Amanda Kernell's Brace Your Heart Set for World Premiere in Toronto

Today it was announced that Amanda Kernell's upcoming film Brace Your Heart will have its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it will compete in the Platform programme.

– Toronto is one of the world’s most important film festivals, and to present the film there, in competition with a small selection from across the globe, is a huge honor. Above all, I’m so proud of everyone who has been part of creating this film. They have truly given everything; behind reindeer herds, in avalanches, through frozen lakes and down into icy waters. I can’t wait for the world to meet this brilliant cast, which almost entirely consists of reindeer herders, says director Amanda Kernell.

In a remote Sámi village high in the mountains, 20-year-old Ejva inherits her late father's reindeer herd. As she struggles to keep the herd thriving, local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept. But everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Now, Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.

With Brace Your Heart, Amanda Kernell returns to TIFF, where her acclaimed debut feature Sámi Blood (2016) screened in the Discovery programme following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. At Venice, Kernell received the FEDEORA Award for Best Debut Director, and Sámi Blood later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and received further accolades, including the European Parliament's 2017 LUX Prize and the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the Göteborg Film Festival.

Kernell's second and most recent feature, Charter (2020), premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival before being selected as Sweden's official submission for the Academy Awards.

Brace Your Heart, with the original Sámi title Garrat du Váimmu and the Swedish title Gör hjärtat hårt, is written and directed by Amanda Kernell and produced by Eva Åkergren for Nordisk Film Production. Swedish co-producers include SVT, Filmpool Nord and Film i Väst. The film received support from the Swedish Film Institute’s former film commissioner Anders Nylander.

Nordisk Film is the film's Swedish distributor, while international sales are handled by TrustNordisk.

Brace Your Heart will be screened in Platform, TIFF's competition programme showcasing filmmakers from around the world with strong directorial vision and distinctive storytelling. The film competes for the festival's only juried competition prize, the Platform Award.

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival takes place between September 10–20, 2026. Read more about the festival.