US actor Ben Stiller takes a photo with fans as he arrives for the premiere of “Nutcrackers” during the Toronto International Film Festival at the Roy Thomson Theater in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 5, 2024 | Photo credit: AFP
Hollywood’s A-list stars are gathering in Toronto for North America’s biggest film festival, a 10-day extravaganza of Oscar-bait films, timely documentaries and glamor that opens on Thursday, September 5.
This year marks a return to the event, after a twin attack by actors and writers prevented the best talent from promoting their work here last year. Although the 2023 film lineup is star-studded, the red carpet is not, in line with union protocol.
This time, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman are just some of the boldfaced names expected in the largest city in Canada to unveil a new project.
“Toronto is famous for its audience excitement, and that excitement reaches a fever pitch when the world’s biggest stars are there,” Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), told AFP.
“We are glad that we had a festival without some obstacles last year, although I think we did the best we could with the situation.”
Ben Stiller starts late Thursday with the family drama “Nutcrackers,” his first film in seven years, about a Chicago real estate developer who must move to Ohio to take care of his four nieces when tragedy strikes his sister’s family.
Stiller has focused on directing lately, with television projects “Escape at Dannemora” and “Severance.”
Ron Howard’s super-secret “Eden,” a survival film set in the Galapagos Islands and starring Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney, is one of the world premieres that are waiting for Toronto. The film debuted on Saturday.
After her success in Venice portraying operatic legend Maria Callas in “Maria,” Jolie arrives in Toronto with her latest directorial effort — “Without Blood,” a tale of early 20th-century family and revenge starring Hayek.
In all, there are 278 films on the slate.
Music all around
John and Springsteen will be in town with a new documentary about their epic career — and just a handful of record industry royalty will be hitting the red carpet.
Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Paul Anka, and singer, producer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams will also appear at the screening of the new film about his personal and professional life.
Bailey said the musical program started as a “crazy accident” and then “just started gathering momentum on its own.”
“We can not turn one way or another without finding another film that is really infused with music. And we decided, ‘We will give it in’,” he told AFP.
Among the other documentaries are “The Last Republican,” about former US congressman Adam Kinzinger and his break with his own party, and “Men of War,” about the wild 2020 attempt to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
TIFF is part of the fall film festival, along with Venice and Telluride, which preview film experts and producers believe will compete for Oscar glory.
But the Toronto event — where screenings are open to regular moviegoers, not just media and industry insiders — also featured big-name favorites such as “Nutcrackers” and “The Wild Robot,” the latest from DreamWorks Animation.
And there are inspiring true-story sports drama pieces on the schedule, including “Unstoppable,” about a college wrestler (Jharrel Jerome) without a right leg who dreams of turning pro. Lopez co-stars as the boy’s mother.
Also making its world premiere is “The Fire Inside,” about boxer Claressa Shields’ journey to Olympic gold.
TIFF runs from Thursday until September 15.
On the final day of the show, the People’s Choice Award — chosen by the audience — is presented.
It has become something from the beginning of the Oscars bellwether, predicting the last Academy Award winner of the best picture such as “Nomadland” and “Green Book.”
Last year’s winner was “American Fiction,” which earned five Oscar nominations, and won the statuette for best adapted screenplay.
Published – 06 September 2024 16:35 IST