Mothers' Instinct is a 2018 Belgian psychological thriller film directed by Olivier Masset-Depasse. The story is loosely based on the 2012 novel Behind the Hatred by Barbara Abel. The film was screened as a special presentation at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

The 43rd annual Toronto International Film Festival was held from September 6 to 16, 2018. In June 2018, the TIFF organizers announced a program to ensure that at least 20 percent of all film critics and journalists given press accreditation to the festival were members of underrepresented groups, such as women and people of color. The People's Choice Award was won by Green Book, directed by Peter Farrelly.