#TIFF20: COMPLETE FILM LINE-UP ANNOUNCED AT 2020 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

By Mr. Will Wong

The complete list of Films to premiere at the 45th Toronto International Film Festival was released earlier today. More than ever, this year’s films are focused on representation and inclusion being a point of focus. We see loud and clear, movies this year about women, black people, indigenous people and people of colour.

Added to the slate are films like Kornél Mundruczó‘s PIECES OF A WOMAN starring The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby as a woman coping with the loss of her baby; Viggo Mortensen‘s directorial debut FALLING, shot here in Toronto, about a gay man dealing with his prejudiced father Emma Seligman‘s SHIVA BABY starring Molly Gordon (Good Boys) about a young woman who runs into her sugar daddy at a funeral with her family; J Blakeson‘s I CARE A LOT is about a legal conservator (Rosamund Pike) who defrauds elderly clients who has a run-in with a gangster;Cathy Brady‘s WILDFIRE starring Anne Heche, centering on a young girl who releases a dark secret in her friendship with a wild horse;  Sonia Kennebeck‘s Documentary ENEMIES OF THE STATE which is about a family targeted by the U.S. government when it is learned their son is a hacker; Florian Zeller‘s THE FATHER starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, centering on a man who refuses help from his daughter and his coping with aging; the Horror SHADOW IN THE CLOUD by Roseanne Liang and starring Chloë Grace Moretz, about a WWII pilot travelling with top secret documents, who discovers an evil force; and Regina King‘s ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI where we see Boxer Cassius Clay work together with Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brow to change the course of history in the segregated South. Mira Nair‘s A SUITABLE BOY is set to close the Festival.

These are in addition to some of the centerpiece films announced prior like AMMONITE, NOMADLAND, GOOD JOE BELL, CONCRETE COWBOY, BRUISED and Opening Night Gala DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA.

Canadian representation is also very pronounced with Director Aisling Chin-Yee returning with NO ORDINARY MAN, a Documentary about a transgender Jazz Musician Billy Tipton who for many years was framed as an ambitious woman passing as a man in pursuit of music career. Others include Tracey Deer‘s BEANS, Michelle Latimer‘s two films INCONVENIENT INDIAN and TRICKSTER and both Madeleine Sims-Fewer/Dusty Mancinelli co-directed VIOLATION.

On this year’s lineup, TIFF Co-Head and Artistic Director says, “This year’s lineup reflects that tumult. The names you already know are doing brand new things this year, and there’s a whole crop of exciting new names to discover.”.

Complete line-up below:

180 Degree Rule Farnoosh Samadi | Iran
76 Days Hao Wu, Anonymous, Weixi Chen | USA
Ammonite Francis Lee | United Kingdom
Another Round (Druk) Thomas Vinterberg | Denmark
Bandar Band Manijeh Hekmat | Iran/Germany
Beans Tracey Deer | Canada
Beginning (Dasatskisi) Dea Kulumbegashvili | Georgia/France
The Best is Yet to Come (Bu Zhi Bu Xiu) Wang Jing | China
Bruised Halle Berry | USA
City Hall Frederick Wiseman | USA
Concrete Cowboy Ricky Staub | USA
David Byrne’s American Utopia Spike Lee | USA (Opening Night Film)
The Disciple Chaitanya Tamhane | India
Enemies of the State Sonia Kennebeck | USA
Falling Viggo Mortensen | Canada/United Kingdom
The Father Florian Zeller | United Kingdom/France
Fauna Nicolás Pereda | Mexico/Canada
Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer | United Kingdom/USA
Gaza mon amour Tarzan Nasser, Arab Nasser | Palestine/France/Germany/Portugal/Qatar
Get the Hell Out (Tao Chu Li Fa Yuan) I-Fan Wang | Taiwan
Good Joe Bell Reinaldo Marcus Green | USA
I Care A Lot J Blakeson | United Kingdom
Inconvenient Indian Michelle Latimer | Canada
The Inheritance Ephraim Asili | USA
Lift Like a Girl (Ash Ya Captain) Mayye Zayed | Egypt/Germany/Denmark
Limbo Ben Sharrock | United Kingdom
Memory House (Casa de Antiguidades) João Paulo Miranda Maria | Brazil/France
MLK/FBI Sam Pollard | USA
The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel Joel Bakan, Jennifer Abbott | Canada
New Order (Nuevo orden) Michel Franco | Mexico
Night of the Kings (La Nuit des Rois) Philippe Lacôte | Côte d’Ivoire/France/Canada/Senegal
Nomadland Chloé Zhao | USA
No Ordinary Man Aisling Chin-Yee, Chase Joynt | Canada
Notturno Gianfranco Rosi | Italy/France/Germany
One Night in Miami Regina King | USA
Penguin Bloom Glendyn Ivin | Australia
Pieces of a Woman Kornél Mundruczó | USA/Canada/Hungary
Preparations to Be Together For an Unknown Period of Time (Felkészülés meghatározatlan ideig tartó együttlétre) Lili Horvát | Hungary
Quo Vadis, Aïda? Jasmila Žbanić | Bosnia and Herzegovina/Norway/The Netherlands/Austria/Romania/France/Germany/Poland/Turkey
Shadow In The Cloud Roseanne Liang | USA/New Zealand
Shiva Baby Emma Seligman | USA/Canada
Spring Blossom Suzanne Lindon | France
A Suitable Boy Mira Nair | United Kingdom/India (Closing Night Presentation)
Summer of 85 (Été 85) François Ozon | France
The Third Day Felix Barrett, Dennis Kelly | United Kingdom
Trickster Michelle Latimer | Canada
True Mothers (Asa Ga Kuru) Naomi Kawase | Japan
Under the Open Sky (Subarashiki Sekai) Miwa Nishikawa | Japan
Violation Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli | Canada
Wildfire Cathy Brady | United Kingdom/Ireland

The Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10–19, 2020.

More here on Films and their respective Programmes.

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: DISNEY•PIXAR ANNOUNCE UPCOMING FEATURE “LUCA”

Pixar have announced their latest Film coming out next summer. LUCA takes us away on an escape to Italy! Storyboard Artist/Director Enrico Casarosa will helm the Feature.

Synopsis:

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides.  Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface. 

No word yet on casting.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release LUCA Friday, June 18, 2021.

(Photo credit: Pixar)

#FIRSTLOOK: “BLACK BEAUTY” COMING SOON TO DISNEY+

Amazing news! Disney+ has just announced that we will be seeing a new adaptation of the classic BLACK BEAUTY on the service later this year!

Synopsis:

Black Beauty is a wild mustang born free in the American west. When she is captured and taken away from family, her story intertwines with that of 17-year old Jo Green, similarly grieving over the loss of her parents. The two slowly develop a bond that is built on love, respect and mutual healing. “Black Beauty” features Oscar® winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader”) as the voice of “Black Beauty” and stars Mackenzie Foy (“Interstellar”) as Jo Green; Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) as John Manly; and Claire Forlani (“Meet Joe Black”) as Mrs. Winthorp.

First look:

(Photo credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: 2020 PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Nominations for the 72nd annual Primetime EMMY Awards were announced today, with SUCCESSION, WATCHMEN, SCHITT’S CREEK and MRS. AMERICA leading the way. This is a first for Canada and the Cast of SCHITT’S CREEK with all four of its stars being nominated. It hasn’t yet been confirmed how the show will be presented in terms of a virtual or in-person format.
Nominees in major TV Series, Movies and Mini-Series are below:

Drama Series

“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“The Crown” (Netflix)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
“Killing Eve” (BBC America/AMC)
“The Mandalorian” (Disney Plus)
“Ozark” (Netflix)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“Succession” (HBO)

Comedy Series

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Dead to Me” (Netflix)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“Insecure” (HBO)
“The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Limited Series

“Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu)
“Mrs. America” (Hulu)
“Unbelievable” (Netflix)
“Unorthodox” (Netflix)
“Watchmen” (HBO)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”)
Brian Cox (“Succession”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Jeremy Strong (“Succession”)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Zendaya (“Euphoria”)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)
Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)
Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”)
Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”)
Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”)
Paul Mescal (“Normal People”)
Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”)
Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”)
Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”)
Regina King (“Watchmen”)
Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”)
Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)
Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)
Nicholas Braun (“Succession”)
Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)
Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)
Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”)
Julia Garner (“Ozark”)
Sarah Snook (“Succession”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”)
Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Sterling K. Brown (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Mahershala Ali (“Ramy”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”)
Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”)
Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Dylan McDermott (“Hollywood”)
Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”)
Jovan Adepo (“Watchmen”)
Louis Gossett Jr. (“Watchmen”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”)
Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”)
Margo Martindale (“Mrs. America”)
Tracey Ullman (“Mrs. America”)
Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”)
Jean Smart (“Watchmen”)

Reality Competition

“The Masked Singer” (FOX)
“Nailed It” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Variety Sketch Series

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Variety Talk Series

“Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

The 2020 Primetime Emmys air on ABC Sunday, September 20, 2020, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

(Photo credit: ABC)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE KILLING OF PHILLIP BOUDREAU” TRAILER

In 2013, a man was killed for a fisherman for poaching lobster, sending shockwaves through an entire community in Nova Scotia.

Synopsis:

The Killing of Phillip Boudreau, a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Megan Wennberg, Tell Tale Productions, and CBC Docs POV, tells the story of a death that tore apart the Nova Scotia community of Isle Madame. On June 1, 2013, halfway through the spring lobster season, the crew of the lobster fishing vessel the ‘Twin Maggies’ killed notorious local poacher Phillip Boudreau. The gruesome crime shook the close-knit community to its core, with repercussions that are still felt today. The homicide underscored the glaring and complex social issues within a remote Maritime community wrought with hardened ideals of masculinity, pride, and history. The crime was dubbed ‘Murder for Lobster,’ and while this made a clickable headline, it ignored the larger problems at play, causing harm that is still felt throughout the community seven years later.

See the Trailer:

THE KILLING OF PHILLIP BOUDREAU airs on CBC DOCS POV. Coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: CBC)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “AFTER WE COLLIDED”

The new Trailer for AFTER WE COLLIDED has surfaced. This second installment adapted from Anna Todd‘s wildly-popular Young Adult Fiction series is in theatres soon!

Synopsis:

Hardin will always be… Hardin. But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with— or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of the passionate nights they spent together. Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She’s focused on her studies and just starting an exciting new internship at Vance Publishing. She’s also being pursued by Trevor, a handsome new co-worker who is exactly the kind of guy she should be with. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He wants to right his wrongs and overcome his demons. He’s not going to lose Tessa without a fight. But can he change? Will he change… for love? AFTER WE COLLIDED… Life will never be the same.

See the Trailer:

VVS Films release AFTER WE COLLIDED Friday, September 11, 2020.

We loved chatting with stars Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Josephine Langford and Author Anna Todd. Our interview here.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: CHLOE ZHAO’S “NOMADLAND” TO PREMIERE AT TIFF ’20

Chinese-born and L.A.-based Filmmaker Chloé Zhao won accolades with 2017’s The Rider and since then has signed-on to direct Marvel’s The Eternals. Coming next is her Film, NOMADLAND starring and produced by Frances McDormand which will be doing the Festival rounds at at the New York, Venice and Toronto International Film Festival. The latter two will premiere on September 11, 2020. Telluride also will be hosting a special Drive-In Screening in lieu of their Festival being cancelled this year.

Synopsis:

NOMADLAND marks the first project between Zhao and Searchlight and the fifth between McDormand and Searchlight. McDormand won an Oscar for her performance in Martin McDonagh’s film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which Searchlight released globally in 2017. Zhao adapted NOMADLAND from journalist Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century following McDormand and producer Peter Spears’ acquisition of the literary adaptation rights shortly after publication. The film follows Fern (McDormand), a woman who, after the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The film features real nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.

Searchlight Pictures release NOMADLAND this Fall.

(Photo credit: Searchlight Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: TAAFI VIRTUAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES PANEL WITH THE WRITER/DIRECTOR OF “THE WILLOUGHBYS”, KRIS PEARN

Fans of the acclaimed Animated Feature THE WILLOUGHBYS are in for a real treat! The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International present a Behind-the-Scenes Panel with the Film’s Writer/Director and Sheridan College graduate, Kris Pearn.

The Willoughbys is available now for streaming only on Netflix. Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family. Starring Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais.

Others to speak at the Panel include:

Rob Lodermeir – Co-Director

Sebastian Brodin – Director of Cinematography (TBC)

Fiona Toth – Lead Editor

Kyle McQueen – Production Designer

Helén Ahlberg – Head of FX

Aniket Natekar – Animation Lead

Mark Stanleigh – Co-writer and Storyboard Artist

The Panel takes place virtually Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 PM. Click here to register for a spot.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

#COOKING: PULLED JACKFRUIT SANDWICHES & KOREAN CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE

Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches & Korean Cucumber Salad. Summer’s here and this is a fun way to celebrate flavours of the season and we are doing it clean and meatless here. You’ve got crunch, chew, heat and cool all-in-one. If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying Jackfruit, you’re in for a treat. This beloved fleshy fruit of both South and Southeast Asia looks a bit like a Durian (without the stench), but is closer to the taste and texture of Pineapple. If you visit your Asian grocer now, you should be able to find it as it’s in peak season right now. Instead of pork, we’re doing this with Jackfruit but if you like you can even do this with Tofu.

Pulled Jackfruit:

2 1/2 cups of Jackfruit flesh, minced
1 Avocado, pitted and cut into 1″ slices
1/4 cup Barbecque Sauce
1/4 cup cashews, unsalted
2 tbsps Ketchup
1 tbsp Gochujang
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Maple Syrup
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
Sea salt and pepper

Water
Olive oil
Juice of one lime wedge
Hamburger Buns
Havarti or Cheddar Cheese Slices

Korean Cucumber Salad:

10-12 mini cucumbers or 1 large cucumber, cut into 3 mm-thick slices
3 tbsps rice vinegar
3 tbsps sesame oil
1 1/2 tbsps organic raw sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Fish Sauce (optional)
1 tbsp black or white sesame seeds, toasted
1 stalk green onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper/Korean Red Pepper Powder
Sea salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. On medium-high heat, heat oil in skillet.
2. In bowl, season Jackfruit in salt, peppers, paprika, garlic and onion powders, brown sugar.
3. Place Jackfruit in skillet and brown for 4-5 minutes.
4. In small bowl, mix Barbecque Sauce, Ketchup, Gochujang, syrup and soy sauce.
5. Pour sauce and water (about 1/2 cup or more) into skillet and coat Jackfruit. Bring to boil.
6. Reduce heat to a simmer on medium-low heat, covered for about 20-30 minutes.
7. Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Allow mixture to thicken (4-5 minutes), stirring occasionally and scraping bits at bottom. Once thick, turn-off heat and remove from heat.
8. In large bowl, prepare Korean Cucumber Salad. Whisk rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, fish sauce, peppers and salt. Toss-in cucumber slices, garlic, sesame and green onion. Refrigerate sealed for up to 2 days.
9. Toast cashews, cradling in foil in toaster oven. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper over top and toast for a few minutes till slightly darkened.
10. Season avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper.
11. Toast hamburger buns slightly with cheese till melted.
12. Spoon Jackfruit mixture on top of bun with cheese. Place 2-3 avocado slices on-top. Sprinkle cashews as well. Plate with side of Korean Cucumber Salad. Serves 4.

Gallery:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 26, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: STEAK WITH GARLIC BUTTER & TATERS RECIPE

Steak with Garlic Butter & Taters. Simple is best sometimes and we’re serving you literal meat ‘n’ potatoes. Our Ninja Air Fryer takes something this basic and elevates it! These Taters are crisp and light, while the Steak is impossibly tender and juicy if you follow these steps.

Taters:
3 medium white potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into 1″-thick wedges
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
2 tablespoons baking powder
Sea salt and coarsely-ground black pepper

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:
1. Soak potatoes in salt water for 10 minutes.
2. Pat extremely-well with paper towels.
3. Toss wedges in drizzle of olive oil, spices, garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper and baking powder.
4. Heat Air Fryer at 400°F on Air Fryer mode. Pre-heat 3 minutes.
5. Fry for about 11-12 minutes, turning with tongs at the 8-minute mark. Fry in batches of 10 at a time.

Steak with Garlic Butter:
10 oz Rib Steak
Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper
4 tbsps unsalted butter
1 tsp parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, whip garlic, parsley, Worcestershire Sauce and 1/8 tsp salt. Take parchment paper and roll into a log and refrigerate till firm.
2. Season steak in sea salt, paprika and pepper for at least an hour. Keep chilled and leave out at room temperature 30 minutes before cooking
3. Set Air Fryer at 400°F on Air Fryer mode.
4. Drizzle steak with a bit of olive oil and fry for no more than 8-9 minutes, no need to turn.
5. When ready to serve, slice garlic butter and garnish with a bit of parsley and accompany with Taters.

Gallery:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 24, 2020 at 1:33pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)