Press has begun for many of the Films premiering at TIFF ’21 and since Red Carpets aren’t public this year, we have to use a bit more creativity getting that snap! No worries, we’re managing!
We spotted the Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN out and about today as they did the rounds and captured a few lovely moments among Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Danny Pino, Nik Dodani and Director Stephe n Chbosky!
We also were thrilled to attend the Premiere of Clint Bentley‘s JOCKEY which had won much acclaim at Sundance, winning Clifton Collins Jr. the award for Best Actor. Collins and Bentley were at TIFF ’21 today to premiere the Film at Scotiabank Theatre, giving the audience to understand an authentic story about the world of Horse Racing and what it’s like to be an aging athlete. Bentley tells the audience he is actually from a family involved very much with the industry. Don’t forget to check our running TIFF ’21 link here for the Review.
We also finally saw Pablo Larrain‘s SPENCER starring Kristen Stewart and were floored! So much detail and a super portrayal of Diana by Stewart. While our Review is coming shortly, here is a short thread on Twitter I Tweeted:
#TIFF21: Can we talk about #Spencer for a second? #KristenStewart pic.twitter.com/HnsQqLL4lS
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) September 10, 2021
We are positively exhausted. Going to rest-up early for along day ahead including the TIFF Tribute Gala bright and early!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Amanda Gilmore
Aging jockey Jackson (Clifton Collins Jr.) has become weathered due to decades on the riding circuit. After noticing changes in his hand, he learns he’s facing a debilitating illness. Realizing this might be his last championship race, he practises with the help of trainer Ruth (Molly Parker) and a promising young horse. Further changes begin happening in Jackson’s life when young jockey, Gabriel (Moisés Arias), claims to be his son.
Director and Co-Writer Clint Bentley has brought audiences into the life of a middle-aged jockey. We witness the importance of the relationship between jockey, trainer and horse. And while peaking on the men who ride, we learn of the costs to body and mind. Bentley’s shots, with help from the talents of Director of Photography Adolpho Veloso, of the Arizona sunsets against the stables and track, are breathtaking. They collide with the heartbreaking performance from Collins Jr.
He steers this touching portrait of a man facing the sunset of his career. He embodies a complex man who has spent his life at something that is about to be ripped away from him. He excels particularly in Jackson‘s refusal to accept Gabriel as his son. And then slowly exposing the hope that grows in believing he might be. Collins Jr. and Arias have beautiful chemistry that leaps from the screen. They depict two men at different stages of their career: one ending, one beginning. We get to see the excitement of beginning in the career you yearn for, and the anguish in watching it slip away.
Arias is strong as Gabriel whose aspiration and ambition are palpable. He’s best in quiet scenes between Gabriel and Jackson discussing the passion for the sport. Additionally, Parker is a standout as empathetic Ruth. She exudes both Ruth’s hunger for a win and her care for Jackson’s condition.
Jockey is a poignant look at the desires of career and family. It brings us right into the world of being a jockey and its taxing costs to the body. Further, it’s an exploration of the importance of family; whether it be through blood or spirit.
JOCKEY screens at TIFF ’21:
Fri, Sep 10 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto 3:30 PM
Mon, Sep 13 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto 6:00 PM
Wed, Sep 15 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 3:00 PM
Sat, Sep 18 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 5:00 PM
More titles have been announced for TIFF ’21 in the TIFF Docs, Midnight Madness, Wavelengths and Contemporary World Cinema Programmes. Among those premiering at the Festival this September in Toronto are Cannes Palme d’Or winner TITANE in the Midnight Madness Programme, getting the Opening Film slot.
Also surfacing at TIFF is Sundance hit JOCKEY starring Clifton Collins Jr. The Film competed in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, and also win Collins the US Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Actor and got picked-up by Sony Pictures Classics shortly after. TRUE THINGS starring The Affair‘s Ruth Wilson also will be presented in the Contemporary World Cinema Programme alongside Jockey, among others.
The Festival runs September 9–18, 2021 and will be a combination of in-person and virtual events and screenings.
Titles announced today include:
TIFF DOCS
Presented by A&E IndieFilms
TIFF Docs Opening Film
Attica Stanley Nelson | USA
World Premiere
Beba Rebeca Huntt | USA/Mexico
World Premiere
Becoming Cousteau Liz Garbus | USA
International Premiere
Burning Eva Orner | Australia
World Premiere
Comala Gian Cassini | Mexico
World Premiere
The Devil’s Drivers Mohammed Abugeth, Daniel Carsenty | Qatar/France/Lebanon/Germany
World Premiere
Flee Jonas Poher Rasmussen | Denmark/France/Sweden/Norway
Canadian Premiere
Hold Your Fire Stefan Forbes | USA
World Premiere
Listening to Kenny G Penny Lane | USA
World Premiere
Oscar Peterson: Black + White Barry Avrich | Canada
World Premiere
The Rescue E. Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin | USA/United Kingdom
International Premiere
Three Minutes – A Lengthening Bianca Stigter | Netherlands/United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere
Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace Heather Hatch | Canada
World Premiere
WAVELENGTHS FEATURES
Futura Pietro Marcello, Francesco Munzi, Alice Rohrwacher | Italy
North American Premiere
The Girl and the Spider (Das Mädchen und die Spinne) Ramon Zürcher, Silvan Zürcher | Switzerland
North American Premiere
Wavelengths Opening Film
Neptune Frost Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman | Rwanda/USA
North American Premiere
A Night of Knowing Nothing Payal Kapadia | India/France
International Premiere
Ste. Anne Rhayne Vermette | Canada
North American Premiere
The Tsugua Diaries (Diários de Otsoga) Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes | Portugal
North American Premiere
WAVELENGTHS SHORTS
The Capacity for Adequate Anger Vika Kirchenbauer | Germany
World Premiere
Dear Chantal (Querida Chantal) Nicolás Pereda | Mexico/Spain
International Premiere
earthearthearth Daïchi Saïto | Canada
North American Premiere
Inner Outer Space Laida Lertxundi | Spain
North American Premiere
Polycephaly in D Michael Robinson | USA
World Premiere
“The red filter is withdrawn.” (“Le-deu-pil-teo-ga Cheol-hoe-doeb-ni-da.”) Minjung Kim | South Korea
North American Premiere
Train Again Peter Tscherkassky | Austria
North American Premiere
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
After Blue (Dirty Paradise) Bertrand Mandico | France
North American Premiere
DASHCAM Rob Savage | United Kingdom/USA
World Premiere
Saloum Jean Luc Herbulot | Senegal
World Premiere Midnight Madness Opening Film
Titane Julia Ducournau | France
North American Premiere
You Are Not My Mother Kate Dolan | Ireland
World Premiere
Zalava Arsalan Amiri | Iran
North American Premiere
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Presented by Visa
(New additions to previously announced programme)
Ahed’s Knee (Ha’berech) Nadav Lapid | Israel/France/Germany
North American Premiere
The Box (La Caja) Lorenzo Vigas | USA/Mexico
North American Premiere (previously announced in Contemporary World Cinema)
France Bruno Dumont | France/Germany/Italy/Belgium
North American Premiere
Where Is Anne Frank? Ari Folman | Belgium/France/Netherlands/Luxembourg/Israel
North American Premiere
CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA
Presented by Sun Life
(New additions to previously announced programme)
7 Prisoners (7 Prisioneiros) Alexandre Moratto | Brazil
North American Premiere
Compartment No. 6 Juho Kuosmanen | Finland/Germany/Estonia/Russia
North American Premiere
The Gravedigger’s Wife Khadar Ayderus Ahmed | France/Somalia/Germany/Finland
North American Premiere
Jockey Clint Bentley | USA
International Premiere
Small Body Laura Samani | Italy/France/Slovenia
North American Premiere
True Things Harry Wootliff | United Kingdom
North American Premiere
More details here.
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics)
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Though Sundance had to adjust to the pandemic, they were able to offer a slew of content in their program. It screened 71 Features, 50 Shorts, 4 Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier Projects.
Some films were lucky enough to be bought ahead of the Festival, such as Together Together, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World and Prisoners of the Ghostland. And some were acquired following their Sundance debut, such as Feature films CODA, Flee, Jockey and Cryptozoo. The former sold of a record-smashing $25 million to Apple Studios. Along with Documentaries Ailey and Playing With Sharks. Make sure you keep an eye out in the future for these titles.
Tonight was the Awards Ceremony hosted by Patton Oswald. Some presenters included Alison Brie and Diego Luna. Check out the list of winners below.
U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: CODA
Audience Award: CODA
Directing: Siân Heder (CODA)
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Ari Katcher and Rya Welch (On The Count of Three)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Clifton Collins Jr (Jockey)
Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: CODA
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Audience Award: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Directing: Natalia Almada (Users)
Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: Kristina Motwani and Rebecca Adorno (Homeroom)
Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt (Cusp)
Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction Experimentation: Theo Anthony (All Light, Everywhere)
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Hive
Audience Award: Hive
Directing Award: Blerta Basholli (Hive)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Jesmark Scicluna (Luzzu)
Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: One For The Road
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Flee
Audience Award: Writing With Fire
Directing Award: Hogir Hirori (Sabaya)
Special Jury Award: Verite Filmmaking: President
Special Jury Award: Impact for Change: Writing With Fire
OTHER AWARDS
NEXT Audience Award: Ma Belle, My Beauty
NEXT Innovator Award: Cryptozoo
Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize: Son of Monarchs
SHORT AWARDS:
Short Film Grand Jury Award: Lizard
Short Film Jury Award: US Fiction: The Touch of the Master’s Hand
Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction: Bambirak
Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction: Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma
Jury Prize for Animation: Souvenir Souvenir
Special Jury Award for Screenwriting: Serhat Karaaslan (The Criminals)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Breanna Gibson (Wiggle Room)
(Photo credit: Sundance)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Aging jockey Jackson (Clifton Collins Jr.) has become weathered due to decades on the riding circuit. After noticing changes in his hand, he learns he’s facing a debilitating illness. Realizing this might be his last championship race, he practises with the help of trainer Ruth (Molly Parker) and a promising young horse. Further changes begin happening in Jackson’s life when young jockey, Gabriel (Moisés Arias), claims to be his son.
Director and Co-Writer Clint Bentley has brought audiences into the life of a middle-aged jockey. We witness the importance of the relationship between jockey, trainer and horse. And while peaking on the men who ride, we learn of the costs to body and mind. Bentley’s shots, with help from the talents of Director of Photography Adolpho Veloso, of the Arizona sunsets against the stables and track, are breathtaking. They collide with the heartbreaking performance from Collins Jr.
He steers this touching portrait of a man facing the sunset of his career. He embodies a complex man who has spent his life at something that is about to be ripped away from him. He excels particularly in Jackson‘s refusal to accept Gabriel as his son. And then slowly exposing the hope that grows in believing he might be. Collins Jr. and Arias have beautiful chemistry that leaps from the screen. They depict two men at different stages of their career: one ending, one beginning. We get to see the excitement of beginning in the career you yearn for, and the anguish in watching it slip away.
Arias is strong as Gabriel whose aspiration and ambition are palpable. He’s best in quiet scenes between Gabriel and Jackson discussing the passion for the sport. Additionally, Parker is a standout as empathetic Ruth. She exudes both Ruth’s hunger for a win and her care for Jackson’s condition.
Jockey is a poignant look at the desires of career and family. It brings us right into the world of being a jockey and its taxing costs to the body. Further, it’s an exploration of the importance of family; whether it be through blood or spirit.
Jockey screens at Sundance:
Live Premiere: January 31 at 6 PM (EST)
On-Demand (available for 24 hours): February 2 at 10 AM (EST)
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Sundance is evolving for the 2021 festival and going predominantly virtual with limited drive-in screenings across the U.S. Although the festival is only running for seven days, its screening 71 Features, 50 Shorts, 4 Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier Projects. The Festival continues to include more diverse filmmaking voices. Of this year’s 139 films: 50% are directed by one or more women; 4% are directed by one or more non-binary individuals; 50% are directed by one or more artists of color, and 15% by one or more people who identify as LGBTQ+.
There is a lot of buzz surrounding many films screening at this year’s fest, and we are highly anticipating many of its feature film picks. Check out our Top Ten, in no particular order, programmes listed in parantheses.
Director & Screenwriter: Dash Shaw
>It’s rare Sundance includes an Animated Feature in their selection so we are expecting great things. It follows cryptokeepers who question if they should display or keep hidden the majestical beasts they find. The characters are voiced by Lake Bell, Michael Cera and Zoe Kazan just to name a few.
Director & Screenwriter: Clint Bentley
An ageing jockey in ill health attempts to win one more championship, but things turn upside down when a young jockey claims to be his son. This is Bentley’s first-feature as a director and his cast includes Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker and Moises Arias.
Director & Co-Screenwriter: Shaka King
We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. It follows William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) who was offered a plea deal to infiltrate the Black Panther Party with the intent to gain intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). It has a powerhouse supporting cast consisting of Dominique Fishback, Jesse Plemons, Ashton Sanders and more.
This arrives February 12, 2021.
Director: Robin Wright (Variety’s 2021 Directors to Watch)
Wright makes her feature-film directorial debut and stars in this poignant story of a woman searching for meaning in the American wilderness, following an unfathomable event.
This will be released February 12, 2021.
Director: Jerrod Carmichael
Sundance’s synopsis of Carmichael’s (The Carmichael Show) directorial feature debut is: “Two guns. Two best friends. And a pact to end their lives when the day is done.” It’s also got one killer cast: Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B Smoove, Lavell Crawford and Henry Winkler.
Director & Screenwriter: Rebecca Hall
Based on the novella by Nella Larsen, this film follows two African American women who can “pass” as white and choose to live on opposite sides of the colour line in 1929 New York. It has a stellar cast consisting of Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård and Bill Camp.
Director: Sion Sono
Nicolas Cage and popular Japanese filmmaker Sono team up in this film that Cage has stated is his wildest yet. It follows a notorious criminal who is sent to rescue a woman who has disappeared into a dark supernatural universe.
Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
This Film documents the Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place the same summer as Woodstock. The festival celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and culture.
Co-Directors & Co-Screenwriters: Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli
Coming off the buzz from its TIFF premiere, this Canadian film is now travelling stateside. It follows Miriam (Sims-Fewer) whose quest for revenge is sparked when her sister and brother-in-law betray her.
A Canadian release has been confirmed for March 26, 2021 for this.
Director & Screenwriter: Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. (Variety’s 2021 Directors to Watch)
Years after covering up a savage murder of a schoolmate, two men confront how their secret has shaped their lives. It stars Michael Greyeyes, Chaske Spencer, Jesse Eisenberg, Kate Bosworth, and more.
Although these films are geoblocked to the U.S, there are many free events happening virtually around the globe. Some of the events happening are: The Sundance Dailies, The Cinema Cafe, The Big Question, Awards Night and more.
Friday, January 29–Tuesday, February 2, 9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
These take place every morning with Tabitha Jackson and others. Guests include: Eugenio Derbez (CODA), Rebecca Hall (Passing), Ed Helms (Together Together), Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein (How It Ends), and more.
Friday, January 29–Monday, February 1, 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m
These cultural conversations with fascinating subjects could go just anywhere. This year we have:
Shaka King & Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Friday, January 29, 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Sonia Manzano & Rita Moreno
Saturday, January 30, 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Rebecca Hall & Robin Wright
Sunday, January 31, 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Tyson Brown, Patti Harrison & Emilia Jones
Monday, February 1, 10:30 a.m.–11:15am
Friday, January 29–Monday, February 1, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m., individual slots TBA
These conversations tackle science, art, culture, and the movements that are fueling the imaginations of today’s independent artists. Topics include LGBTQ+ film, women at Sundance, race and more.
This takes place Tuesday, February 2, 6:00 p.m. and is free for all to view on the Sundance online screening platform.
For information about films, events and more head to: https://festival.sundance.org/.
Stay tuned for our continued coverage as we bring you reviews daily of the most-buzzed films throughout the Festival.
The Sundance Film Festival runs from January 28 to February 3, 2021.
(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)
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