“The Julia Set” has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
In her feature debut, writer-director Niki Byrne crafted a perfect showcase for the talents of “One Battle After Another” breakout Chase Infiniti. The latter has earned raves for her turn as a math genius stuck under the thumb of an abusive boyfriend (and an academic system designed to ignore and exploit her).
“Julia’s off-the-charts intelligence, which Infiniti embodies with exquisite conviction, changes the stakes of the movie; we’re rooting for her emotional salvation, but we’re also rooting for her to dazzle the universe with her talent,” wrote Variety’s Owen Gleiberman in his TIFF review.
Indeed, Infiniti’s wide-eyed portrait of a prodigy is equal parts inspired and frustrating. Julia is recruited by a study group drilling for the Putnam Test — a six-hour math competition for undergraduates considered the most prestigious in the world. When Julia’s teacher’s assistant Pascal (Christopher Briney) comes hard and fast with romantic feelings, we watch Infiniti’s Julia struggle to balance blossoming romance with the obligation she has to her extraordinary gifts.
Variety caught up with Byrne and Infiniti on the ground in Toronto this week, where the film premiered and is currently shopping for distribution
Niki, you’ve had an interesting trajectory. You were an aerial photographer and a licensed race car driver. How did we get to writer-director?
Niki Byrne: Everything I’ve done make sense in reverse. I came back to California from Europe in 2018 and started working in L.A. I was writing quite a bit at that point, and I knew I wanted to write and direct. I took Martin Scorsese’s master class, where he said if you’re going to be a director of any quality you must take acting classes. So, I did and found it super valuable. I’ve worked in almost every department on a film set and found acting incredibly difficult.
Why?
NB: When acting is done poorly, it’s the easiest job on set. When it’s done well, it’s by far the hardest. I wrote this movie during [COVID] lockdown and came out with this sort of weird confessional script and linked arms with [my producers] and we went on the hunt for our Julia. Then this one walked into a coffee shop in Koreatown.
Chase, how long ago was that?
Chase Infiniti: Three years ago. I was a month into shooting “Presumed Innocent.”
And you did “One Battle After Another” between then and now, crazy. One of the things that struck me about this performance is how restrained your character is – even in the face of serious abuse and mistreatment from people and systems.
CI: Well, it was a gift getting to bring Niki’s work to the screen. I was instantly drawn to it because Julia is a wonderful human being. It felt like telling a very real story that feels central to growing up. I had a Pascal, of sorts, [in my own life]. Everyone has. I remember a point in time where I was about 18, trying to figure out who I was and scared to show the world my talent. It’s hard to allow yourself to do that.
I think a lot of people might say that math is the antithesis of artistic work. How much did you have to engage with actual math problems?
CI: I had to pull from my own experience and flip it in a way that worked for what Julia was going through. I am not a math genius! Math is not my forte. I picked something else in my life that I felt I performed strongly at. I used that to build my confidence with math in the movie.
And what was that thing you pulled from?
CI: I think I’m pretty good at my job. I thought about how I feel about performing in general, and used that to create Julia’s energy behind her math skills.
Another thing that struck me about this film is that it’s one of the clearest examples of “love bombing” I’ve ever seen. There’s a scene where Julia is Pascal a surprise dinner at this apartment, using a key he gave her, and reacts as though she’s robbing the place.
NB: There were a lot of tears on set that night. Of all the moments we shot, the crew was gently sobbing during that one. We did multiple takes, and he would come in and be so unkind to her, and then she’d break and we’d all be gutted.
It’s also an important red flag that Pascal is capable of some monstrous things. Chase, not only is your Julia very retreating about her talent – she’s a socioeconomic underdog at her school and a woman of color. How does that inform the character in relation to her wealthy white boyfriend?
CI: Julia is always doing the next best thing for herself, and also for Pascal. Unfortunately, women of color don’t have the luxury of thinking only about themselves. They’re thinking for everyone around them. This is especially [true] in an abusive relationship. Women of color are some of the most unprotected people in society.
I have to pivot and ask you about your newfound music video stardom. You were amazing in the Ateez video for “Bad.”
CI: I just absolutely love them so much. Niki has heard so much about it. The first time we met I told her she had to listen to them. I made her listen to “Ice on My Teeth.”
You know everyone’s going to want you to do a musical now that we’ve seen you sing and dance.
CI: I mean – I would love to sing and dance in a musical.
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