An existential thriller set in the middle of the Moroccan desert, a whodunit doubling as a crisis of faith, a musical about the founder of the Shaker movement—this year’s Toronto International Film Festival not only screened some of this fall’s biggest movies, but it also offered attendees a rich array of stories to indulge in. My schedule was so full that when Nomadland director Chloé Zhao guided the audience through a breathing exercise before the premiere of her latest film, Hamnet, I noticed how fast my heart was beating—a result of all the caffeine I’d ingested to stay awake. But the upside of long days spent going from screening to screening means a fresh watchlist for the season. Below are 14 of my favorite movies, most of which will arrive in theaters before the end of the year.

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