#TIFF20: “NOMADLAND”

By Mr. Will Wong All eyes are on Chloé Zhao who debuted at TIFF '17 with The Rider, topping several best-of lists that year. While her work on Marvel's The Eternals is on its way to us, sophomore effort NOMADLAND comes with high hopes and she does not disappoint. The Film centers on Fern (Frances McDormand), a widow whom after the economic crash in 2008, loses her home and lives a content life free to roam as a nomad. Not yet able to retire, she lives out of her sometimes reliable van, ... Read more

#TIFF20: “SPRING BLOSSOM”

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong Despite her luminous smile, it becomes quickly apparent that 16-year-old Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is bored. She is clearly not interested in the nonsensical prattle of her friends and classmates and escapes being in their company as often as possible. Even when she decides to go to a classmate’s house party, much to the surprise of her parents and older sister, she doesn’t quite fit in – she doesn’t like beer and when asked to rate all the boys ... Read more

#TIFF20: IN CONVERSATION WITH…. HALLE BERRY

By Mr. Will Wong As per of TIFF's SHARE HER JOURNEY initiative promoting emerging females in Film, the public got to enjoy a free virtual event, In Conversation with.... Halle Berry tonight, hosted by CBC's Amanda Parris. Having been in the industry for over 30 years, Berry's career has been nothing short of legendary. In addition to winning an Oscar for her work in 2001's Monster's Ball, her extraordinary catalog has seen her star in the X-Men Franchise, John Wick: Chapter 3 - ... Read more

#TIFF20: “SING ME A LULLABY”

By Mr. Will Wong Premiering as part of TIFF's SHORT CUTS Programme 05, Tiffany Hsiung written and directed SING ME A LULLABY has been 15 years in-the-making. The Documentary follows Toronto's Hsiung who is in search of her maternal grandmother in Taipei, trying to fill-in the missing gaps of her mother Ru-Wen's childhood, as she was separated from her family inexplicably as a child. While the Short which clocks in at 30 minutes, moves along briskly in its first-half, it is the ... Read more

#TIFF20: “FALLING”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Viggo Mortensen’s Toronto-made directorial debut follows a turbulent relationship between father and son. With Falling, Mortensen examines the strong bond between relatives even after they’ve become severed. The focus here is on the relationship between John (Mortensen) and his ill yet overtly profane father Willis (Lance Henriksen). Early, the conflict starts with ... Read more

#TIFF20: “THE FATHER”

Review by Mr. Will Wong While many Films before have tackled the issue of Dementia and father-daughter relations, we have yet to see it treated as delicately and with as much sympathy as this. Florian Zeller co-written and directed THE FATHER left us mesmerized and devastated at once. Anne (Olivia Colman) is ready to move on with her life and desires to move to Paris. Her father Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) has been able to take care of himself for quite some time but now is battling ... Read more

#TIFF20: “SHIVA BABY”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Perennial undergrad student Dani (Rachel Sennot) is at a crossroads in her life. She doesn’t know what to do with her career and she’s in a money-exchange relationship with an older man Max (Danny Deferrari). When her parents haul her to a Shiva (a Jewish mourning event), her past, present and future converge in one house. Surprisingly, she encounters her ex Maya (Molly Gordon) and current flame Max. At once, she is hounded by questions from ... Read more

#TIFF20: “THE WAY I SEE IT”

By Mr. Will Wong Pete Souza is the former Chief Official White House Photographer and is the fascinating subject of Dawn Porter's Documentary, THE WAY I SEE IT. While serving as a portrait of a Photographer who has witnessed many momumental things in his career, this Laura Dern-produced piece ultimately is a love letter to President Obama's legacy on America in these uncertain times. The Film follows Sousa's career from President Reagan's days in the White House. While he admits he ... Read more

#TIFF20: A PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE

By Mr. Will Wong My love of Film and Stars go hand-in-hand. I'll never forget seeing my first Film at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2001. After spending a couple weeks in Singapore earlier that Summer and hearing nothing but raves about Chicken Rice War, I thought I’d never get a chance to see it back home in Toronto. The chance came at the Festival, I got my ticket and being fashionably-late always, I remember being guided into a full theatre at Varsity Cinema by a volunteer ... Read more

#TIFF20: ANNOUNCING OFFICIAL FESTIVAL PARTNERS FOR MR. WILL WONG

It's that time of the year again! We admit TIFF '20 couldn't gave come any sooner as it is the highlight of our year every year. While our expectations have been managed of a reduced Festival in light of our current climate, we still plan to celebrate the best Film Festival in the world however we can. We understand the star power won't be here in the City like previous years, but we are still excited to deliver you content just as you were there with us at the Festival! We've got our Films ... Read more