by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Although the Toronto International Film Festival does not have a official Competition Section (which distinguishes it from events in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and San Sebastian), there are a few awards announcements to close out the 12 day event.
CADILLAC PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
The Cadillac People's Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences. This year’s award went to Lee Daniels's Precious: Based on the Novel “Push...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
It's been nearly five years since Todd Solondz, one of American independent cinema's most respected (and controversial) auteurs, has been seen at a film festival. His last film PALINDROMES (2004) premiered at the Venice Film Festival but was roundly hissed by most film critics and its subsequent release was very anemic. After his earlier successes, including his debut WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE (1995), the heartfelt and uncomf...
SAME BUT DIFFERENT (Detlev Buck, Germany)
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
With nearly a third of the films on offer in Toronto coming from the European continent, the Festival is a very important launching pad for both established and emerging talents to make an impression in North America. That is why the support of the European Film Promotion organization, a conglomeration of the governmental promotion offices from across the continent, is so vital ...
Ashton Kutcher and Demi MooreBill MurrayBrenda BlethynChristopher PlummerClive OwenColin FarrellColin FirthDanny BoyleDiablo CodyEdward NortonEllen PageEthan HawkeJeff BridgesJulie Christie
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George Clooney in Jason Reitman's UP IN THE AIR
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Those attending the Toronto International Film Festival can be excused for a bout with double vision when it comes to a doubleheader of films by the Festival's most papparazzi-friendly presence, George Clooney. The fair-haired actor is the star of two high profile films that made their debuts here earlier this week.
In THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, directed by Grant Heslov...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Female directors have been the toast of town in Toronto this week, with films that have been embraced by the industry, film critics and audiences. Although women directors still make up an anemically small percentage of the ranks of film directors everywhere around the world, their special spins on a number of high profile films here are worth noting.
No film premiere generated as much excitement as the red carpet gala of JEN...
THE WHITE RIBBON (Michael Haneke)
by Sandy Mandelberger, TIFF Dailies Editor
The 34th Toronto International Film Festival is presenting 11 works that will be presented as part of the Masters programme, which brings audiences new works from the world’s greatest filmmakers.
MASTERS
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BonoChris RockDrew BarrymoreJulianne MooreKeanu ReevesMichael MooreNicholas CageViggo Mortersen
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by Sandy Mandelberger, TIFF Dailies Editor
The Gala Presentations here at the Toronto International Film Festival are certainly meant to dazzle....and they are doing just that by bringing name actors and directors to the fold for Toronto's enthusiastic public. Expect to see the following helmers tomake their way down the red carpet over the course of the next few days to present their latest films: Alejandro Amenábar, Miguel Arteta, Sylvain Chomet, Rodrigo Ga...
Each year, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) draws thousands of international filmmakers, stars and
media to Toronto and for this years festival (Sept. 10-19), The Wine Ladies are entering the exciting world of web TV.
Georgia and Susanne (The Wine Ladies) set up their temporary TV studio at The Windsor Arms, 18 St. Thomas
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Director Joe Dante
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
The Toronto International Film Festival has announced four presentations in Dialogues: Talking with Pictures, the Festival’s critically acclaimed film series curated by renowned directors or film artists. This year, Ted Kotcheff, Neil Jordan, Joe Dante and Sook- Yin Lee will present films that have inspired them or have marked a significant period in their careers.
Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Frigh...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
The 34th Toronto International Film Festival opens September 10 with the world premiere Gala Presentation of CREATION, directed by Jon Amiel (The Core, Entrapment, The Man Who Knew Too Little). Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the film tells the life story of Charles Darwin, a still controversial figure who championed the idea of evolution and the descent of man (something that still makes the religious fundamentalists crazy).
Th...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor The 34th Toronto International Film Festival which opens on Thursday evening is a golden opportunity for Canadian filmmakers, producers and distributors to showcase their latest work for the international guests that will begin arriving. A stunning number of new Canadian films are making their debuts at the event. Most are World or North American Premieres. No Canadian survey is complete without a film from Canada's film laureate Atom Egoyan. His...
George Clooney in UP IN THE AIR
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festivals Dailies Editor
Premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival always get hearts racing, among industry professionals looking to snag distribution deals and among the notoriously cinephile audiences in Canada’s most diverse metropolis. This year’s Festival is unveiling a good number of such films that are among the festival’s most anticipated (and hard to get into) film screenings.
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Mainstream Indian entertainment films from Bombay, which means the flashy three hour song and dance extravaganzas which have come to be know by the somewhat patronizing appellation "Bollywood" -- as opposed to the "serious art" films from India which had been making the festival rounds until now, are suddenly beginning to surface at major international film festivals, the latest instance being Toronto 2009.
At the 34th instalment of this mega-festival (for that is e...
CHLOE (Atom Egoyan)
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
While the Toronto International Film Festival, which opens next week, is the very definition of an international event, with almost every filmmaking country on the planet represented somewhere in its vast program, it has a special place in its heart for its homegrown cinema. Not only does the Festival embrace its native talents but it realizes that it provides an important showcase for visiting distributo...
Billy Dee Williams the critically acclaimed actor having starred in over 100 films and immediately recognized for his role as the dashingly handsome Lando Calrission in the Star Wars EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI chats with The Wine Ladies. Rediscovering and sharing his passion for the paint brush we spoke with Billy Dee at Liss Gallery www.lissgallery.com in Toronto, learned of his philosophy of painting and enjoyed a first hand view of his gallery exhibition. Billy’s painting...
The Toronto International Film Festival has announced that they will be featuring a special section dedicated to multi-media performance this year. The RedCat’s NOW Festival in Los Angeles focused on eight original works, all but one by women, and the results assure us that women have a role as artists in this century. Isadora Duncan would be proud to see the mix of dance, music, image, and all of the seven arts brought together into one presentation fully realized as she envisioned. Go girl...
I have decided to innitiate a New Film Festival for New York State. The Saratoga Film Festival is now officially scheduled to screen from August 26th, to August 30th, 2009 , in beautiful Saratoga Springs, New York. The Racing Capital of The World in August. The oldest race track in the United States, brings all the Holloywood, Las Vegas, and New york film stars every year. The Broadway stars flock to the track, and enjoy the night life that is found in a gambling resort town. There are 50 resta...
