Additional Honourees have been announced for this year’s TIFF TRIBUTE GALA at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, is delighted to announce that Academy Award®–winning Icelandic artist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will be honoured with the Variety Artisan Award, and that Award-winning Welsh Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini will be honoured with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM at the annual TIFF Tribute Awards. Now in its fourth year, the TIFF Tribute Awards presented by BVLGARI will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Guðnadóttir composed the score for Sarah Polley’s highly anticipated film Women Talking, a fearless adaptation of Miriam Toews’ acclaimed novel set in 2010 rural America, where the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling their reality with their faith, starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand. Women Talking from MGM’s Orion Pictures will have its International Premiere at the Festival on September 13 and is distributed by Universal Canada. Writer-director El Hosaini’s The Swimmers, which dramatizes the true story of two sisters who left their home in war-torn Syria for a new life in Europe and the chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics, co-written by multi-award-winner Jack Thorne, will have its World Premiere as the Opening Night Gala Presentation on September 8.
“Both Hildur Guðnadóttir and Sally El Hosaini are singular artists who continue to expand the horizons of their disciplines,” said Bailey. “We’re proud to present TIFF Tribute Awards to Guðnadóttir for her remarkable score for Sarah Polley’s Women Talking, and El Hosaini for directing one of the most urgent, moving films of the year in The Swimmers.”
The TIFF Variety Artisan Award recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Previous recipients of the TIFF Variety Artisan Award include Ari Wegner in 2021; Terence Blanchard in 2020; and Roger Deakins in 2019.
“Variety is honoured to be presenting Hildur Guðnadóttir with our annual Artisan Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards,” said Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh. “We are looking forward to returning to an in-person awards programme at one of the most important festivals in the world. Highlighting Hildur’s work is a testament to Variety’s commitment to celebrating artisans.”
The TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM, is presented in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Previous recipients of the TIFF Emerging Talent Award include Danis Goulet in 2021; Tracey Deer in 2020; and Mati Diop in 2019.
“MGM is thrilled to join TIFF in honouring Sally El Hosaini with the 2022 TIFF Emerging Talent Award and championing this harrowing story,” said Chris Brearton, MGM’s Chief Operation Officer.
Guðnadóttir and El Hosaini join the recently-announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees, including Brendan Fraser, who will receive the ​​TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro; Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Sam Mendes, who will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award; and the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar. Stay tuned for more information on the 2022 TIFF Tribute Awards event and honouree announcements.
The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, and Chloé Zhao going on to win awards on the international stage. The TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film.
TIFF today has announced a new option for Festival-Goers under age 25!
Beginning August 25, audiences under the age of 25 will be able to take advantage of the Under-25 Festival Rush Pass. For just $29.00 (taxes + fees included), pass holders will be able to join the Rush lines at all TIFF venues for their chance to see this year’s most in-demand screenings and events for FREE.
In addition to the the Festival, TIFF’s Under-25 Free Pass offers fantastic year round benefits including:
Free TIFF Cinematheque screenings in 2022
25% off year-round tickets at TIFF Bell Lightbox
Earlier access to secure tickets to year-round events and screenings
Discounts on in-cinema tickets for subscription series
Discount on concessions and the TIFF Shop
Special perks and contests in The Weekly newsletter
Invitations to special events to connect with other young film lovers
After sign-up, your TIFF Under-25 Free Pass will allow you to take advantage of benefits immediately.
For more information on how to become an Under-25 Free Passholder and to purchase the Under-25 Festival Rush Pass, please visit tiff.net/under25
As TIFF prides itself on being “the people’s festival”, we are excited to increase the access and opportunity to a new generation of film lovers! Should you have any additional questions about the Festival Under- 25 Pass, please do not hesitate to reach out.
More here.
TIFF is delighted to announce the audience-pleasing In Conversation With… series. The In Conversation With… series features in-depth conversations with film artists, writers and cultural figures about their creative process. Packed with emotion and cultural significance, this series offers audiences a wide range of experiences. Additionally, TIFF is proud to announce that beginning August 25, TIFF Under-25 Members and TIFF Under-25 Free Pass holders may take advantage of the Under-25 Festival Rush Pass and purchase tickets in advance.
“Each year TIFF’s In Conversation With… section comes to life with unexpected surprises and moments,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “Audiences who attend these events are always left with a truly unforgettable memory.”
This year’s In Conversation With… series connects audiences and film lovers around the world with some of the most talented artists working in film and television. The 2022 lineup includes award-winning actors and creators who have helped shape the discourse in the entertainment industry and who are presenting their highly-anticipated new films at the Festival.
Damien Chazelle
Academy Award–winning writer-director Damien Chazelle continually pushes the boundaries of storytelling. His feature films as director have earned a staggering 23 Oscar nominations and 10 wins. His electrifying Whiplash (TIFF ’14) took audiences and critics alike by storm, and his next, La La Land (TIFF ’16 People’s Choice Award winner), was a playful and heartfelt ode to creativity set against the backdrop of contemporary Los Angeles. First Man (a TIFF ’18 Gala Presentation) took audiences on an exhilarating ride into the space age and explored the personal story behind Neil Armstrong’s famous walk on the face of the moon. His highly-anticipated upcoming film Babylon, set in 1920s LA, features an ensemble cast led by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Chazelle joins TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey to discuss his artistic drive and approach to storytelling.
Viola Davis & Gina Prince-Bythewood
The Woman King marks a new high point in both Viola Davis and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s remarkable careers. While Davis wowed fans in her role as whip-smart and charismatic defence lawyer Annalise Keating in the hit TV series How to Get Away With Murder (2014–2020), the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award winner has also built an impressive resume leading ensemble films such as Fences (2016), Widows (TIFF ’18), and, most recently, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). Prince-Bythewood shot onto the film scene with her beloved feature directorial debut, Love & Basketball (2000), for which she also wrote the screenplay. Since her debut, she has proven her storytelling, writing, and directing prowess again and again, focusing on stories about Black women in particular with such influential films as The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Beyond the Lights (TIFF ’14), and the wildly inventive blockbuster action thriller The Old Guard (2020). As we host the World Premiere of The Woman King at this year’s Festival, Davis and Prince-Bythewood join us for an in-depth conversation about the journey of making this stunning, paradigm-shifting film, their creative collaboration, and their respective artistic paths in Hollywood.
Lee Jung-jae & Jung Woo-sung
To say that Korean storytellers are having a moment would be a gross understatement. After more than two decades producing some of the most exciting and inventive films and television series of our time, Korean filmmakers, creators, and actors are finally receiving due recognition beyond their home country, with the recent awards-season successes of Parasite (TIFF ’19), Minari (TIFF ’20), and Squid Game. This year, the Festival proudly presents the latest films from two Korean superstars: Jung Woo-sung’s A Man of Reason, and Lee Jung-jae’s Hunt, which stars both Lee and Jung. Since their collaboration on City of the Rising Sun (1999), both have been key players in Korean cinema and TV and have been instrumental in its international success, with Lee starring in such mega-hits as The Thieves (2012), Assassination (2015), and Squid Game (2021); and Jung leading the casts of blockbuster films such as the Festival hit The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Cold Eyes (2013), and Steel Rain (2017). The two friends join us for an in-depth conversation about their respective careers, the unparalleled success of Korean filmmakers at home and abroad, and the process of stepping behind the camera as directors. Don’t miss this chance to hear from these two megastars in a rare joint public appearance in North America.
Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne is a master at connecting audiences with the emotional truth of his characters. Like many great performers, the theatre was his training ground. He won Tony and Olivier awards for his role as Mark Rothko’s assistant opposite Alfred Molina in Red (first produced in 2009 and directed by Michael Grandage, also at the Festival this year with My Policeman). Just this year he earned an Olivier award as the Emcee in the electrifying West End revival of Cabaret. On screen, Redmayne brought vulnerability to early and memorable roles in The Good Shepherd (2006) and as Marius Pontmercy in Les Miserables (2012). It was in The Theory of Everything (TIFF 2014) where he delivered his bravura performance as famed scientist Stephen Hawking. The role earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor and demonstrated his commitment to physically and emotionally inhabiting a character’s world. Redmayne was also a key member of the outstanding ensemble in The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020). In his latest Festival feature, TIFF ’22 Special Presentation The Good Nurse, Redmayne steps into the shoes of Charles Cullen, a former RN who is regarded as one of the most prolific serial killers in history. This special event will consider how Redmayne, within each of these roles, mines the vast depths of a character to uncover and reveal that which drives them.
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Canada)
The Toronto International Film Festival® today revealed that Jason Reitman’s Live Read will return to the Festival for an all-star event featuring a surprise cast. This year, the Montreal-born filmmaker will present a surprise screenplay in honour of his father, Ivan Reitman.
The live read is a unique event in which classic movie scripts are read by contemporary actors. A beloved film will be performed for audiences in a one-take read-through with Reitman narrating stage direction on Friday, September 9 at 3pm in the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre. This year’s cast and film title will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Jason Reitman Live Read delivers the pure nostalgia we love about our favourite movies, but charged with the excitement of live performance,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “This year we’re honoured to host one of his father’s movies for our audience. We can’t wait to see this event unfold!”
TIFF has previously welcomed Reitman and all-star casts for live table reads of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, Alan Ball’s American Beauty, John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club, and William Goldman’s The Princess Bride.
Jason Reitman created Live Read in October 2011, in collaboration with Elvis Mitchell, for the film society of Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA). The hit series featured The Breakfast Club (Jennifer Garner and Aaron Paul), The Apartment (Steve Carell and Natalie Portman), The Princess Bride (Paul Rudd), Shampoo (Bradley Cooper and Kate Hudson), The Big Lebowski (Seth Rogen), and Reservoir Dogs, which featured an all-African American cast including actors Laurence Fishburne and Terrence Howard.
For more information, please see tiff.net. Tickets to Jason Reitman’s Live Read 2022 will be available to purchase starting September 3 for TIFF Members and September 5 for the public, subject to availability.
TIFF announced today this year’s talent development programmes and participants, including TIFF Rising Stars, TIFF Filmmaker Lab, TIFF Series Accelerator, the CHANEL Women Writers’ Network Micro Talent Summit, TIFF Micki Moore Residency, and TIFF Talent Accelerator.
“There’s an explosion of new talent telling new stories and changing the creative landscape,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “By providing participants with mentorship from industry professionals, access to insider knowledge, and tools to develop their projects, TIFF aims to play a key role in supporting the most exciting new voices today who will shape the industry of the future. We’re thrilled to add two new initiatives this year ― TIFF Series Accelerator and the CHANEL Women Writers’ Network Micro Talent Summit ― to expand our support to even more creators.”
“Our Talent Development programmes make space for promising filmmakers and on-screen talent from around the world with diverse approaches to meet ― paving the way for innovation, mentorship, and collaboration ― all while fostering a sense of community and a safe space to take creative risks,” said Jane Kim, Industry Programming Producer.
TIFF RISING STARS
The TIFF Rising Stars programme provides actors on the verge of making big waves on the international stage with an exclusive opportunity to experience and engage with the Festival. They will have access to professional development sessions, industry events, red carpets, mentorship, and valuable networking opportunities. All Rising Stars are featured in films in TIFF 2022 Official Selection. IMDbPro is proud to be the Media Partner for TIFF Rising Stars. The 2022 TIFF Rising Stars participants are:
Natalia Aranguren (Colombia/Canada), So Much Tenderness – TIFF Share Her Journey Fellow
Gabriel LaBelle (USA/Canada), The Fabelmans
Isaiah Lehtinen (Canada), I Like Movies
Carmen Madonia (Canada), Something You Said Last Night – TIFF Share Her Journey Fellow
Thuso Mbedu (South Africa), The Woman King – TIFF Share Her Journey Fellow
Joshua Odjick (Canada), Bones of Crows
Aaron Pierre (United Kingdom), Brother
Choi Seung-yoon (South Korea), Riceboy Sleeps – TIFF Share Her Journey Fellow
Ty Simpkins (USA), The Whale
Please see here for full bios and more information on the Rising Stars.
TIFF FILMMAKER LAB
TIFF Filmmaker Lab provides 20 Canadian and international directors with an exceptional professional development experience at the Toronto International Film Festival and an introduction to the global community of filmmaking. Over a five-day period, participants will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from internationally acclaimed mentors and programme governors including Ramin Bahrani, Deepa Mehta, and Roger Ross Williams. The participants will also be joined by guest speakers that include Official Selection filmmakers Sally El Hosaini, Nikyatu Jusu, Cristian Mungiu, and Clement Virgo. Fellowships generously sponsored by Share Her Journey and For the Love of Film donors ensure that programme participants are given additional financial support to help them fulfill their creative vision. The 2022 TIFF Filmmaker Lab participants are:
Zhannat Alshanova (Kazakhstan) – TIFF Canada Goose Fellow
Nadine Gomez (Canada) – TIFF Jennifer A. Tory Legacy Fellow
Sis Gurdal (Turkey) – TIFF Every Story Fellow
Jayden Rathsam Hua (Australia)
Zarrar Kahn (Canada/Pakistan)
Aaron Lucas (Australia/Germany)
Miki Magasiva (New Zealand)
Isabelle Mecattaf (Lebanon/France) – TIFF Every Story People’s Fellow
Araya Mengesha (Canada)
Sophia Mocorrea (Germany/Argentina) – TIFF Canada Goose Fellow
Carol Nguyen (Canada) – TIFF Talent Accelerator Fellow
Olive Nwosu (Nigeria/United Kingdom) – TIFF Share Her Journey Fellow in honour of Viola Desmond
Naishe Nyamubaya (Zimbabwe)
Melanie Oates (Canada) – TIFF Canada Goose Fellow
Mahsa Razavi (Canada/Iran) – TIFF Talent Accelerator Fellow
Caleb Ryan (Canada)
Gavin Seal (Canada)
J Stevens (Canada) – TIFF Every Story Fellow
Nesaru Tchaas (USA)
D.W. Waterson (Canada) – TIFF Every Story Fellow
Rounding out the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival lineup is TIFF Industry Selects, a curated selection of 10 audience friendly l films beyond the Official Selection that are available for worldwide acquisition. These films will each have an in-person screening during the Festival for accredited buyers and industry professionals..
“We’ve worked to build a selection that will appeal to buyers as well as audiences,’’ said Norm Wilner, Programmer, Digital Releasing and Industry Selects. “We aim to celebrate new voices and showcase international talent, in line with the Festival’s global spirit.”
“We’re delighted to present these director-driven and audience-engaging sales titles from around the world to international buyers who rely on our festival to strengthen their upcoming film slate,” added Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry and Theatrical. “Fostering sales at the Festival is a key part of our mandate, and the TIFF Industry Selects distinction is one of our newer initiatives that helps to support that mission.”
TIFF 2022 Industry Selects
Blue Jean (Georgia Oakley, UK)
In Thatcher’s England, a closeted physical education teacher (Rosy McEwen) wrestles over whether to risk her career ― and her safety ― by reaching out to a student (Lydia Page) wrestling with her own identity.
Driving Mum (Hilmar Oddsson, Iceland)
A middle-aged man (Thröstur Leó Gunnarsson) tries to honour his mother’s dying wish to be buried in her home in a remote Icelandic village by propping her up in the back seat of his car and driving her there.
Dreamin’ Wild (Bill Pohlad, US)
In 1979, teenagers Donnie and Joe Emerson recorded an album on their family’s Washington State farm. In 2012, the world caught up to it ― forcing Donnie (Casey Affleck) to reckon with his first failed run at stardom. Walton Goggins, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Messina, and Beau Bridges co-star.
Door Mouse (Avan Jogia, CAN)
A comic-book creator (Hayley Law, Riverdale) working at a burlesque club enlists the help of a colleague (Keith Powers, The Tomorrow War) to figure out what’s behind the disappearances of young women in their circle in this oddball neo-noir.
Harka (Lotfy Nathan, US/FRA/TUN/LUX/BLG)
Ali (Adam Bessa), a young Tunisian who makes a living bootlegging gasoline, finds himself pushed to the limit when his father dies suddenly, leaving him responsible for the care of his two younger sisters in the first dramatic feature from the award-winning director of 12 O’Clock Boys.
The Listener (Steve Buscemi, US)
In the early months of the pandemic, a young helpline volunteer (Tessa Thompson, who also produced) spends her shift offering a compassionate ear to people (Logan Marshall-Green, Margaret Cho, Blu del Barrio, Alia Shawkat, and more) in their darkest hours.
Kings of the World (Laura Mora, COL/LUX/FRA/MEX/NOR)
When one of them discovers he has an ancestral claim to a patch of land under a restitution agreement, five street kids from Medellin leave the city to start a new life in the country, only to find absolutely nothing is easy for five young men of no means in modern Colombia.
Klokkenluider (Neil Maskell, UK)
In this extremely bleak comedy, two security operatives (Tom Burke, Roger Evans) escort a British whistleblower (Amit Shah) and his partner (Sura Dohnke) to a remote country home in Belgium, where they await the arrival of the high-level journalist they hope will share their secret with the world.
Salt Lake (Kasia Rosłaniec, POL/SWE)
At the age of 64, Helena (Katarzyna Butowtt) announces her intention to pursue sexual experiences with other men ― much to the shock of her husband of 40 years (Krzysztof Stelmaszyk). A powerful exploration of late-life desire and emancipation.
Without Her (Arian Vazirdaftari, IRA)
As she prepares to emigrate to Denmark from Iran, Roya (Tannaz Tabatabaei) meets a strange, silent girl (Shadi Karamroudi) and decides to take her in, introducing her to her husband and children ― entirely unaware of the existential threat she’s welcomed into her home.
**Fun fact: Three of these films were directed by actors!
Brendan Fraser is on the verge of a major comeback! The star of TIFF ’22 selection THE WHALE will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance for his outstanding performance in The Whale. The TIFF Tribute Awards presented by BVLGARI will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The TIFF Tribute Award for Performance is presented by IMDbPro.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Fraser has received recognition for his work by both critics and his peers. Known for playing Rick O’Connell in The Mummy trilogy, Fraser has gone on to star in many projects in both television and film. Fraser will make his return to Toronto with Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, which will have its North American Premiere at this year’s Festival.
“Brendan Fraser gives a performance of staggering depth, power, and nuance in The Whale,” said Bailey, TIFF CEO. “This former Torontonian has been an action star, a screen comic, and a romantic lead. We’re thrilled to welcome him home as the actor behind one of the finest performances of the year.”
Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale tells the story of a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. The A24 film is based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter and also stars Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. It is being distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.
The TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro to Fraser is one of two acting awards being handed out. These two awards recognize an outstanding performance by either an individual or ensemble in the now gender-neutral acting category. Fraser joins the recently announced recipients of the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar, the ensemble of My Policeman. Past recipients honoured in the prestigious acting category were Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch in 2021; Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2020; and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix in 2019.
Also joining the list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Sam Mendes who will be receiving the TIFF Ebert Director Award. The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Chastain, Hopkins, Phoenix, Roger Deakins, Taika Waititi, and Chloé Zhao going on to win awards on the international stage. Once again, the TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards gala event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film. More information on the event and honourees will follow in the coming weeks.
Some additional titles from the TIFF Docs programme presented by A&E IndieFilms, Contemporary World Cinema programme presented by Sun Life, were just announced earlier today, plus an additional title in the Discovery programme. This lineup features titles from over 50 countries from around the world. Additionally, TIFF is excited to announce five doc sessions as part of the 2022 Industry Conference.
TIFF DOCS
*Previously announced
Presented by A&E IndieFilms
“This year’s TIFF Docs lineup has a wonderful mix of joy, creativity, and ingenuity in the face of adversity,” said TIFF Docs programmer Thom Powers, now in his 17th year overseeing the section. “In recent years, we witnessed numerous films launched from this section into distribution deals and Oscar nominations. This year has a rich crop for both.”
*752 Is Not A Number Babak Payami | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Laura Poitras | USA
North American Premiere
*Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On Madison Thomas | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Casa Susanna SĂ©bastien Lifshitz | France, USA
North American Premiere
Ciné-Guerrillas: Scenes from the Labudovic Reels Mila Turajlic | Serbia, France, Croatia, Montenegro
World Premiere
*The Colour of Ink Brian D. Johnson | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Documentary Now! Alex Buono, Rhys Thomas, Micah Gardner | USA
World Premiere
*Ever Deadly Tanya Tagaq, Chelsea McMullan | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Free Money Sam Soko, Lauren DeFilippo | Kenya, USA
World Premiere
Mariupolis 2 Mantas KvedaraviÄŤius | Lithuania, France, Germany
North American Premiere
The Grab Gabriela Cowperthwaite | USA
World Premiere
In Her Hands Tamana Ayazi, Marcel Mettelsiefen | USA, Afghanistan
World Premiere
TIFF Docs Opening Film
*Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues Sacha Jenkins | USA
World Premiere
Maya and the Wave Stephanie Johnes | USA
World Premiere
MiĂşcha, The Voice of Bossa Nova Daniel Zarvos, Liliane Mutti | Brazil, France
Canadian Premiere
My Imaginary Country (Mi PaĂs Imaginario) Patricio Guzmán | Chile, France
North American Premiere
Patrick and the Whale Mark Fletcher | Austria
World Premiere
Pray for our Sinners Sinéad O’Shea | Ireland
World Premiere
Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot William Kentridge | South Africa, USA
World Premiere
Theatre of Thought Werner Herzog | USA
International Premiere
*To Kill a Tiger Nisha Pahuja | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
While We Watched Vinay Shukla | UK
World Premiere
DOC CONVERSATIONS @ TIFF INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
On September 13, the Industry Conference will focus on conversations covering both the craft and business of documentary filmmaking. Access to the programming will be available to all press and industry pass holders. For public audiences interested in attending, limited day packages will be made available.
VISIONARIES: Inside the Brain of Werner Herzog
Presented by SHOWTIME®
In his new film Theatre of Thought, Werner Herzog (celebrating his 80th birthday in September) explores the cutting edge of research on the brain. He’s joined by two figures who appear in the film, brain scientist Rafael Yuste and entrepreneur Jamie Davies, to discuss hopes and fears for the future of brain exploration.
VISIONARIES: What Laura Poitras Learned from Nan Goldin
Presented by SHOWTIME®
Oscar-winning director Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) discusses what she learned over three years in the making of her new film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. The film profiles the artist Nan Goldin, who has campaigned for museums to disassociate from the patronage of the Sackler family, owners of the opioid company Purdue Pharma.
DIALOGUES: Covering Afghanistan for In Her Hands
Presented by SHOWTIME®
A Share Her Journey initiative generously supported by Betty-Ann Heggie
The new documentary In Her Hands focuses on Afghanistan’s youngest woman mayor, Zarifa Ghafari, during the tumultuous period of the Taliban’s return to power. Filmmakers Tamana Ayazi and Marcel Mettelsiefen share clips while reflecting on the challenges of filming under wartime conditions.
PERSPECTIVES Truth, Lies, and a Million Dollar Board Game
Presented by SHOWTIME®
Filmmaker Vinay Shukla joins to discuss his new film While We Watched, which profiles the journalist Ravish Kumar of NDTV India as he struggles to maintain journalistic independence under death threats. For Shukla’s previous documentary An Insignificant Man, his team created a board game that gained massive support on Kickstarter. He’ll discuss plans to follow that model by pairing a board game with his new film.
PERSPECTIVES DocuMentality: The Growth of a Movement
Presented by SHOWTIME®
DocuMentality is an expanding initiative that seeks to normalize conversations about mental health in the documentary industry and provide best-practice guidance for filmmakers. The project started with efforts in the UK and US. Now, the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is spearheading a new wave of focus groups with support from the Canada Media Fund. On this panel, audiences will hear from DocuMentality team member Malikkah Rollins and DOC’s Sarah Spring about the past, present, and future of the movement. We’ll also hear from filmmaker Rebeca Huntt describing what she learned about maintaining mental balance in the making of her intensely personal film Beba that premiered at TIFF last year. Moderator: Inney Prakash (Maysles Documentary Center).
CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA
Presented by Sun Life
Aftersun Charlotte Wells | United Kingdom, USA
North American Premiere
Alam Firas Khoury | France, Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
World Premiere
Amanda Carolina Cavalli | Italy
International Premiere
Ashkal Youssef Chebbi | France, Tunisia, Qatar
North American Premiere
Autobiography Makbul Mubarak | Indonesia, France, Singapore, Poland, Philippines, Germany, Qatar
North American Premiere
Beyond the Wall (Shab, Dkheli, Divar) Vahid Jalilvand | Iran
North American Premiere
*Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman Pierre Földes | France, Luxembourg, Canada, Netherlands 🇨🇦
International Premiere
*Bones of Crows Marie Clements | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
*Coyote (Le Coyote) Katherine Jerkovic | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Domingo and the Mist (Domingo y la Niebla) Ariel Escalante Meza | Costa Rica, Qatar
North American Premiere
El agua Elena LĂłpez Riera | Switzerland, Spain, France
North American Premiere
*The End of Sex Sean Garrity | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
EO Jerzy Skolimowski | Poland, Italy
North American Premiere
*Falcon Lake Charlotte Le Bon | Canada 🇨🇦
North American Premiere
*Fixation Mercedes Bryce Morgan | Canada, USA, Germany 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Godland (Vanskabte Land/Volaða Land) Hlynur Pálmason | Denmark, Iceland, France, Sweden
Canadian Premiere
The Happiest Man in the World Teona Strugar Mitevska | North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Denmark, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
North American Premiere
The Hotel Wang Xiaoshuai | Hong Kong
World Premiere
La JaurĂa AndrĂ©s RamĂrez Pulido | Colombia, France
North American Premiere
Life (Жизнь) Emir Baigazin | Kazakhstan
World Premiere
Living Oliver Hermanus | United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere
Love and Mathematics (Amor y matemáticas) Claudia Sainte-Luce | Mexico
World Premiere
Love Life Koji Fukada | Japan, France
North American Premiere
Luxembourg, Luxembourg Antonio Lukich | Ukraine
North American Premiere
*The Maiden Graham Foy | Canada 🇨🇦
North American Premiere
Manticore (MantĂcora) Carlos Vermut | Spain
North American Premiere
Muru Tearepa Kahi | New Zealand
International Premiere
My Sailor, My Love Klaus HÓ“rÓ§ | Finland, Ireland
World Premiere
Nightalk Donald Shebib | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
*North of Normal Carly Stone | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
The Origin of Evil SĂ©bastien Marnier | France, Canada
North American Premiere
Plan 75 Chie Hayakawa | Japan, France, Philippines, Qatar
North American Premiere
Return to Dust Li Ruijun | China
North American Premiere
R.M.N. Cristian Mungiu | Romania, France
North American Premiere
*So Much Tenderness Lina Rodriguez | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Sparta Ulrich Seidl | Austria, France, Germany
World Premiere
*Stellar Darlene Naponse | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
Stonewalling Huang Ji, Ryuji Otsuka | Japan
North American Premiere
*The Swearing Jar Lindsay MacKay | Canada 🇨🇦
World Premiere
The Umbrella Men John Barker | South Africa
International Premiere
Under the Fig Trees Erige Sehiri | Tunisia, Switzerland, France, Qatar
North American Premiere
Valeria Is Getting Married Michal Vinik | Israel
North American Premiere
Victim (OBEŤ) Michal Blaško | Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Germany
North American Premiere
Vicenta B. Carlos Lechuga | Cuba, France, USA, Colombia, Norway
World Premiere
War Sailor (Krigsseileren) Gunnar Vikene | Norway, Germany, Malta
International Premiere
We Are Still Here Beck Cole, Dena Curtis, Tracey Rigney, Danielle MacLean, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Richard Curtis, Chantelle Burgoyne | Australia, New Zealand
International Premiere
Wildflower Matt Smukler | USA
World Premiere
Winter Boy (Le Lycéen) Christophe Honoré | France
World Premiere
The Worst Ones Romane Gueret, Lise Akoka | France
North American Premiere
Zwigato Nandita Das | India
World Premiere
DISCOVERY
Presented by Dyson
Bruiser Miles Warren | USA
World Premiere
More at tiff.net. The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8-19, 2022.
It was just announced earlier today that Director Sam Mendes will be honoured with the TIFF EBERT DIRECTOR Award at this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards Gala, taking place Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Royal York Hotel.
TIFF will be presenting the Canadian Premiere of Mendes’ most recent work Empire of Light, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Mendes made his feature film debut at the Festival in 1999 with the World Premiere of American Beauty, a TIFF People’s Choice Award winner, for which he was honoured with an Oscar in the Best Director category.
“From his first appearance at TIFF with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes brought his exacting and lyrical vision of cinema to Toronto,” said Bailey. “We are delighted to honour his unique voice and body of work with this year’s TIFF Ebert Director Award.”
Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Searchlight Pictures’ Empire of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema. Starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, with Toby Jones and Colin Firth, Mendes also teams up with award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who was also a TIFF Tribute Award recipient in 2019.
The TIFF Ebert Director Award recognizes filmmakers who have exemplified greatness in their careers. Named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert, the Award marks an evolution of the Festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award, which in past has gone to celebrated visionaries such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agnès Varda. Past recipients who received the Award since the TIFF Tribute Awards were introduced include Denis Villeneuve (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), and Taika Waititi (2019).
Mendes joins the recently announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees, the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar. More information on the 2022 TIFF Tribute Awards event and this year’s honourees will follow in the coming weeks.
The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Deakins, Waititi, Zhao, Jessica Chastain, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Joaquin Phoenix going on to win awards on the international stage. The TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film.
Is it a coincidence that so many of our recent favourites on TV and the Big Screen were inspired by Books? Canada’s favourite Book Store INDIGO is celebrating PAGE-TO-SCREEN right now. This Summer alone, THE SUMMER IN TURNED PRETTY (Jenny Han) and HEARTSTOPPER (Alice Oseman) had audiences falling in-love!
And coming this Fall are the likes of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER (J.R.R. Tolkien) and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (George R.R. Martin) are poised to break streaming records! You’ve got some time to get caught-up in anticipation of these arrivals!
TIFF ’22 also is just around the corner did you know that Festival selections like My Policeman, Black Ice, Butcher’s Crossing, The Greatest Beer Run Ever and The Hummingbird all were based on Books! MY POLICEMAN already has won an Ensemble Performance Award which Emma Corrin and Harry Styles will be in-town to accept, if this is any indication of Awards Season success!
See some titles here featured as part of Indigo‘s PAGE-TO-SCREEN celebrations.
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