Hot off its’ TIFF ’24 Premiere, Guy Maddin‘s RUMOURS gets a new Trailer! In theatres October 18, 2024 via Elevation Pictures.

Directed by: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Roy Dupuis, Nikki Amuka-Bird,
Charles Dance, Takehiro Hira, Denis Ménochet,
Rolando Ravello, Zlatko Burić, Alicia Vikander

Ricocheting between comedy, apocalyptic horror, and swooning soap opera, Rumours follows the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies at the annual G7 summit, where they attempt to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis. With unexpected, uproarious performances from a brilliant ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, and Charles Dance, these so-called leaders become spectacles of incompetence, contending with increasingly surreal obstacles in the misty woods as night falls and they realize they are suddenly alone. A genre-hopping satire of political ineptitude, the latest film from incomparable directors Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson is a journey into the absurd heart of power and institutional failure in a slowly burning world.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

By Nicholas Porteous

At their annual summit, the G7 world leaders are tasked with writing a provisional statement in a cozy gazebo in the middle of the woods, but everything goes haywire and they become lost in a forest full of zombies and a giant pulsating brain. Y’know, standard TIFF fare. This is Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson‘s Rumours–a surprisingly vague title for such a specifically wacky film.

“This isn’t Summer Camp” notes the British Prime Minister (Nikki Amuka Bird) as a reminder to our Canadian leader (Roy Dupuis), but you’d be very much forgiven for confusing these elected officials with a gang of unruly teens. As one should expect from Maddin and the Johnsons, these supposed adults are–to put it mildly–very silly. Caught-up in their own personal affairs (mainly surrounding the inescapably troubled but undeniably sexy Canadian Prime Minister), existential angst, and–yes—rumours! Cate Blanchett is exceedingly hilarious as the German Chancellor, alongside a buffoonish Rolando Ravello, representing Italy in a particularly unflattering light of aloofness. Charles Dance gives a solid turn as the American President who wants nothing more than to die–although his unwavering British accent had me scratching my head. The Movie makes a winking reference to the odd choice, but never justifies it in a satisfying way, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Rumours is very funny, and I found myself howling more than once at the evergreen comic premise of world leaders behaving like children, but as a feature there’s not much more to it than that. It’s a well-acted, whimsical, 118-minute sketch. Without any real stakes or a compelling dramatic engine, the movie feels more than a bit meandering as a narrative, and its climax does little to distinguish itself from the rest of the proceedings. Does it have a point beyond “world leaders are, at their core, self-obsessed, goofy children just like you and me and we’re all doomed”? If it does, I didn’t see it. But if you enjoy the madcap fever dreams that Maddin and the Johnsons are known for, and you’re willing to bask in that for two hours–arguably an hour beyond its expiration time–Rumours has that energy in spades.

Rumours screens at TIFF ’24:

Monday, September 9 at 8:30 PM at The Royal Alexandra Theatre

Tuesday, September 10 at 4:30 PM at Scotiabank Theatre

By Amanda Gilmore

In his first venture into television, beloved film Writer-Director Alfonso Cuarón tells an intelligent, savage tale of a woman’s past coming back to bite her.

Based on the Novel by Renée Knight, Disclaimer tells the story of celebrated journalist Catherine (Cate Blanchett) who begins reading a novel that was mysteriously delivered to her. To her horror, the novel is about her and the awful secret she’s kept for two decades.

TIFF is screening the first two episodes of this Limited Series. Over those episodes, Cuarón slowly unravels the story. The first episode brings us to two time periods. It’s clear the people in each are connected in some way. But what way and why? That’s where Cuarón excels. In keeping the mystery of these people and their connection a secret until the final frame.

Once we’re given the context of who’s who and how people have met, we’re brought to episode two. This is where the tension rises. The book has been delivered to Catherine’s son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and her husband Robert (a pitch-perfect Sasha Baron Cohen). Nicholas hasn’t connected the character to his mother, but Robert sure has. The confrontation between the two at the end of the episode is masterfully written and acted. 

Blanchett, as always, is flawless. This time delivering a complex character with many faults and a dark moment in her past, yet gives her a charm that allows us to root for her.

Disclaimer screens at TIFF ’24:

Mon, Sept 9 at 4 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Wed, Sept 11 at 2 PM at Scotiabank Theatre

Sun, Sept 15 at 11:45 AM at Scotiabank Theatre

Cannot believe how great our day went and this will go down as the day we finally met the great Cate! So many new core memories created!

It was an explosive Day Four of TIFF ’24 including:

•Angelina Jolie at Premiere of WITHOUT BLOOD after being honoured at TIFF Tribute Awards Gala
•Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas at TIFF ’24 for EDEN.
•Sam Worthington at TIFF ’24 for RELAY
•Jude Law, Tye Sheridan, Teresa Palmer, Nicholas Hoult, Jurnee Smollett at TIFF ’24 for THE ORDER
•Malala at TIFF ’24 for LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN
•Alfonso Cuáron at TIFF ’24 for DISCLAIMER.
•Cate Blanchett being honoured at TIFF Tribute Awards tonight. Here with DISCLAIMER and RUMOURS
•Isabella Rosselini at TIFF ’24 for CONCLAVE
•Alicia Vikander and Himesh Patel at TIFF ’24 for THE ASSESSMENT
•Paul Rudd at TIFF ’24 for FRIENDSHIP
•Mikey Madison, Sean Baker, Karren Karagulian, Yura Borisov and Vache Tovmasyan of ANORA
•John David Washington and Malcolm Washington at TIFF ’24 for THE PIANO LESSON

See our Day Four highlights!

Angelina Jolie‘s exciting arrival with son Pax at WITHOUT BLOOD Premiere

Some highlights from Cate Blanchett’s In-Conversation:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Today Apple TV+ revealed its first teaser for “Disclaimer,” the highly anticipated and gripping psychological thriller starring Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Told in seven chapters, the limited series will make its global debut on Friday, October 11, 2024 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through November 15, 2024.

Written and directed by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, “Disclaimer” is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.

As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The ensemble cast includes Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Hoyeon, and features Indira Varma as the narrator.

Hailing from Apple Studios, “Disclaimer” is co-produced by Esperanto Filmoj and Anonymous Content. Cuarón executive produces for Esperanto Filmoj alongside Gabriela Rodriguez. In addition to starring, Blanchett serves as executive producer. David Levine and the late Steve Golin executive produce for Anonymous Content. Academy Award winner Emmanuel Lubezki, Donald Sabourin and Carlos Morales also executive produce. Renée Knight serves as co-executive producer. Lubezki and Academy Award nominee Bruno Delbonnel serve as directors of photography. The score is composed by multiple Academy and GRAMMY Award winner Finneas O’Connell.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favourite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 501 wins and 2,286 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

DISCLAIMER*

*Any resemblance to persons living or dead is not a coincidence.

Focus Features will release Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming spy drama BLACK BAG in theaters on March 14, 2025. Focus will release the film in the US with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.

From Academy Award® winning director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a high-stakes mystery starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender alongside Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke and Pierce Brosnan.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: David Koepp
Producers: Casey Silver and Greg Jacobs

Focus Features upcoming slate includes PIECE BY PIECE, an animated biopic from Morgan Neville about the life of multifaceted global superstar Pharrell Williams told through the lens of LEGO bricks, Robert Eggers’ reimagining of NOSFERATU, Edward Berger’s thriller CONCLAVE, Sundance-Award winner DÌDI (弟弟) from Sean Wang, Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming crime-thriller BLACK BAG starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, Yorgos Lanthimos’s next film BUGONIA starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, and the highly anticipated third installment of the DOWNTON ABBEY franchise, among others.

Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF is thrilled to announce that the renowned Australian actor and producer Cate Blanchett will be honoured at the 2024 TIFF Tribute Awards as the recipient of the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award. Blanchett will also participate in an In Conversation With… event, offering audiences an intimate look into the two-time Academy Award winner’s illustrious career.

A trailblazer in advocating for greater representation and equality in the film industry and one of the most revered performers in modern cinema, the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award winner is a leading woman in the film industry who has championed the careers of others and paved the way for the next generation. Honouring the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, the TIFF Tribute Awards is a fundraising event that takes place on Sunday, September 8 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, with proceeds going towards TIFF’s Every Story Fund, which champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film.

“Cate Blanchett is a marvel,” said Bailey. “One of the finest actors in film history, she has consistently shown range, depth and audacity on screen. Off screen, she has been a tireless champion of increased equity and justice in many sectors. Cate’s passion for the transformative power of storytelling, and her commitment to breaking down barriers for women, align with the goals of our Share Her Journey initiative. We’re honoured to present Cate Blanchett with this year’s Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, and can’t wait to welcome her back to Toronto.”

The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry. Past recipients are Patricia Arquette (2023) and Michelle Yeoh (2022).

Blanchett joins the recently announced iconic Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter David Cronenberg, who will be recognized with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award; and Oscar-nominated actor Amy Adams, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. Award-winning Korean Canadian actor and producer Sandra Oh is the inaugural Honorary Chair of TIFF’s largest fundraiser, now in its sixth year. Serving as a kick-off to awards season, the Tribute Awards have in the past honoured Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Colman Domingo, Brendan Fraser, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, Michelle Yeoh, and Chloé Zhao, who have gone on to win awards on the international stage.

An integral part of TIFF’s year-round and Festival programming, In Conversation With… connects audiences with leading film artists through intimate, moderated discussions about their creative process. Packed with emotion and cultural significance, this series offers audiences a wide range of experiences.

About Cate Blanchett
Blanchett has forged a unique career on stage and screen as an artist, producer and cultural leader. Working with many of the world’s leading filmmakers, she has crafted defining roles in critically acclaimed films such as Tár, Carol, I’m Not There, and Notes on a Scandal. Equally at home in arthouse discoveries as she is in box-office blockbusters, Academy Award wins came for The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, and numerous other honours have included four BAFTAS and four Golden Globes. Raised in Australia, Blanchett began her career on the Sydney stage. While her international success came following Elizabeth in 1988, she would later return to her home country to run its de facto national theatre, the Sydney Theatre Company, as co-Artistic Director and co-CEO, transforming it in the process to an award winning green arts hub. Small-screen roles include the leading role in Mrs America which she also produced through the production company she co-runs, Dirty Films, whose recent projects include Proof of Concept supporting emerging women, trans and nonbinary filmmakers. She is a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, a member of the Earthshot Prize Council and a leading advocate for the cultural industries, human rights and the environment.

More Festival details will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for TIFF ’24 go on-sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 16. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 13. The 49th Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 5–15, 2024.

(Photo credit: Tom Munro)

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a first-look at “Disclaimer,” and announced that the seven-episode limited series will make its global debut on Friday, October 11, 2024 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through November 15, 2024.

“Disclaimer” is a gripping psychological thriller in seven chapters, starring Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Written and directed by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, “Disclaimer” is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.

As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The ensemble cast includes Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George and Hoyeon.

“Disclaimer” is produced by Esperanto Filmoj and Anonymous Content. Cuarón serves as executive producer alongside Esperanto Filmoj’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Anonymous Content’s David Levine, and Steve Golin. Renée Knight serves as co-executive producer. Academy Award winner Emmanuel Lubezki (“Gravity,” “Birdman,” “The Revenant”) and Academy Award nominee Bruno Delbonnel (“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Darkest Hour”) serve as directors of photography and executive produce. Donald Sabourin and Carlos Morales also executive produce. The score is composed by multiple Academy and GRAMMY Award winner Finneas O’Connell (“Barbie,” “No Time to Die”).

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favourite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 492 wins and 2,158 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

The genius that is Eli Roth brings us BORDERLANDS, featuring a very star-studded Cast and based on the popular Video Game! Here’s the new Trailer!

COMING TO THEATRES AUGUST 9, 2024

Directed by: Eli Roth
Based on: The Video Game Borderlands created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K
Produced by: Ari Arad, p.g.a., Avi Arad, Erik Feig
Executive Producers: Tim Miller, Ethan Smith, Louise Rosner, Emmy Yu, Lucy Kitada, Christopher Woodrow, K. Blaine Johnston, Randy Pitchford, Strauss Zelnick
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, and Jamie Lee Curtis
Story: Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home, Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. Her mission is to find the missing daughter of Atlas (Ramírez), the universe’s most powerful S.O.B. Lilith forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits – Roland (Hart), a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound protector; Tannis (Curtis), the oddball scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap (Black), a wiseass robot. Together, these unlikely heroes must battle an alien species and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora’s most explosive secrets. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other. Based on one of the best-selling videogame franchises of all time, welcome to BORDERLANDS.

About Cineplex Pictures
Cineplex Pictures, a division of Cineplex, is a distributor of a wide range of genre films. Recent titles include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,The Boy And The Heron, SAW X, EXPEND4BLES, Joy Ride, The Blackening, About My Father, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Sisu, John Wick: Chapter 4, Jesus Revolution, Plane, The Good House, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Hotel Artemis, and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

By Amanda Gilmore

Writer-Director Warwick Thornton brings this beautiful examination of spirituality and survival. He’s questioning the fact that if one faith exists then why can’t all faiths exists?

The Film is set at a remote Australian monastery in the ’40s, where a mission for Aboriginal children is run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). When an Aboriginal boy (a mesmerizing performance by newcomer Aswan Reid) who appears to have special powers is delivered to the monastery the balance of the it becomes challenged. The boy’s Indigenous spiritual life does not gel with the mission’s Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy.

When the new boy arrives, he’s brought into this world he doesn’t know, a faith that he’s never encountered. But all he really wants to do is survive. He only knows how to survive in nature. As there is a hierarchy that Sister Eileen gives the boys, the new boy attempts to get to the top of it. Additionally, just as most children believe, he thinks he needs to please those with authority to achieve survival.

The thing that pleases Sister Eileen more than anything is a relic of Christ on the cross which was recently delivered. The new boy observes the nun as she praises the religion and the symbol. Soon, the new boy becomes transfixed by this faith he’s never known. However, when he shows his special powers, Sister Eileen fears them rather than attempting to understand them.

As always, Blanchett delivers a tremendous performance. This time as a nun whose passion for Christianity is deep-rooted and unwavering. Although Sister Eileen is willfully blind to other religions, Blanchett creates space for mystery. We find ourselves wondering if she will open her mind to the new boy’s spirituality.

Thornton delivers the harsh reality about those faithful to Christianity. That it must conquer all and there’s no space for others. It’s clear that the new boy was willing to learn and accept another faith. In doing so, it’s a message that other faiths are open to the belief that all can co-exist. Only Christianity believes it should be the sole survivor.

The New Boy screens at Cannes ’23:

Fri May 19 at 4PM at DEBUSSY THEATRE

Sat May 20 at 11AM at CINEUM AURORE

Sat May 20 at 5:30PM at BAZIN THEATRE

Sun May 21 at 9AM at CINEUM AURORE

Sun May 21 at 11:15AM at LICORNE