It’s officially TIFF ’19 and what a day it’s been. We’ve been up and on our feet having a blast. See what we were up to!

A highlight every year is attending NKPR’s IT Lounge, which also is brought to us by the Producer’s Ball. Tons of amazing goodies which will be enjoyed by several stars TIFF ’19 and this is where Rolling Stone Magazine portraits will be shot during the Festival.

Hover on the right of each album to navigate slideshows.

 

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Always an amazing time at @natashankpr’s #NKPRIT19 Lounge! Celebs like Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and more can expect to have their portrait taken for #RollingStone there this year! Plus amazing goodies from #OGXBeauty, #Swarovski, #Sleepenvie (#MeanGirls photo shoot courtesy of them), #Nespresso, #KrispyKreme, #Flow, #HoundsBlackVodka (including a @jlo cocktail) + more! Love my evil eye Swarovski bracelet so much! You are a Queen, Natasha! 🙌

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 10:20am PDT

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBERTSON AND THE BAND – Press Conference

 

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#TIFF19: #OnceWereBrothers: #RobbieRobertson and The Band, Opening Night Gala. Producers #RonHoward + #BrianGrazer; Director #DanielRoher; and Robertson himself. #TIFF #HuaweiP30Pro

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The Premiere of CASTLE IN THE GROUND

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#TIFF19: Premiere of #CastleintheGround, an opioid crisis Drama. In attendance: #NeveCampbell, #AlexWolff, #ImogenPoots, #KeirGilchrist + #KiowaGordon. #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 6:24pm PDT

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD – Dinner Party

 

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#TIFF19: toldja #WeslodgeSaloon was going to be a hotspot at #TIFF! The Cast of #ThePersonalHistoryofDavidCopperfield pre-dinnered at the King West Canadian fare purveyor! In attendance: #AneurinBarnard #DevPatel #MorfyddClark + #HughLaurie! #TIFF #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:59pm PDT

 

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#TIFF19: #DowntonAbbey + #Sense8 star #TuppenceMiddleton at #TIFF with Niagara Falls Thriller #CliftonHill! 🌊 #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 9:44pm PDT

This marks our tenth year contributing to CP24′s TIFF coverage. See a clip of our chat with Kelly Linehan!

Love seeing @mrwillw on my tv! #TIFF2019 pic.twitter.com/7MYITx1hVr

— Julie Wright (@reddogcw) September 5, 2019

We will be back on-air Saturday morning in the 8 AM ET hour and are scheduled to be on CBC Radio Friday around 4:15 PM ET talking what else??? TIFF ’19!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Corrupt cop Cristi (Vlad Ivanov) is in over his head. He needs to help free Zsolt (Sabin Tambrea), as he is the only one who knows the whereabouts of millions of dollars in cash. In order to get to Zsolt, Cristi must conspire with gangsters, a femme fatale, corrupt officers and more. And if that was not enough, he must learn “El Siblo”, an Indigenous whistle language used to avoid detection – primarily because it sounds like bird calls.

The Whistlers is a bit too jumpy for its own good, and relies a bit too much on paying attention to miniscule, thoughtless details. Everyone has an angle, and is double-crossing everyone. And somewhere along the line, probably around the point where you find yourself asking just how everyone factors into this story, The Whistlers just becomes a bit too convoluted for comfort. While the story may fall apart under slight scrutiny, the look of the Film remains consistently magnificent, as does the Film’s sly sense of humour (specifically around how ridiculous this whistling language quickly becomes). And while Ivanov is good, he is upstaged by the stunning Catrinel Marlon, who plays a classic femme fatale for the ages.

THE WHISTLERS screens TIFF at the following times:

Thursday September 5, 6:15pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 6, 2:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

For a brief time in the early 1990s, American investors owned a stake in a Russian hockey team, the Russian Penguins. It was an ill-fated business venture, but created a Story filled with the kind of twists and turns usually reserved for a Hollywood movie – not real life.

For the most part, Red Penguins is entertaining and amusing to watch. I had no idea about any element profiled in this wild true story, and I spent the majority of the Film wide-eyed and bewildered listening to all of the sordid details. The footage Director Gabe Polsky was able to acquire is amazing, and the candid interviews he received from many of the Story’s major players is downright astounding. At just 80-minutes however, Red Penguins is never given the opportunity to stop and evaluate anything that is being said on-screen and struggles to draw conclusions about what happened. It moves far too quickly from topic to topic, and the last half of the Film is more chaotic than the Story itself and substantially more political than anything that proceeded it. But hey, where else at TIFF are you going to see footage of a bear chugging a beer?

RED PENGUINS screens during TIFF at the following times:

Thursday September 5, 6:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere]
Friday September 6, 3:15pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Saturday September 14, 6:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Climb is an episodic journey through the lives of best friends Michael (Michael Angelo Covino) and Kyle (Kyle Marvin) after a shocking confession that threatens to ruin their bond.

Co-Writers and Stars Covino and Marvin have magnetic chemistry that carries the Film. Their sharp-wit and awareness of their often slapstick comedy brings an authenticity to their onscreen friendship that would otherwise dissipate. The Film isn’t as tight in the end as it is in the beginning, however, it’s a beautiful examination of the unbreakable bond between best friends.

The Climb screens at TIFF on Thurs, Sep 5 at Ryerson Theatre at 6 PM and Fri, Sep 6 at Scotiabank Theatre at 3:30 PM.

TIFF ’19 is only a day away and the star sightings already are beginning in Toronto!

See some of the names we saw arriving in-town!

Danielle MacDonald (Patti Cake$, Bird Box) at #TIFF19 with Helen Reddy Biopic, I Am Woman.

Past TIFF attendee Adam Brody (Shazam!, The O.C.) in Toronto filming Cate Blanchett-directed series Mrs. America.

Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Jumanji: The Next Level) at #TIFF19 with Bad Education, Human Capital and Castle in the Ground. We spotted his Co-Star Keir Gilchrist just the other night!

Dev Patel (Hotel Mumbai, Lion) at #TIFF19 for The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Hotel Mumbai), who happens also to be the partner of Patel, at #TIFF19 for I Am Woman. She plays Helen Reddy.

Morfydd Clark has a big #TIFF19 starring in both The History of David Copperfield and Saint Maud, the latter which she has the titular role.

Norwegian star Josefine Petersen has been named one of #TIFF19‘s  Stars. She also stars in Disco.

Matty Cardrapole (Stranger Things) at #TIFF19 for I Am Woman.

We’ll be up and at it the next bit for the Festival,  check regularly on  this link with rolling updates for our latest   capsule reviews of the Films of TIFF ’19 and sightings!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

There’s no doubt about it, it’s our favourite time of the year! The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 5 through Sunday, September 14, 2019 and you’d better bet we’re stoked!

The Festival also marks our tenth anniversary as a Blogger. We remember not knowing which direction we’d go when we posted our first Blog Post and if anyone even cared what we thought! Looking back, it’s been an amazing journey – the experiences we’ve had and the people we’ve met along the way. We created the site originally as a platform to share all the awesome snaps we got during TIFF and to share our thoughts on what we saw since we loved the Festival so much. One thing led to another and who knew we’d be around kicking still today and that we’d be an accredited outlet? We don’t know how we’ve gotten here, but we’re touched deeply by your support all these years!  We owe it all to you and the amazing contributors who have kept Mr. Will Wong afloat: Amanda Gilmore, Justin Waldman, Siobhán Rich, George Kozera, David Baldwin and Jon Godfrey! This ride has been magical.

See us talk about our tenth anniversary and our TIFF ’19 picks!

TIFF ’19 we’re doing it bigger and better than ever.  It’s our tenth anniversary and we want you to celebrate in all our joy.  This is will be one of the best Festivals in recent memory with bigger names and the biggest Films set to premiere in our City.  We want to thank you partners, new and returning for helping us celebrate the occasion!

A huge thank you goes out to:

CP24 – With over 3.1 million viewers a week, we are thrilled to partner again with the definitive choice in breaking news coverage, CP24 for a TENTH year! We’ll be teaming-up with Kelly Linehan to deliver you some celeb scoop and the Films getting all the buzz at the Fest!

HUAWEI CANADA – I’ve never gotten as many raves on my Social Media about my photographs as when I tested-out the Huawei P30 Pro.  We are overjoyed that this will be our official new phone in gorgeous burnt orange (just released) beginning TIFF ’19! We can’t go wrong with its 32MP photos, 256GB memory and incredible Kirin 980 Octa-core Processor! We can’t wait to show you all our snaps and Selfies from the Festival from the phone, which will serve as our communication hub, keeping you all up-to-date on the excitement!

ACURA CANADA – we’ll be cruising in style TIFF ’19 in the 2019 ACURA TLX, And how super-fitting is it that Acura Canada is one of the official sponsors of the Festival? This car is gorgeous, sleek and luxurious, true to Acura form and we look forward to all these star-filled adventures the ride will take us on!

HUAWEI CANADA – I’ve never gotten as many raves on my Social Media about my photographs as when I tested-out the Huawei P30 Pro.  We are overjoyed that this will be our official new phone in gorgeous burnt orange (just released) beginning TIFF ’19! We can’t go wrong with its 32MP photos, 256GB memory and incredible Kirin 980 Octa-core Processor! We can’t wait to show you all our snaps and Selfies from the Festival from the phone, which will serve as our communication hub, keeping you all up-to-date on the excitement!

H&M CANADA – H&M continue to keep us on-trend and we can’t wait to show you some of the pieces we’ll be wearing TIFF ’19. We always have fun with it and hope you enjoy the looks!

WESLODGE SALOON – Celebs can’t get enough of this TIFF go-to’s Canadian fare and cocktails and we love it! You must try their Southern Fried Chicken, Steaks and Fish & Chips. Also their Mac & Cheese is superb! Several stars like Isabelle Huppert, Richard Gere, Chelsea Handler, Chloë Moretz and more have been spotted here and we expect to see more this year.

STARBUCKS CANADA – TIFF means the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back and you know we love our PSLs! We look forward every fall to those early morning screenings, waiting in line in that cool, crisp air to get into our screenings and then getting a warm hug from the PSL inside the cool, dark theatre as we try to stay awake! The PSL is back in stores now only at Starbucks.

DUFFLET PASTRIES  – We love our treats and Dufflet has and always will be the Queen of Cake®! We always make time for a bit of relaxation towards the end of TIFF, and can’t wait to indulge in a slice of Black Forest or Raspberry Vanilla Charlotte! Their Queen Street location isn’t too far from all the Festival excitement.

MARY BROWN’S – We recently got reacquainted with Mary and it was all for the better!  We have so many fond memories of Mary Brown’s famous Chicken and Taters as a child and they are better than ever, celebrating their 50th anniversary! With locations allover the GTA including Mississauga, Pickering, North York, Scarborough and more, Mary Brown’s is WORTH. THE. DRIVE. Get on this.

CHATIME CANADA – I confess my Bubble Tea addiction still rages on.  With more and more locations popping-up throughout the Greater Toronto Area,  we can’t wait for you to discover our favourite cold beverage. Try the Wintermelon Iced Tea or Grapefruit Iced Tea – my favourites!

We hate leaving you guys out, so in celebration of our tenth anniversary, we’re giving you guys a chance to win our TIFF ’19 Survival Pack – Tenth Anniversary Edition, which includes:

$100 Gift Card to WESLODGE SALOON or any INK Entertainment dining establishment in Toronto including TIFF hotspots Figo, Byblos, Estia, Kōst, Patria, Sofia, La Société, Mister C., Akira Back and more.

Ten select Blu-rays/DVDs including current blockbuster hits and past TIFF selections

$150 Chatime Prize Pack including T-Shirt

$30 Starbucks Canada Gift Card

$25 Mary Brown’s Gift Card

Two Martini Glasses

One cake at Dufflet Pastries

One pair of headphones

A value of $700 CAN!

*Winner must be able to pick-up the Survival Pack from me in the downtown core during the Festival.

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, MR. WILL ON INSTAGRAM or MR. WILL ON TWITTER. Tell us in the comments your favourite memory of being a Mr. Will Reader all these years!  In the comment, tag two friends for an extra chance.

Even if you don’t win the Prize Pack be following us on our adventures as we’ll be doing giveaways on our Social Media through TIFF ’19!

Don’t forget to follow us here on our TIFF ’19 adventures:

Mr. Will [Instagram] | [Twitter] | [Facebook]
Amanda Gilmore [Twitter]
David Baldwin [Twitter]
George Kozera [Twitter]
Siobhan Rich [Twitter]
Justin Waldman [Twitter]
Jon Godfrey [Instagram]

A very special thank you to Jensen Lee who customized a special 10th anniversary logo just for us!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see AD ASTRA. Screenings take place as follows:

Montreal (French Screening), Montreal (English Screening), Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
 

Synopsis:
Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. His journey will uncover secrets that challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City/language preference for Montreal. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

AD ASTRA arrives in theaters everywhere on September 20, 2019 from The Walt Disney Studios.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

Labour Day means not only back-to-school. It means back-to-work and some stars already are in town for TIFF ’19!

Joel McHale stars in independent Thriller BECKY, which is up for sale during the Festival. The Film centers upon a girl and her dad whose weekend at a lakehouse is ruined when convicts show up to terrorize them. Toronto’s Amanda Brugel and Kevin James also star. McHale was spotted arriving and as always is a class act. The Community star has been here before for the Festival and also for the Global Upfront!

British-born Toronto star Keir Gilchrist (United States of Tara, Atypical) is back at TIFF with opioid crisis Drama CASTLE IN THE GROUND. The Film starring Neve Campbell and Alex Wolff premieres this Thursday at the Festival.

We loved seeing Gina Rodriguez again, as she gets ready to go back to work on Netflix‘s AWAKE after a weekend home in L.A.!

We don’t know about you, but we’re so ready for TIFF this week! Stay tuned, we’ve got lots of great stuff in store!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

For a second straight week, ANGEL HAS FALLEN claims top spot at the Box Office. Its take of $13 million from 3,336 theatres this weekend is enough to claim the throne based on few new releases to surface. By end of Labour Day weekend, it will have made $45.9 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films.

In second spot is GOOD BOYS with $8.8 million in its third week out for Universal Pictures, a total $58 million grossed.

In third is Disney’s THE LION KING in third with $6.4 million, a total $522.7 million in North America over seven weeks.

READY OR NOT is in sixth with $5.8 million for Fox Searchlight, a total $21.7 million made over two weeks.

Rounding things out is THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 2 with $4 million for Sony Pictures, a total $35 million over three week.

eOne Films x Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see TIFF ’19 selection JUDY on Monday, September 23, 2019 in Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Victoria.

Synopsis:
In London in the winter of 1968, legendary performer Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger) arrives to perform a series of sold-out concerts at the Talk of the Town. As she prepares for the show, she battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans.

She also embarks on a courtship with Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock), her soon-to-be fifth husband.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and Regulations here.

eOne Films release JUDY Friday, September 27, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)