming will be available for TIFF Members on Thursday, June 11 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, June 12.
Tickets for August programming will be available for TIFF Members on Thursday, July 16 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, July 17. To learn more, visit tiff.net/membership.
