Matt BaratsTIFF 2026 is set to host the international premiere of Anchors Aweigh, the latest feature from comedian and filmmaker Matt Barats.
Premiering in the festival’s celebrated Midnight Madness section on September 16, the film promises a blend of surreal vignettes and incisive, deadpan humor that fits perfectly within the festival’s adventurous late-night lineup.
Written, directed by, and starring Barats, Anchors Aweigh follows an overeager artist who, after being told by his Broadway-bound girlfriend that they need to “take space,” impulsively moves into a sailboat moored by a New York airport. What follows is a dive into desperate nostalgia and self-reflection as he navigates his own “arrested adolescence.”A Familiar Aesthetic, Refined
Matt Barats ANCHORS AWEIGHBarats – known for his work on Cash Cow and The Reveries Trilogy – continues to refine his specific alt-comedy sensibility. According to the film’s synopsis, the project oscillates between a self-deprecating, essayistic style reminiscent of Ross McElwee’s Sherman’s March and the awkwardly hilarious, deadpan punchlines often associated with Nathan Fielder’s work.
The film is produced by Abso Lutely Productions, the team behind cult classics like Nathan For You and Tim & Eric. The production team also features Allie Viti and Whit Conway, known for their collaborations with John Wilson and Joe Pera. This pedigree suggests that while the film is driven by a “satirically entitled and serrated disposition,” it maintains a resonance often found in the work of its producers—a balance of absurdity and disarming profundity.
The aesthetic is further rounded out by a dreamy jazz score composed by Simon Hanes.Screening Details
For those looking to catch the international premiere or subsequent screenings, here is the schedule:
- International Premiere: Wednesday, Sept 16, 11:59pm at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
- Additional Screening: Thursday, Sept 17, 4:00pm at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Additional Screening: Friday, Sept 18, 3:15pm at TIFF Lightbox
