Today’s Toronto International Film Festival conference went by in a jiffy leaving us with a universe of information. Don’t worry, we’ll break it down for you.
Photo courtesy of TIFF/YouTube
You can all breathe now! The first wave of the 39th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) information was thrust upon the public this morning during the opening conference and it looks like this year is shaping up to be a good one for movies. Toronto had best prepare itself or barricade the entrance, because judging from today’s sampler, loads of movie lovers will be flocking down this September.
So, here is what we learned from today’s fast-talking (seriously, did they drink a litre of espresso and eat a block of sugar before starting the conference?) announcement about the wondrous things to come to TIFF 2014.
Toronto International Film Festival: Survival guide >>
1. Festival Street
OK, so this is a really cool bit of information. This year TIFF has a special permission from the City of Toronto to close down a portion of King Street — between University Avenue and Peter Street — to create a “Festival Street.” It’s going to be a pedestrian-friendly promenade with free programming, pop-up performances and an outdoor stage with live music. It’s meant to be a relaxing hangout spot for visitors to enjoy between screenings. Well, we’ll definitely be there.
2. Opening film
While the closing night film has been announced, the opening film is yet to be selected. So, we need to stay tuned for this one. The TIFF folks are not simply withholding information from us; they actually have not chosen one yet.
3. Era of premieres
This year, TIFF is test-driving a new policy and will be screening premieres (within varying degrees) during the first four days of the festival. We were assured that this would not affect the selection of films, but will simply determine the scheduling. Good to know.
4. What about Canadian films?
Some Canadian big-name films have been announced at the conference today, but the majority of them will be made public during the Canadian Press Conference on August 6. So, stay patient fellow Canucks.
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5. Who’s going to be at TIFF this year?
The guest list of stars expected to attend the festival this year is going to be announced later in August. Strangely enough, people are almost equally, if not more, interested in this aspect of the festival than in the actual movies.
6. Closing night party
If you’re super cool and are planning to hit up the closing night party, you should know that it has been moved to the gorgeous Arcadian Court. You are so welcome.
7. Closing Night Film
This is a big one! And it surprised us. This year, Alan Rickman’s A Little Chaos has been selected as the closing night film. It stars Kate Winslet as Sabine De Barra, who is competing to design a fountain at Versailles for Louis XIV (Alan Rickman).
8. The special presentation programming (first batch)
Now, on to the meat of the party. This is only the tip of the iceberg, or the first installment of films to be expected at TIFF this year.
The Good Lie — Directed by Philippe Falardeau
Phoenix — Directed by Christian Petzhold
Top Five — Directed by Chris Rock
While We’re Young — Noah Baumbach
99 Homes — Directed by Ramin Behrani
The Second Chance — Directed by Susanne Bier
www.youtube.com/embed/I7oVp8OE2Sc
Video courtesy of TIFF/YouTube
American Heist — Directed by Sarik Andreasyan
Before We Go — Directed by Chris Evans
Cake — Directed by Daniel Barnz
Coming Home — Directed by Zhang Yimou
Dearest — Directed by Peter Chan
The Dead Lands — Directed by Toa Fraser
The Drop — Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Eden — Directed by Mia Hansen-Love
Far From Men — Directed by David Oelhoffen
Force Majeure — Directed by Reuben Asklund
The Gate — Directed by Régis Wargnier
Good Kill — Directed by Andrew Nicholls
Hector and the Search for Happiness — Directed by Peter Chelsom
www.youtube.com/embed/DELCgkntuvw
Video courtesy of MOVIECLIPS Trailers/YouTube
The Humbling — Directed by Barry Lenvinson
Hungry Hearts — Directed by Saverio Costanzo
The Imitation Game — Directed by Morten Tyldum
The Prophet — Various directors, based on the book by Kahlil Gibran
The Keeping Room — Directed by Daniel Barber
The Last 5 Years — Directed by Richard LaGravenese
Learning to Drive — Directed by Isabel Coixet
Love & Mercy — Directed by Bill Pohlad
Manglehorn — Directed by David Gordon Green
Mary Kom — Directed by Omung Kumar
Men, Women and Children — Directed by Jason Reitman
Miss Julie — Directed by Liv Ullman
www.youtube.com/embed/yOcC_PeWn78
Video courtesy of MOVIECLIPS Trailers/YouTube
Mr. Turner — Directed by Mike Leigh
My Old Lady — Directed by Israel Horovitz
Ned Rifle — Directed by Hal Hartley
Nightcrawler — Directed by Dan Gilroy
Pasolini — Directed by Abel Ferrara
The Reach — Directed by Jean-Baptiste Léonetti
Return to Ithaca — Directed by Laurent Cantet
Rosewater — Directed by Jon Stewart
Still Alice — Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
Theory of Everything — Directed by James Marsh
Tim Out of Mind — Directed by Oren Moverman
Whiplash — Directed by Damien Chazelle
Wild Tales — Directed by Damián Szifrón
9. The gala screenings
Here are some other wonderful films that are not special presentations, but can be caught at the Roy Thompson Hall during TIFF.
The Judge — Directed by David Dobkin
The New Girlfriend — Directed by François Ozon
The Riot Club — Directed by Lone Scherfig
www.youtube.com/embed/Fic0e8uspLI
Video courtesy of MOVIECLIPS Trailers/YouTube
Black and White — Directed by Mike Binder
The Equalizer — Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Foxcatcher — Directed by Bennett Miller
Maps to the Stars — Directed by David Cronenberg
Pawn Sacrifice — Directed by Edward Zwick
Samba — Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano
This Is Where I Leave You — Directed by Shawn Levy
Wild — Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
www.youtube.com/embed/tn2-GSqPyl0
The TIFF extravaganza will run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 14. The rest of the films, as well as the attendees will be announced in August. Do you see any movies that you may want to watch? Are you coming to TIFF?
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