#TIFF13: MR. WILL’S HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2013 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

With great sadness, we must say farewell to another TIFF.  And with fatigue, a limp in my right foot and great pain in my neck today after a gruelling run these past 11 days, I look back at the happy times, the regrets and what TIFF ’14 might hold.  Despite all these mixed emotions, I know it won’t be long before I’m begging for more!  I live for the Toronto International Film Festival – the greatest in Film Festival the World – and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.

 

Here’s a look back at some of the Highlights for me of the Festival in Compiled Lists:

 

MR. WILL’S MOST GRACIOUS 10

Anyone who encountered these Stars up-close and personal during TIFF ’13 can vouch that they deserve a warm round of applause for the respect, appreciation and courtesy they’ve shown our City. Whether it be Jessica Chastain‘s consistent grace and humility towards her Fans, Brad Pitt‘s surprise Red Carpet appearance in which he took several Photos with Fans at the 12 Years a Slave Premiere, Hugh Jackman stopping in the rain outside the Press Conference for Prisoners to meet and great all his Supporters individually – these Stars understand exactly what the Festival is all about for us Fans!

1. Jessica Chastain
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Tom Hiddleston
4. Daniel Radcliffe
5.. Brad Pitt
6. Josh Brolin
7. Hugh Jackman
8. Jennifer Aniston
9. Nicolas Cage
10. Emma Thompson

 

MR. WILL’S  SUCCESSFUL 6

These six Films gained a great amount of buzz and momentum coming out of TIFF ’13 in advance of their forthcoming Awards Season Best Picture Campaigns.  Sadly, August: Osage Country didn’t wind up getting critical love universally (I enjoyed it much!) hoped for, but it still remains a major Contender in the Acting categories – especially for a heartbreakingly-absent Queen Meryl Streep.

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Labor Day
3. Dallas Buyers Club
4. Prisoners
5. Gravity
6. Rush

 

MR. WILL’S EMERGING 5

These five up-and coming Stars caused quite a stir wherever they spotted around TIFF ’13.  This time next year, expect to know them pretty much on a first name-basis.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Emilia Clarke
3. Daniel Brühl
4. Jai Courtney
5. Taylor Schilling

 

MR. WILL’S NAUGHTY LIST

Although we try to keep things positive here, we remain hopeful that next time these Stars visit our City, they show us a bit more Fan Appreciation – not just only when the Cameras are on – than they showed this year.  Little things like picking-up a  Sharpie or taking time to pose for Photos with Fans, or maybe not distancing themselves a 15 feet from the Barricades where their Fans had queued for hours to see them, would be a first step.  In all fairness, some had hyper-assertive Handlers or lateness to blame.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Mila Kunis
5. Emilia Clarke

 

MR. WILL’S FASHIONABLE 5

These Stars certainly made a Statement whether it be out and about in our City or on the Red Carpet. I still cannot get over Kitsch‘s gray-on-gray Suit he wore at the Premiere of The Grand Seduction and certainly was a bit obsessed with Toni Collette‘s new Bangs. Julia Roberts was a Vision in her Dolce & Gabbana Dress at the Premiere of August: Osage County too, but my favourite look was Sandra Bullock at the Gravity Premiere in Narciso Rodriguez!

1. Sandra Bullock
2. Julia Roberts
3. Taylor Kitsch
4. Toni Collette
5. Jessica Chastain

 

And who exactly did Mr. Will got a Photo-with at TIFF ’13?

Ben Cotton, Dane Cook, Jason Reitman, Josh Brolin, Nicole Kidman, Anika Noni Rose, Bill Condon, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, Jack Huston, Tom Arnold, John Torturro, Lauren Lee Smith, Sami Gayle, Mary Walsh, Saoirse Ronan, Michael C. Hall, Tye Sheridan, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kelly Rowan, Daniel Radcliffe, Taylor Schilling, Effie Exarchopoulos, Dan Stevens, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, Tom Hiddleston, deadmau5, Carice Van Houten, Tom Welling, Vanessa Paradis, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Taylor Kitsch, Toni Collette, Dakota Fanning, Jai Courtney, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Emilia Clarke, Jared Harris, Adelaide Kane, James Lafferty, Jennifer Morrison, David Arquette, Alfre Woodard, Ryan Kwanten, Catherine O’Hara, Mark Boone Junior, Will Forte, Emma Thompson, Cara Gee, Demian Bichir, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Alfonso Cuaron, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Thompson (again!), Lea Seydoux, Robert Baker, Amanda Walsh, Adam Driver, Keanu Reeves and Nicolas Cage.

 

To re-visit some of the amazing names that I snapped in the City over the Festival, click here.

To read some of my Reviews of the Films that premiered at TIFF ’13, click here.  More Reviews to come over the next day or two as I play catch-up after all the madness.

 

…until next year, Wongsters!

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos taken on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5

#TIFF13: STARS IN AND AROUND THE CITY AT THE 2013 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | COLIN HANKS, ZAC EFRON, JACKI WEAVER, KRISTEN WIIG, LAUREN LEE SMITH, NICOLE KIDMAN, JOSH BROLIN, DANE COOK

We definitely didn’t sleep much last night and now we’re up and at it again!

 

After spotting him out and about last night, Colin Hanks was up and at ’em early this morning doing a Photo Call for his TIFF ’13 Film, Parkland in which he stars as one of the Doctors responsible for trying to save President John F. Kennedy.  Not much Fan love though today as he was quick to throw a handwave and go.  Saving it for the Red Carpet tonight perhaps?

 

Canadian Actor Ben Cotton was all smiles walking over to his Photo Call for Family Drama Cinemanovels, debuting tonight at Scotiabank Theatre.

 

Jennifer Beals certainly hasn’t aged one bit since her Flashdance days. She stars in Cinemanovels, which premieres tonight and was gracious to stop to sign some Autographs for Fans, wishing them a great day.

 

Canadian Beauty Lauren Lee Smith stopped to chat with Fans before arriving at a Photo Call for Cinemanovels, premiering tonight at TIFF ’13, sporting an amazing new Haircut.

 

Double Academy Award-Nominee Jacki Weaver just might get another nomination for her intense performance in Parkland, starring as the Mother of JFK‘s Killer, Lee Harvey Oswald. Here she is arriving at her Photo Call.

 

Zac Efron without fail always draws screams wherever he goes and such was the case as he surprised at a Photo Call for Parkland, premiering tonight at TIFF ’13.  Efron plays a Doctor in charge of saving the late JFK‘s life and he was great to stop to sign some Autographs for Fans after promising to do so after a rushed arrival.

 

Funnywoman Kristen Wiig always brings a smile to our faces, and did just that today arriving at the Premiere for her latest Film Loveship Hateship at the Princess of Wales Theatre.  What a Beauty!  Too bad she missed half of the Fans who lined-up hours to meet her when signing Autographs.

 

Sami Gayle might seem an unfamiliar face, but the Blue Bloods Star surely appears to be developing quite a Fan Base judging by the cheers and screams for her as she arrived on the Red Carpet for the Premiere of Loveship Hateship.  She was lovely to make time for many of her Fans, crossing the road amidst Street Car Traffic to greet them.

  The breathtakingly beautiful Nicole Kidman presented her latest Film, The Railway Man starring Colin Firth tonight at Roy Thomson Hall and after the Premiere, we caught up with the Oscar Winner at her Afterparty where she basically made my dreams come true by taking a Photo with me and my Buddy Christine.  She’s even more tall and elegant in person. Goddess.  The Man of the Hour certainly is Director Jason Reitman who has created somewhat of a new Tradition at TIFF with his Live Readings with All-Star Casts of some of our favourite Films.  Last year it was American Beauty, this year it is Boogie Nights.  Held at Ryerson Theatre tonight, Reitman managed to nab the likes of Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, Josh Brolin, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde, to participate in the Reading. Reitman is represented at TIFF ’13 with Labor Day which already is garnering major Awards Buzz.   Like Father, like Son.  Ivan Reitman came out to support his Son’s Boogie Nights Reading at Ryerson Theatre.    Known best for his Films including Ghostbusters, Hitchcock and Kindergarten Cop, it’s great to see a Filmmaker as accomplished as him still make time for his younger Fans.  Funnyman Dane Cook was a late addition to Jason Reitman‘s Boogie Nights Live Reading and his Fans were given a rare chance to interact with the Star of Disney‘s Planes.  He is an absolute pleasure to see in person, Fan-friendly, while some of the others were quick to leave and disregard Fans.  Few can complain that Josh Brolin is a great sport.  The Star of Labor Day, which premieres tomorrow night at Ryerson Theatre, he partook in Jason Reitman‘s Boogie Nights Live Read, reuniting him once again with the Director. Despite signing-up a storm of Autographs for Fans on his way into the Screening, he equally was amazing on his way out.  He looks amazing, don’t you agree?   (Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong) *Photos shot on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5