The motto of the ninth edition of the Asian Future is “From Asia to the world! From Asia to the future.” This section features up-and-coming Asian directors who have directed no more than three feature-length films. One movie will be awarded the Asian Future Best Film Award while all 10 selected films are having their long-awaited world premiere.

• American Girl by Feng-i Fiona Roan (Taiwan)
• Asu by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara (Sri Lanka)
• The Brittle Thread by Ritesh Sharma (India)
• The Brokers by Daniel R. Palacio (The Philippines)
• The Coffin Painter by Da Fei (China)
• The Last Birds of Passage by Iffret Eren Danisman Boz (Turkey)
• The Nighthawk's First Love by Yasukawa Yuka (Japan)
• Somebody's Flowers by Okusa Yusuke (Japan)
• When Pomegranates Howl by Granaz Moussavi (Afghanistan, Australia, The Netherlands, Iran)
• World, Northern Hemisphere by Hossein Tehrani (Iran)

See also: 14 Asian Films to Watch at the Toronto International Film Festival 2021

The films for the Gala Section are premiering ahead of their Japanese release. This year, 10 films were selected which includes the most talked-about movies in international film festivals, the latest work of internationally renowned auteurs and entertainment films that were massive hits in their home regions.

• Churuli by Lijo Jose Pellissery (India)
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye by Michael Showalter (USA)
• The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun by Wes Anderson (USA)
• Gensan Punch by Brilliante Ma Mendoza (The Philippines, Japan)
• The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino (Italy)
• Last Night in Soho by Edgar Wright (USA)
• Limbo by Soi Cheang (Hong Kong)
• Memoria by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand)
• The Power of the Dog by Jane Campion (New Zealand, Australia)
• Raging Fire by Benny Chan (Hong Kong)

The World Focus section presents notable works from various international film festivals as well as films that haven't been released in Japan. The section also showcases Spanish, Central American and South American films in collaboration with the Latin Beat Film Festival.

• The Box by Lorenzo Vigas (USA, Mexico)
• Libertad by Clara Roquet (Spain, Belgium)
• Veneciafrenia by Álex de la Iglesia (Spain)
• II Buco by Michelangelo Frammartino (Italy, France, Germany)
• Murina by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović (Croatia, Brazil, USA, Slovenia)
• Swan Song by Todd Stephens (USA)
• Terrorisers by Ho Wi Ding (Taiwan)
• Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash by Edwin (Indonesia, Singapore, Germany)

The Nippon Cinema Now section selects Japanese films released this past year and films that international audiences should watch. This year's lineup puts director Yoshida Keisuke’s work into focus.

• What She Likes by Kusano Shogo
• Riverside Mukolitta by Ogigami Naoko
• Intimate Stranger by Nakamura Mayu
• Spaghetti Code Love by Maruyama Takeshi
• Nagisa by Kogahara Takeshi
• The Unnamable Dance by Inudo Isshin
• Moonlight Shadow by Edmund Yeo
• Intolerance by Yoshida Keisuke
• Blue by Yoshida Keisuke
• Hime-Anole by Yoshida Keisuke

See also: 12 Must-Watch Japanese Dramas on Netflix in 2021

The keyword that ties up this year’s Japanese Animation section is “onko-chishin” which means to respect the past and create something new. The section will look back at the works of great animator, Otsuka Yasuo. Meanwhile, the Tokusatsu Section (roughly translated to special filming, refers to a movie that heavily uses special effects) will feature the popular Kamen Rider series which celebrates its 50th year anniversary.

• Inu-Oh by Yuasa Masaaki
• Fortune Favours Lady Nikuko by Watanabe Ayumu
• Goodbye, DonGlees by Ishizuka Atsuko
• Hula Fulla Dance by Mizushima Seiji
• Chie the Brat: Downtown Story by Takahata Isao
• Hyouhyou: Haikei, Otsuka Yasuo-sama by Ushiro Hidenori
• The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon by Serikawa Yugo
• Masked Rider by Yamada Minoru
• Masked Rider Black by Konishi Michio, Kaneda Osamu
• Kamen Rider Double the Movie / The Gaia Memories of Fate by Sakamoto Kouichi

The Japanese Classics section will show a 4K restoration of The Family Game to commemorate the decade after Morita Yoshimitsu’s passing. Other works include the 4K restoration of three films by Tanak Kinuyo.

• The Moon Has Risen (4K Restored) by Tanaka Kinuyo
• The Eternal Beasts (4K Restored) by Tanaka Kinuyo
• The Wandering Princess (4K Restored) by Tanaka Kinuyo
• Love Under the Crucifix (4K Remastered) by Tanaka Kinuyo
• The Family Game (4K Remastered) by Morita Yoshimitsu

This section is dedicated to young people so that they can experience the wonders of cinema. Besides the three youth-focused films screening, there will be the TIFF 2021: Teens Meet Cinema and the TIFF Children sub-section screenings.

• Cow by Andrea Arnold (UK)
• Cryptozoo by Dash Shaw (USA)
• Out Eternal Summer by Émilie Aussel (France)

See also: The Best Teen and Youth Shows to Watch in 2021

The TIFF Series section brings to the screen the best series produced by television before their release in Japan.

• Fragrance of the First Flower by Angel I-Han Teng (Taiwan)
• Folkore 2: The Excursion / The Day the Wind Blue by Nicole Midori Woodford (Singapore), Matsuda Seiko (Japan)