Cillian Murphy’s mysterious new film ‘Steve’ shakes up TIFF 2025 lineup

In a surprise move that instantly raised the stakes, Steve, the latest feature from Belgian director Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy, has been added to the Platform lineup at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement dropped alongside nine other films rounding out the competition, bringing fresh global energy to TIFF’s most carefully curated section.

Murphy, hot off a wave of acclaim from his recent projects, takes on the lead in Steve, though plot details remain closely guarded. Mielants, best known for his work on The Responder and Patrick, reunites with Murphy after their collaboration on Peaky Blinders, sparking major anticipation among both critics and fans.

Other newly announced Platform selections include Between Dreams and Hope by Farnoosh Samadi, Bouchra by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani, Hen by György Pálfi, and Nino from Pauline Loquès. Also in the mix: Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts) by Bretten Hannam, The Currents by Milagros Mumenthaler, The World of Love from Yoon Ga-eun, To The Victory! by Valentyn Vasyanovych, and Winter of the Crow by Kasia Adamik.

This year’s Platform jury will be led by Carlos Marqués-Marcet, whose They Will Be Dust won last year’s award. He’ll be joined by British actor and filmmaker Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Québécois director Chloé Robichaud, whose Two Women recently had a successful theatrical run.

TIFF’s Platform section has a strong track record of spotlighting breakout cinema from rising voices, previously launching titles like Moonlight, Sound of Metal, and Lady Macbeth. With Steve now in contention, the 2025 edition promises to be one of the most closely watched in years.

Murphy’s involvement brings a jolt of star power to the lineup, and given his history of enigmatic roles, all eyes will be on Steve.