There is a slight chill in the air, the days are growing darker, the weather is becoming moodier, and the leaves are beginning to change. That can only mean one thing: the fall film festival season has officially begun. I will be providing coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 10th through September 20th.
This year’s festival features more than 200 films from over 50 countries. Many are world premieres, while others are carryovers from previous festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Telluride. No matter where they come from, all of these films are vying for the coveted People’s Choice Award, which over the past decade has become a strong precursor to an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. With so many films screening throughout the festival, here are 15 films you should keep an eye on at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
A Long Winter. Directed by Andrew Haigh
Andrew Haigh is planning to make audiences ugly-cry once again with another quiet and restrained queer drama, A Long Winter. Starring Fred Hechinger, Caitríona Balfe, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Kit Connor, the film follows a family living in the remote high mountains as they prepare for the harsh winter ahead. During their preparations, the youngest son experiences a sexual awakening in the wake of tragedy. Prepare to bring the ugly-cry tissues for this cold, wintry queer drama.
Alpha Gang. Directed by the Zellner Brothers
The Zellner Brothers are no strangers to making strange films. With their latest feature, they’re prepared to weird you out once again with what may be their most mainstream film to date, Alpha Gang. Starring Cate Blanchett, Dave Bautista, Chris Pine, Léa Seydoux, and Lily-Rose Depp, the film follows a group of aliens disguised as a 1950s biker gang who are sent to conquer Earth. However, when their disguises begin to bring out human emotions, their mission may be in trouble. Promising to be weird in all the right ways, Alpha Gang could be a crowd-pleasing hit.
Bucking Fastard. Directed by Werner Herzog
Probably one of the most creative plays on words for a title, German filmmaking legend Werner Herzog comes to TIFF with his latest feature, Bucking Fastard. Two sisters, played by Rooney and Kate Mara, are so close that they speak in unison, love the same man, and share the same dreams. While the concept may seem a bit strange, the film promises to offer a unique perspective on how we view the world, making for another wonderfully strange Herzog drama.
The Debut. Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg returns to the director’s chair with his latest film, The Debut, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. The film follows a quiet housewife who transforms into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect her artistic integrity—even if it means going to war with the show’s domineering director. Described as Ari Aster meets La La Land, this musical comedy is one you won’t want to miss, as it is already an early favorite for the People’s Choice Award.
Elsinore. Directed by Simon Stone
If there is an actor with an overdue Oscar nomination narrative, it’s Andrew Scott. Now, he may finally have the chance to earn that elusive nomination for his performance in Elsinore. The film follows the true story of Ian Charleson, who took on the role of Hamlet just weeks before his death from AIDS, a performance that is regarded as one of the great theatrical performances of all time. Equal parts tragic and inspirational, this true story promises to be an emotional tear-jerker, following a man who takes on the seemingly impossible in the face of death.
Everybody Wants to F*ck Me. Directed by Jonathan Schey
If there were an award for Best-Titled Film at TIFF, Jonathan Schey’s Everybody Wants to F*ck Me would easily take home the prize. Based on the title alone, you already know what kind of film you’re getting into. The film follows a womanizer, played by Taron Egerton, who suddenly finds himself irresistible to women, forcing him into an increasingly uncomfortable situation. Equal parts thriller and dark comedy, Everybody Wants to F*ck Me takes on the precarious world of modern dating.
The Face of Horror. Directed by Anna Biller
The queen of pastel Technicolor and horror has finally returned to the silver screen. The Face of Horror, the latest film from Anna Biller, combines the romantic chivalry of classic literature with bloody revenge, all coated in beautiful pastel hues. Starring Kristine Frostest, Jonah Hauer-King, and Bella Heathcote, this Midnight Madness selection is one you won’t want to miss.
Ink. Directed by Danny Boyle
The Sun forever changed how we consume the news. Now, watch as Danny Boyle’s latest feature, Ink, shows how they changed the news in the first place. Following the rise of tabloid media, the film tells the wild true story of a group of misfits and visionaries who transformed the news landscape. Starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce, and Claire Foy, Ink promises to be a raucous look at the people who changed how we consume the news.
I Play Rocky. Directed by Peter Farrelly
When my father showed me Rocky for the first time, he told me the story of how Sylvester Stallone had to sell his dog just to put food on the table because he couldn’t afford to feed him. But after selling the rights to his screenplay for Rocky and finally convincing studio executives to let him play the titular character, Stallone went back and bought his dog for $15,000. The story behind Rocky is almost as inspirational as the film itself. Not only is it one of the most influential sports films in history, but its creation is a quintessential rags-to-riches story about refusing to give up on your dreams. Now, Peter Farrelly brings the making of Rocky to life. Starring Anthony Ippolito, Stephan James, and Matt Dillon, the film tells the long, unlikely, and inspirational story of how one of cinema’s greatest underdog stories finally made it to the big screen.
Look Back. Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Adapting an animated feature into live action is no small feat, as it is one of the most difficult types of adaptations to pull off. However, that doesn’t scare Hirokazu Kore-eda, who is bringing the animated masterpiece Look Back to life in a live-action adaptation. Promising to honor the original while also giving the story a fresh spin, Kore-eda’s Look Back aims to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to animated adaptations. Be on the lookout for this one.
Misty Green. Directed by Chris Rock
Chris Rock returns to the director’s chair more than a decade after his previous directorial outing. However, instead of directing another screwball comedy, he’s taking on something more poignant. Starring Rosalind Eleazar, Adam Driver, and Daniel Kaluuya, the film follows Misty Green, a former Hollywood breakout star whose career is beginning to stall. Part dramedy and part commentary on Hollywood’s treatment of women, Misty Green promises to showcase a more dramatic side of Chris Rock that we have rarely seen before.
Possible Love. Directed by Lee Chang-dong
It has been nearly a decade since Lee Chang-dong’s last film, Burning. Now, he returns to the silver screen with his latest feature, Possible Love. Starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, the film follows a group of documentary filmmakers who cross paths with a recently laid-off worker and his wife. Along the way, they are forced to confront their deepest desires. Promising to be a moving drama about love, connection, and the human experience, Possible Love is one to keep on your radar.
Tender Loving Care. Directed by Mike Leigh
According to seven-time Oscar nominee and Palme d’Or-winning writer and director Mike Leigh, Tender Loving Care will most likely be his final film, as he is currently battling an undisclosed illness. With a career spanning more than 50 years, it is difficult to imagine what a filmmaker’s final film might look like. For Leigh, he has chosen to tell the story of a devoted social worker who specializes in end-of-life care and is forced to confront her own parents’ mortality as her father begins to show signs of dementia. Starring Widow’s Bay breakout Kate O’Flynn, Alice Bailey Johnson, and Marion Bailey, Tender Loving Care is a film about confronting and processing our own mortality. Given its subject matter, it feels like a fitting potential farewell to a filmmaker whose career has spanned more than five decades.
Wild Horse Nine. Directed by Martin McDonagh
Former People’s Choice Award winner Martin McDonagh returns to TIFF with his latest feature, Wild Horse Nine. Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, the film follows two CIA agents, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, who are dispatched to Easter Island. As the two partners wrestle with their dark pasts, one of them begins to bond with a pair of rebellious students, threatening to throw their entire mission sideways. Equal parts smart, funny, and crime thriller, Wild Horse Nine looks like a classic crowd-pleaser, with McDonagh once again aiming to charm audiences with his trademark witty dialogue. It’s an early favorite for the People’s Choice Award.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Directed by Bassam Tariq
If you want a glimpse of what Marvel’s now-canceled Blade film might have looked like, look no further than Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Starring Mahershala Ali, the film follows a deeply religious hitman struggling to balance his work, faith, and fatherhood after the death of his wife. When the dark criminal underbelly of Houston, Texas, begins to creep into his life, he is thrown into a journey that challenges everything he believes in. Promising to showcase the sword-fighting skills Ali trained for Blade, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother may leave audiences questioning Marvel’s decision to cancel Blade.
Leave a Reply