Premiering at Sundance to raves, THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION is set to stream on Netflix!

Synopsis

Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she’s left with no choice but to reinvent herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater on a quest to find her true voice.

Winner of the Directing Prize at The 2020 Sundance Film Festival, The Forty-Year-Old Version is a hilariously candid and deeply personal debut from writer/director Radha Blank. A fresh addition to the New York City slice-of-life canon shot in lush black and white 35mm, Blank’s film is an ode to the unfulfilled, and those whose adversity gives them a one-of-a-kind story to tell.

See the Trailer:

THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION arrives on Netflix Friday, October 9, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

By Amanda Gilmore

While feeling like a third-wheel on a weekend getaway with friend Emily (Lauren Beatty) and Emily’s boyfriend (Aris Tyros), Rowan (Lee Marshall) begins having horrifying visions during the night of Emily. However, Rowan can’t tell if these visions are fact or fiction.

First-time Feature Writer-Director Amelia Moses has created a gripping isolation Horror film. The remote settings, the indoor fire-lit cabin and outdoor snowy landscape are beautifully shot. Both enhancing the isolation theme and encapsulating the otherness Rowan feels. Early on, Moses blurs lines of doubt and certainty upon Rowan’s hazy nightmarish visions. Skillfully evoking audiences to question themselves as Rowan does. The film is embedded by Marshall’s self-contained, subtle performance that’s somehow both quiet and loud.

Bleed With Me screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Wed. Aug. 26 at 7:10 PM and Tue. Sept. 1 at 3 PM.

Official TIFF ’20 selection AMMONITE gets its first official Trailer. We know many of you like us are excited about this!

Synopsis:

1840s England, acclaimed but overlooked fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) and a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) sent to convalesce by the sea develop an intense relationship, altering both of their lives forever.

See the Trailer:

AMMONITE is in theatres this November via Elevation Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown is back in ENOLA HOLMES, based the popular books by Nancy Springer! See the brand-new Trailer!

Synopsis:

England, 1884 – a world on the brink of change. On the morning of her 16th birthday, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) wakes to find that her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) has disappeared, leaving behind an odd assortment of gifts but no apparent clue as to where she’s gone or why. After a free-spirited childhood, Enola suddenly finds herself under the care of her brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin), both set on sending her away to a finishing school for “proper” young ladies. Refusing to follow their wishes, Enola escapes to search for her mother in London. But when her journey finds her entangled in a mystery surrounding a young runaway Lord (Louis Partridge), Enola becomes a super-sleuth in her own right, outwitting her famous brother as she unravels a conspiracy that threatens to set back the course of history. Based on the beloved book series by Nancy Springer, ENOLA HOLMES is a dynamic new mystery-adventure that introduces the world’s greatest detective to his fiercest competition yet: his teenage sister. The game is afoot.

See the Trailer:

ENOLA HOLMES arrives on Netflix Friday, September 23, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

More exciting TIFF ’20 announcements today were made including additional In Conversation With… talks, Special Events, and Short Cuts. Above this, the People’s Choice Awards will be returning again this year, plus the new IMDbPro Short Cuts Awards and Amplify Voices Awards presented by Canada Goose.

IN-CONVERSATIONS WITH…

In Conversation With… Halle Berry 
This conversation delves into all aspects of Berry’s experience directing Bruised, in which she also stars, and will also provide a first-person discussion about her groundbreaking film and television career that spans 30 years. As previously announced, this event is part of TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative in support of women behind and in front of the camera.

In Conversation With… Claire Denis & Barry Jenkins
Prolific French auteur Claire Denis and Oscar-winning writer-director Barry Jenkins come together for a conversation that’s been years in the making.

In Conversation With… Ava DuVernay
Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate Ava DuVernay discusses art, activism, and Black Lives Matter in this intimate conversation.
Presented by BRON

In Conversation With… Saoirse Ronan
Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan discusses her powerhouse performances over the past decade that have catapulted her to international fame.

In Conversation With… Barry Levinson & Denzel Washington
Master filmmaker Barry Levinson discusses the art of directing with Denzel Washington in this conversation between two Academy Award winners.
Presented by BRON 

In Conversation With… D-Nice & Anthony Mandler
Club Quarantine founder D-Nice and Anthony Mandler, one of the most influential music-video directors of our time, discuss the power of music and film.
Presented by BRON

SPECIAL EVENTS

Above this a variety of intriguing Special Events have been announced as well:

Underplayed Stacey Lee | Canada

• This documentary follows radical female artists breaking the rhythm of inequality in the electronic-music industry. Underplayed will screen at OLG Play Stage at Ontario Place on Saturday, September 19, followed by a live performance set with Top 100 DJ/Producer REZZ, one of the main subjects of the film.

The Boy from Medellín Matthew Heineman | USA 

• With unprecedented access, this deeply immersive and character-driven film will give viewers a front-row seat to J Balvin, one of the world’s most famous Colombian musicians, as he is forced to define his voice as an artist amidst the largest protests his country has seen in decades. There will also be a talk with Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin.

The Truffle Hunters Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw | Italy/USA/Greece

• Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years young, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle — which, to date, has resisted all of modern science’s efforts at cultivation. They’re guided by a secret culture and training passed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly trained dogs. A special curated menu from Official Hospitality Partner Oliver & Bonacini will be available for purchase by audiences.

The Water Man David Oyelowo | USA

• Selma star David Oyelowo directs this mystical adventure recalling the beloved, family-friendly movies of the 1980s. One of two specially selected family films at the Festival.

Wolfwalkers Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart | Ireland/Luxembourg/France

• From the brilliant animators behind Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells comes this tale of a girl who goes hunting wolves in Ireland and discovers a surprising world. Steeped in Irish folklore, this is an uplifting fantasy for the whole family.

PLANET AFRICA 25

BLACK LIVES MATTER events will be front and center as Co-Head Cameron Bailey‘s PLANET AFRICA Programme returns after first debuting 25 years ago. Other offerings include:

Akilla’s Escape Charles Officer | Canada

• In a crime-noir about the urban child-soldier, Akilla Brown captures a fifteen-year-old Jamaican boy in the aftermath of an armed robbery. Over one gruelling night, Akilla confronts a cycle of generational violence he thought he escaped.

Downstream to Kinshasa (En route pour le milliard) Dieudo Hamadi | Democratic Republic of the Congo/France/Belgium

• From 5th to 10th June 2000, the city of Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the scene of heavy weapons fighting between two Congolese rebel groups. Since then, the Association of Victims of the Six-Day War has been fighting for the recognition of this bloody conflict and demanding compensation for the damage suffered. Tired of the bureaucratic negotiations and unsuccessful pleas that have been drawn out for years, the members of the Association have finally decided to take their fate into their own hands: after a long journey on the Congo River, they will voice their claims in Kinshasa, the capital.

40 Years A Prisoner Tommy Oliver | USA 

• 40 Years A Prisoner is the story of 9 people from Philadelphia-based back-to-nature group, MOVE, who were convicted of murdering a police officer they likely didn’t kill. It’s now 40 years later and they’re still in prison as the son of two of the convicted has committed his life to fighting for their release.

The Way I See It Dawn Porter | USA 

• Inspired by the New York Times #1 bestseller comes Dawn Porter’s The Way I See It, an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. 

SHORT CUTS

A wide variety of voices and genres are represented in this Short Film Programme at TIFF.

4 North A Jordan Canning, Howie Shia | Canada
Aniksha Vincent Toi | Canada
The Archivists Igor Drljača | Canada
As Spring Comes (Comme la neige au printemps) Marie-Ève Juste | Canada
Benjamin, Benny, Ben Paul Shkordoff | Canada
Black Bodies Kelly Fyffe-Marshall | Canada
David Zach Woods | USA
Drought Remi Itani | Lebanon 
Dustin Naïla Guiguet | France
Every Day’s Like This Lev Lewis | Canada
Found Me David Findlay | Canada
The Game (Das Spiel) Roman Hodel | Switzerland
History of Civilization (История Цивилизации) Zhannat Alshanova | Kazakhstan
In Sudden Darkness Tayler Montague | USA
Loose Fish Francisco Canton, Pato Martinez | Morocco/USA/Argentina 
Marlon Brando Vincent Tilanus | Netherlands
Mountain Cat (Shiluus) Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir | Mongolia/United Kingdom
Navozande, the musician Reza Riahi | France
O Black Hole! Renee Zhan | United Kingdom
Our Hearts Beat Like War (Zchuhit Bayam) Elinor Nechemya | Israel 
Pilar Yngwie Boley, Diana van Houten, J.J. Epping | Netherlands/Belgium 
Point and Line to Plane Sofia Bohdanowicz | Canada/USA/Iceland/Russia
The Price of Cheap Rent Amina Sutton, Maya Tanaka | USA
RKLSS Tank Standing Buffalo | Canada
Rules for Werewolves Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux | Canada/USA
Scars Alex Anna | Canada/France
Sër Bi (Les Tissus Blancs) Moly Kane | France/Senegal
Shooting Star (Comme une comète) Ariane Louis-Seize | Canada
Sing Me a Lullaby Tiffany Hsiung | Canada
Sinking Ship (La Naufrage) Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada
Stephanie Leonardo van Dijl | Belgium
Still Processing Sophy Romvari | Canada
Strong Son Ian Bawa | Canada
Succor Hannah Cheesman | Canada
Tie (Elo) Alexandra Ramires | Portugal/France
The Water Walker James Burns | United States

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

The winner of this coveted Award – now in its 45th year – will be announced Sunday, September 20, 2020.

IMDbPro AWARDS

Films programmed in this year’s Short Cuts selection are eligible for three jury-selected IMDbPro Short Cuts Awards: Best Film, Best Canadian Film, and the Share Her Journey Award for best film by a woman. Each prize is valued at $10,000. These will be announced Sunday, September 20, 2020.

AMPLIFY VOICES AWARDS PRESENTED BY CANADA GOOSE

These awards will be presented to the three best feature films by under-represented filmmakers. Three BIPOC and Canadian Filmmakers will be award $10,000 each.

For more information and how tickets can be purchased, click here.

The official Film Schedule also now is available here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore

Struggling farmer George (Marc Blucas) sells part of his property to the gas and oil industry to save his family. What he doesn’t realize is that the fracking is going to unleash an invisible terror from below.

Directors John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies along with co-writer Kelsey Goldberg mix genre horror with real-world terror in Unearth. The first half of the Film plays out as a Drama about fracking. The current hardships rural independent farmers are experiencing in real life are exposed through the two families within the narrative. In the Second Act, we switch into Horror territory which exposes the reality of the impending environmental crisis caused by the fracking industry. The expert direction exhibits the impending harm through images of ingesting contaminated dust and water. Then shifts into the invisible harm that’s been awakened below and penetrates the families without their knowledge. Unearth is one of the most original Horror films and is meticulously-written, directed. It’s also impressively acted by a stellar cast consisting of Blucas, Adrienne Barbeau, Allison McAtee and more.

Unearth screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Tue. Aug. 25 at 9 PM and Sun. Aug. 30 at 3 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

Staff at a clothing store are preparing overnight for Monday Madness and the launch of their newest jeans. They soon learn those pants are alive, and their out for blood.

This Film gives a new meaning to the phrase, “Those are some killer jeans.” Director-Writer Elza Kephart and Co-Writer Patricia Gomez Zlatar have made a hilarious, gory comedy-horror with important social commentary. Early, we are thrust into the competitive retail clothing world filled with cutthroat characters, and a couple of endearing ones. These believable varied characters are what keep us wanting more hysterical, bloody murders while rooting for a survivor. However, Kephart and Zlatar have more on their minds then entertainment. They expose the villainous corporate agendas of clothing companies, such as child labour, and the culpable blind-eye of consumers and employees. What results is the manifestation of a hero in the form of jeans attempting to take down the establishment. The visual effects are stellar and the entire Cast is captivating, consisting of Romane Denis, Sehar Bhojani, Brett Donahue and more.

Slaxx screens live twice online at Fantasia Fest on Sun. Aug. 23 at 7 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

Based on the Video Game of the same name, Detention is set in 1962 during Taiwan’s White Terror period. It follows Fang (Gingle Wang) and Wei (Tseng Chin-hua) who have been trapped alone at midnight in their high school.

First-time Feature Writer-Director John Hsu has made a striking Fantasy-Horror genre film. As with the Video Game, the real-world horror those experienced during the White Terror period perfectly moulds within fantastical elements of the narrative. Weaved into this fantasy realm is a powerful lesson of the importance of pain and the significance of those who suffer to live to tell the story. Hsu manages to keep this lesson prominent no matter how magical the stunning Visual Effects become. His effects also never take away from the impressive grounded performances from Chin-Hua and Wang. For any fan of Pan’s Labyrinth, Detention is for you.

Detention screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

On a snowy night in a small Canadian town Steve (RJ Mitte) walks into a blue-collar bar owned by Paul (Peter Outerbridge). It’s clear the two know each other but why has Steve returned and what does he want?

The Oak Room is a slow-burn Thriller that has characters using the art of storytelling to unwind its central mystery. From beginning to end, Steve and Paul tell two different stories. However, Steve’s will slowly reveal his motive for returning home. Writer Peter Genoway has written captivating stories within his narrative. Yet, this unique and brave decision causes long drawn out scenes heavy on dialogue rather than action. That being said, Mitte and Outerbridge do bring much entertainment to their often-sedentary roles. There’s also a congenial supporting performance from Ari Millen as a character within Steve’s story.

The Oak Room will screen live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 9:45 PM and Mon. Aug. 31 at 11:30 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

This Documentary follows David Arquette’s come back to wrestling after winning the World Championship title 18 years prior.

You Cannot Kill David Arquette is an outrageously-funny Documentary that perfectly compliments its zany subject. Directors David Darg and Price James have loaded many eccentric moments, such as wizard-caped horseback riding, spray tanning, magic and more, while never taking the focus off the heartfelt redemption story. Darg and James control the narrative to shift the audience’s opinion from beginning to end. As we travel with Arquette through his highs and lows, it becomes impossible not to root for him; turning audiences from sceptics to supporters. It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike wrestling and/or Arquette, because it’s a movie about an underdog aspiring for acceptance in the arena he loves. That’s what makes this a Documentary one not to be missed.

You Cannot Kill David Arquette screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7:30 PM.