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)

Following the record-breaking success as the highest R-rated opening ever, the celebrations came home to where IT all began last night in Toronto. In addition to a special Cast & Crew screening at Scotiabank Theatre, fans also got a chance to see follow-up IT: CHAPTER TWO first!

Director/Writer Andy Muschietti and his sister, Producer Barbara Muschietti made a visit to the City to promote the highly-anticipated Stephen King adaptation. Cineplex’s Tanner Zipchen chat with the two in a Q&A preceding the Screening and talk about navigating the Film especially filming flashbacks with the child cast who have grown since the first installment. They also are asked about what it is like to work with your sibling!

Some clips from the Chat:

Some of our Snaps:

Fans can expect the same emotion that the first film landed on as well as the message of facing your fears head-on, as well as some fantastic performances especially by funnyman Bill Hader who is the heart and soul of the Film. And of course, the scares! Review coming soon.

Warner Bros. Canada release IT: CHAPTER TWO Wednesday, September 6, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

As soon as you walk into the Amazon Prime‘s Carnival Row pop-up at Yonge-Dundas Square, filled with the sounds of Classical and Opera, you are handed a card that tells you if you are human or creature. As the actors walk around they notice what card you are holding and talk to you accordingly. Which gives the feeling like you are really in this fictional world.

As you walk around the event, there are different shopping stations from the show and actors that interact with guests. Asking what they would like to buy at their shop. There is also a station at its center that has a stage and mic stand and a creature goes off and on singing to the crowd. There is more fun to be had with a station to put on your own creature wings!

After screening Carnival Row, I can say the Fantasy genre is used interestingly to touch upon themes of refugee scenarios and immigration. Delevingne and Bloom deliver solid performances and while we only get to see them in one scene together, but their chemistry is great. Steam Punk fans will be delighted.

Synopsis:
Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad) star in Carnival Row, a series set in a Victorian fantasy world filled with mythological immigrant creatures whose exotic homelands were invaded by the empires of man. This growing population struggles to coexist with humans — forbidden to live, love, or fly with freedom. But even in darkness, hope lives, as a human detective, Rycroft Philostrate (Bloom), and a refugee faerie named Vignette Stonemoss (Delevingne) rekindle a dangerous affair despite an increasingly intolerant society. Vignette harbors a secret that endangers Philo’s world during his most important case yet: a string of gruesome murders threatening the uneasy peace of the Row.

See some Snaps from the Pop-Up:

See the Trailer:

CARNIVAL ROW streams on Amazon Prime beginning Labour Day weekend.

(Photo/video credit:  Amazon Prime/Amanda Gilmore)

Attention, MEN IN BLACK fans! In celebration of MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL‘s release on Home Entertainment, be ready to grab a delicious treat!

On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, visit Toronto’s famous Black Charcoal Ice Cream purveyor, iHalo Krunch’s Queen Street West location at 1:00pm and will go until supplies last. All are welcome to participate, but only the first 100 fans to arrive at iHalo Krunch are eligible to receive a free cone. After the first 100 cones are distributed, iHalo Krunch will continue to distribute free ice cream throughout the day, in the form of cups, to Men in Black fans who arrive.

More details:

So get your best Men in Black look on!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment release MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

We can’t get enough Timothée! Check-out this new Teaser for THE KING!

Synopsis:
Hal (Timothée Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape. Now the young king must navigate the palace politics, chaos and war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life — including his relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the ageing alcoholic knight, John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton). Directed by David Michôd and co-written by Michôd and Edgerton, THE KING co-stars Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Robert Pattinson, and Lily-Rose Depp.

See the Trailer:

THE KING streams on Netflix this Fall.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Oh boy, it’s a big year indeed. After much waiting and speculations, TIFF didn’t disappoint and released their list of who’s coming to TIFF ’19. Keep in mind this is subject to change at any time!

For more on the titles coming to the Festival and what’s been announced to date, click here.

Happy stargazing!

(Photo credit: TIFF)