Jodie Comer’s ‘Stuffed’ to Open Toronto Discovery Program

Hollywood Buzz News | July 22, 2026

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced that “Stuffed,” a new film starring Emmy-winning actress Jodie Comer, will open this year’s Discovery program. The selection marks a notable shift for Comer, who rose to fame through her searing performance in “Killing Eve,” as she steps into a project that promises to showcase her range in a fresh, intimate context. Festival organizers confirmed the news today, positioning the film as a centerpiece of the section dedicated to emerging filmmakers and bold new voices.

A Shift in Focus for a Versatile Star

Comer, who earned a Tony Award for her one-woman show “Prima Facie” on Broadway, continues to build a resume that balances commercial appeal with artistic risk. “Stuffed,” directed by a first-time feature filmmaker, reportedly explores themes of memory, loss, and the objects we cling to-a premise that aligns with the Discovery program’s reputation for championing personal, character-driven stories. While plot details remain scarce, early buzz suggests Comer’s performance anchors the film’s emotional core, a prospect that has industry insiders watching closely.

The Discovery section has historically launched careers: past openers include Sarah Polley’s “Away from Her” and Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” both of which went on to Oscar nominations. For Comer, already a known quantity in television and stage, the selection signals a deliberate pivot toward filmmaker-driven projects rather than franchise fare. Her production company, which co-produced “Stuffed,” indicates she is increasingly invested in developing material that challenges both herself and audiences.

Toronto’s Legacy with Music Documentaries

While Comer’s film headlines the Discovery slate, the festival’s broader programming includes a deep catalog of archival restorations. Among them is “Sweet Toronto,” a 1971 documentary by D.A. Pennebaker that captures the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival-a one-day festival held September 13, 1969, at Varsity Stadium. The film, restored in 4K, chronicles a lineup that reads like a jukebox of rock history: John Lennon made his first public performance with the Plastic Ono Band (featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, Yoko Ono on vocals, Klaus Voormann on bass, and Alan White on drums), while Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry each delivered sets that bridged rock’s raw origins and its experimental future.

Pennebaker, who died in 2019, was a pioneer of direct cinema, and “Sweet Toronto” exemplifies his fly-on-the-wall approach. The documentary runs 51 minutes, capturing not just the music but the chaotic energy of a festival that attracted some 20,000 attendees to Varsity Stadium on the University of Toronto campus. Notable for its vérité style, the film offers glimpses of Lennon’s nervous ease and Clapton’s understated solos, all set against the backdrop of a city still finding its identity as a cultural hub. With a TMDb rating of 7.1/10, it remains a niche artifact beloved by rock historians and documentary purists.

The Discovery Program’s Broader Appeal

The inclusion of “Stuffed” as the Discovery opener reflects TIFF’s ongoing strategy to intertwine star power with emerging talent. Comer joins a lineage of actors who have used the festival to transition between mediums-think Adam Driver with “Marriage Story” or Scarlett Johansson with “Under the Skin.” For the festival, which runs from September 10 to 20, the announcement also serves as a signal of confidence: Discovery films often debut without major distribution deals, and a high-profile opener can generate heat for the entire section.

Beyond “Stuffed,” the complete Discovery lineup will be unveiled in coming weeks, with programmers promising a mix of international debuts and experimental works. Given Comer’s involvement, attention will likely focus on how the film navigates its intimate premise without becoming cloying-a challenge for even seasoned directors. Her co-stars have not been announced, but the film’s limited promotional material suggests a small cast, emphasizing close-ups and restrained staging.

Festival Context and Historical Echoes

TIFF’s decision to pair a contemporary star vehicle with a restored rock documentary underscores its dual identity: a marketplace for emerging voices and a archive for cinema history. The “Sweet Toronto” restoration, which will screen as part of the festival’s Classics program, offers a counterpoint to “Stuffed.” Where Pennebaker’s film captures a moment of collective euphoria-the Plastic Ono Band’s impromptu collaboration with Clapton, the raw piano of Jerry Lee Lewis-Comer’s project appears to dwell in quieter, more intimate registers.

For Jodie Comer, the Toronto opening represents a homecoming of sorts: the actress, born in Liverpool, has often spoken about her admiration for North American festival audiences who reward risk-taking. Whether “Stuffed” lives up to its promising premise will be clear by September, but for now, the buzz is real. The Discovery program has a habit of proving that even small films, when anchored by the right performer, can reverberate beyond the festival circuit-a lesson “Sweet Toronto” taught audiences five decades ago, and one that “Stuffed” may well revisit.

Source: Hollywood Reporter