FESTIVAL INSIDER » TIFF News

Between courses of Montreal smoke meat and poutine – TIFF unveils it’s Canadian lineup of films

Richard Budman — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:58:24 +0000

The Toronto International Film Festival has become renowned for the bevy of international and Hollywood film stars it brings to Toronto each year. But TIFF’s roots are distinctly Canadian and the festival never forgets about its own. So TIFF saves its most lavish press conference, held in early August, to announce the roster of Canadian films that will make premieres come September at the festival.

It was a packed house of TIFF industry insiders and Canadian filmmakers at the Royal York hotel on a Tuesday afternoon as festival co-directors Cameron Bailey and Piers Handling added to an already announced list of Canadian films – that included Gala premieres from directors David Cronenberg and Sarah Polley. Also announced on August 9th at the Royal York, Starbuck, from director Ken Scott will also join the lineup of TIFF galas.

Canadian entries joining the Special Presentations lineup include Afghan Luke, with Nick Stahl; Mary Harron’s The Moth Diaries, with Lily Cole and Scott Speedman, and Goon, a hockey-themed comedy with Seann William Scott and Jay Baruchel.

Guy Maddin, who premiered a film at TIFF twenty-five years ago, returns in 2011 with Keyhole starring Jason Patric and Isabella Rossellini. Maddin remarked at the packed TIFF press conference, “There’s more people in this room than saw Canadian films in the 1980′s.”

CLINT EASTWOOD and MATT DAMON talk “Hereafter” with select journalists – the pair want to keep making movies together

Richard Budman — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 12:57:24 +0000

The 2010 Toronto International Film Festival could easily be remembered as the year the icons came. Robert Redford, Robert Deniro, and Clint Eastwood all made the trip to Toronto in support of films.

But as the twilight sets on the careers of these Hollywood giants, it’s interesting to see the connections each has formulated to the next generation of acting greats. Deniro with Ed Norton. Robert Redford was filled with praise for his Conspirator cast that included James McAvoy. And Eastwood and Matt Damon.

Clint first directed Damon in Invictus a few years ago, so as the pair sat down with movie journalists during the Toronto Film Festival to talk about Hereafter, “the two have a strong and easy rapport together,” is how The Star’s Peter Howell described his light and breezy chat with them.

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actress Natalie Portman and director Darren Aronofsky first dicussed the idea for BLACK SWAN film in 2002

Richard Budman — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:58:05 +0000

photo: Director Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman at the Toronto Film Festival press conference for BLACK SWAN (September 14, 2010 / R.Budman)

After the Gala Monday night premiere screening of BLACK SWAN during the 2010 Toronto Film Festival – Oscar buzz only grew for the thriller, especially Portman’s role of an experienced ballerina dancer drawn to the dark side of an another dancer, played my Mila Kunis.

During the Tuesday morning press conference director Darren Aronofsky talked at length what a difficult movie it was to put together as funding fell through several times. Even with the success and Oscar nominations for Darren’s last film, The Wrestler, funding still proved tough on Black Swan especially as this was during the “financial black hole in Hollywood” after the 2008 Wallstreet crash.

Portman and Aronofsky first discussed the idea for the film as far back as 2002. Aronofsky underscored the importance of playing in the best festivals in the world, like Toronto to maximize publicity on the film. Darren admits that even though they got the production budget together to make the film, there is very little left for marketing and promotion.

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Harvey Weinstein has a very busy TIFF’10 – Barry Avrich’s untitled documentary sells to IFC

Richard Budman — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:42:38 +0000

The legend of Harvey Weinstein only grows larger after TIFF’10. Besides Harvey having a very active Toronto festival – his new company Weinsteiin Co. acquired three high-profile films, each acquisition in the seven figure range.

The name “Harvey Weinstein” made news in Toronto for another reason too. A long time in the making documentary by Barry Avrich was acquired by IFC in a deal that saw worldwide rights sold to Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project. The doc is narrated by Peter Fonda.

The Cadillac Festival Insider spotted Mr. Avrich at an August TIFF press event and we asked Barry about the status of his Weinstein documentary and whether we could maybe see a Toronto Film Festival premiere? Avrich said he didn’t have time to get it ready for Toronto but the doc was finished and would be released sometime in 2011. Guess Barry wasn’t too busy to still take in enough of TIFF this year to get his film sold.

“I believe that great stories must be told. Harvey and Bob Weinstein, without a question, redefined so many rules of Hollywood marketing, distribution and filmmaking that you simply can’t ignore their impact on history. Many of their business principles and strategies also redefined other industry practices and quite frankly, other industries. Without Hollywood’s ‘Last Bully’, there would be no Pulp Fiction, no one would have known about that English patient, Rob Marshall would still be a chorus boy and Quentin would be recommending Bruce Lee’s greatest hits in some video store. IFC Films is a great home for my film and I am thrilled that it will be receiving such a prominent release.” – BARRY AVRICH

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FIRST LOOK VIDEO – THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town documentary brings Bruce Springsteen to TIFF for Gala premiere and interview

Festival Insiders — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:12:49 +0000

When THE BOSS himself, Bruce Springsteen steps onto the red carpet for the TIFF Gala world premiere of THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town it will continue a tradition of the Toronto festival being able to attract not just the biggest movie actors in the world – but also in recent years, some huge icons from the music world too.

During the 2008 Toronto festival guitar gods Jack White, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and The Edge (U2) all came to Toronto in support of the documentary, IT MIGHT GET LOUD. Last year, we saw U2′s Bono and Edge turn up on a TIFF red carpet in support of fellow Irish director Neil Jordan’s new film.

And It won’t just be at the Roy Thomson Hall Gala on September 14th where we’ll see Springsteen. Earlier in the day, Bruce will sit down with actor / friend Ed Norton for a rare in-depth live interview at the new Bell Lightbox building.

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For Toronto Film Festival news, schedule, ticket info, and twitter updates on mobile – Get the official TIFF Blackberry App

Festival Insiders — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:11:17 +0000

If your a Blackberry device user and looking for the most up-to-date information on the Toronto Film Festival while your on the go – download the official TIFF app from Blackberry World.

The app allows you to browse film and ticket info, view trailers, customize your own personal screening schedule, and see maps of locations of key TIFF hot spots. There’s even a place on the app to get a real-time Twitter feed of everything happening TIFF.

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Duchess of York SARAH FERGUSON spent 15 years producing The Young Victoria – Toronto Film Festival’s closing night Gala film

Richard Budman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:31:54 +0000

The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson spent a few days in Toronto during TIFF week on a couple of different missions. First, The Duchess and her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York spent an evening at Ultra on Queen St. to launch the Canadian arm of the Sarah Ferguson Charitable Foundation. The next evening, The Duchess would be walking the TIFF red carpet to support a film she produced, the closing night Gala THE YOUNG VICTORIA featuring Emily Blunt in the starring role. Producing the film has been a 15-year labor of love for Ms. Ferguson as she first became fascinated with Royal life and its unique history when she spent time in Buckingham Palace after marrying Prince Andrew in 1986. The Duchess said in repeated media interviews during her week in Toronto that she related to the story of at least one character in the film, not the Queen herself, but Albert, the beloved consort who was after Queen Victoria’s heart.

“But if you’re not born into royalty, you never really belong there.” – SARAH FERGUSON

Sean Byrne’s THE LOVED ONES wins 2009 Cadillac People’s Choice Award – Midnight Madness at Toronto International Film Festival

Richard Budman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:56:50 +0000

TIFF midnight madness programmer Colin Geddes accepted the Cadillac People’s Choice Award from Frank Trivieri of GM Canada for best Midnight Madness feature on behalf of director Sean Byrne’s The Loved Ones at an awards reception hosted by Toronto’s Intercontinental Hotel.

“This is a candy-coloured popcorn film that invites the audience into a fun, pop-horror world that seems familiar. People will be in their seats, kind of comfortable, feeling like they’ve been here before and then we’ll sneak up and drop acid into their soda.” – SEAN BYRNE

It’s Leanne Pooley’s TOPP TWINS over Michael Moore’s CAPITALISM for Cadillac People’s Choice Documentary Award at 2009 TIFF

Richard Budman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:25:01 +0000

In a little bit of an upset, director Leanne Pooley’s TOPP TWINS has won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for documentary at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Michael Moore’s CAPITALISM was the runner-up.

“I have been making documentaries for twenty years, and usually they are dark. That is often the world a documentary filmmaker moves in, a dark world. This is a film about joy, and laughter, and love. And its just so special to be able to bring a film like that to audiences like yours. I have to thank the TOPP TWINS. who are a force of nature. Thank you so much.” – Leanne Pooley, director TOPP TWINS

Tom Ford’s A SINGLE MAN comes to TIFF on Colin Firth’s BEST ACTOR Venice honors – Weinstein Co. acquire distribution

Richard Budman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:50:59 +0000

Actors Julianne Moore and Colin Firth joined TOM FORD at the very well-dressed and attended A Single Man after-party held at the Gardiner Museum. Fashion designer turned director-writer FORD proved during the 2009 Toronto Festival he will be a force in the film business. Riding an impressive wave of positive buzz from the Venice Film Festival where Colin Firth’s performance from Ford’s film won BEST ACTOR honors. A SINGLE MAN came out of the Toronto Festival with TIFF’s largest deal as the Weinstein Co. paid a few million dollars to secure U.S. distribution rights for Ford’s directorial debut.