TIFF is back in Toronto for its 48th edition, with works from Anna Kendrick, Michael Keaton, and Viggo Mortensen among the new slate of entertainment to take in.
Running from September 7 to 17, TIFF has unveiled its lineup for the season, which includes 37 world premieres.
“This year’s prime time programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” said Anita Lee, TIFF’s Chief Programme Officer, in a statement.
Although the SAG-AFRTA WGA strike is still underway (now having passed the 100 days mark), where many stars and writers won’t be able to promote in person, TIFF’s CEO, Cameron Bailey, said this season could welcome big opportunities for films from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and beyond. (This is by no means to diminish the importance of the strike, however, as the bargaining for fair compensation and conditions continues.)
Canadian world premieres include Leslie Norville’s Black Life: Untold Stories, Bria Mack Gets A Life from Sasha Leigh Henry, Telling Our Story from Kim O’Bomsawin, and Hate to Love: Nickelback from Leigh Brooks.
Other world premieres to look for include the American limited TV series called All the Light We Cannot See from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight, and Israel’s Bad Boy from Ron Leshem, Hagar Ben-Asher, Daniel Chen, Roee Florentin, Moshe Malka, Amit Cohen, and Daniel Amsel.
One film we are excited to see is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut of Women of the Hour, which is about the serial killer Rodney Alcala, who went on the show The Dating Game, in 1978, this all while he was murdering people. Kendrick continues to wow us with her talent both in front of the screen and behind.
We are also anticipating the film Lee by Ellen Karas. Kate Winslet stars as Vogue’s war photographer Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, alongside Andy Samberg as Life Magazine’s photographer David E. Scherman.
The Boy and the Heron, the first film in 10 years from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, will open the festival.
“If this has to be his final statement on screen, I think it is a perfect one,” said Cameron Bailey in an interview with Indiewire, adding that the film is an “adult vision of life, very much about loss and how we deal with that.”
The closing night film is Sly, the Netflix-produced documentary about the gifted action star Sylvester Stallone (who is also an executive producer). It will screen on September 16 at Roy Thomson Hall.
“Stallone’s story is one of perseverance, triumph, and his indelible mark left on the world of film… Sly offers an unexpected and heartfelt exploration,” said Bailey.
Sly was produced by Thom Zimny (Elvis Presley: The Searcher).
Check out the trailer below.
TIFF audiences will also be the first to see Expats, the Prime Video series, a western directed by Viggo Mortensen, as well as a new film featuring and directed by Michael Keaton, Knox Goes Away, which follows a man (Keaton) who is facing losing his memory. The film also stars Al Pacino.
Docs to catch include Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe, Sorry/Not Sorry, Summer Qamp, The Pigeon Tunnel,Viva Varda!, and The Contestant.
Stars set to attend include Pete Davidson, Jessica Chastain, Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Elisabeth Moss, Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Al Pacino, and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
More info can be found over at TIFF.