Actor Huma Qureshi’s film ‘Bayaan’ is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. This movie will have its world premiere at the prestigious festival and is the sole Indian entry in the Discovery Section.

‘Bayaan’ has been chosen for a section of TIFF that has previously highlighted the works of renowned directors like Christopher Nolan, Alfonso Cuaron, and Barry Jenkins. The film, featuring Qureshi in the lead role, is a police procedural thriller. Directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra, ‘Bayaan’ will debut at the festival in September 2025.

Mishra described ‘Bayaan’ as a poignant reflection of modern India, where “power and gender intersect in volatile and often invisible ways.”

“It is my attempt to bear witness to a society in transition — and to the quiet courage of those who choose to speak. I’m deeply honored to present my second feature, ‘Bayaan’, at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section — a platform that has launched the journeys of many filmmakers I admire and cherish,” he added.

Qureshi referred to ‘Bayaan’ as a “timely and powerful story” about a woman caught in the crossfire of “power, faith, and systemic complicity”, who must confront the system designed to silence her.

“‘Bayaan’ provided me the chance to portray a character I’ve always been drawn to—someone within the justice system, yet facing forces much larger than herself. It was an absolute joy to collaborate with a team so passionate and fearless in telling a story that feels both vital and universal,” she stated.

The ‘Bayaan’ actor also expressed her gratitude on her Instagram account. Her message read, “I took a bet on this film. A small, haunting story with a big soul. No big studio backing. No platform deal. No safety nets. That’s how much I believed in this story.”

It continued, “There came a time when things looked difficult but the passion of the director & producer and the phenomenal crew never faltered .. So this selection is a BIG win for all. I compose this post filled with gratitude and a touch of pride. We did it, everyone… That risk has truly paid off.

From a dedicated team without embellishments to a worldwide stage like the Toronto International Film Festival, ‘Bayaan’ exemplifies that passion can still shine through. This is dedicated to the artists who put everything on the line for their craft,” she concluded her post.

Shiladitya Bora from Platoon One, an indie veteran known for his previous works such as ‘Newton’ (India’s Official Entry to the Academy Awards 2017), ‘SIR’ (Cannes 2018), and ‘Ghaath’ (Berlinale 2023), expressed that the team feels immensely privileged to debut ‘Bayaan’ at TIFF.

We strongly believe that this film has universal appeal, and TIFF serves as the ideal platform to commence its global journey. As a producer, I am constantly in search of that one script that can become a breakout film for all participants—and with ‘Bayaan’, I recognized we had something truly impactful. At Platoon One Films, our mission is to support emerging voices and fresh narratives that provoke thought, foster connections, and challenge norms. This film genuinely captures that essence,” the producer remarked.

‘Bayaan’ features a remarkable team, including cinematography by Udit Khurana (known for Netflix’s ‘A Hunt for Veerappan’), editing by the renowned A Sreekar Prasad (‘RRR’), music by Ajay Jayanthi (from Netflix’s ‘Black Warrant’), and costumes designed by Shilpi Agarwal (from Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Paradise’ and Netflix’s ‘Indian Predator: Murder in a Courtroom’).

The film is backed by the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was developed during the LA Residency, part of the Global Media Makers (GMM) initiative by Film Independent in Los Angeles. Throughout the residency, Bikas Ranjan Mishra received mentorship from Craig Mazin (creator of HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’ and ‘The Last of Us’) and guidance on the script from writer Jeff Stockwell and story editor Ruth Atkinson. Recently, actor Bobby Deol’s ‘Bandar’ was also chosen for a premiere at TIFF 2025.