Serendipity Point Films and HGO Films today announce that principal photography is underway on location in Budapest on Embers. Directed by Academy Award winner István Szabó (MEPHISTO, COLONEL REDL, SUNSHINE, BEING JULIA) and produced by Robert Lantos (SUNSHINE, BARNEY’S VERSION, THE SWEET HEREAFTER, EASTERN PROMISES) and Tibor Krsko (RISE OF THE RAVEN, FATELESS), the film stars three-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes (CONCLAVE, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, SCHINDLER’S LIST) opposite likewise three-time Academy Award-nominated Viggo Mortensen (EASTERN PROMISES, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, GREEN BOOK). Embers is written by Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton (THE FATHER, ATONEMENT, DANGEROUS LIAISONS), adapted from the internationally best-selling novel of the same name by Sándor Márai. Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling (45 YEARS, DUNE) joins the cast, along with Katherine Langford (13 REASONS WHY, KNIVES OUT), Louis Hofmann (ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE), Gijs Blom (THE KOLLECTIVE), Evelyne Brochu (FRENCH GIRL), and Jonah Russell (LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER).

Embers reconnects once inseparable friends, Henrik and Konrad, decades after Konrad’s mysterious disappearance and uncovers over the course of one evening the secret that tore them apart—and the woman at the center of it.

Hampton first adapted Márai’s beloved novel as a stage play. Following its successful run on London’s West End, he then delivered a screen draft to Szabó with a single message, “In hope”. The material was tailor made to reunite Szabó with his Sunshine and Being Julia producer, Lantos, and Sunshine star, Fiennes.

“Since Christopher Hampton sent it to me, Robert Lantos and I have been waiting to film the best script I have ever held in my hands. The basis, Márai’s novel, is one of the most beautiful works of 20th Century fiction. Christopher perfectly adapted the novel for film,” Szabó shares.

“I have worked with Ralph, Viggo and István in the past. Uniting them to make Christopher Hampton’s magnificent screenplay come to life is a fantasy realized. Embers is my dream team film,” says Lantos.

“I had long hoped to be reunited with István Szabó on another film. Robert Lantos has brought us together with Christopher Hampton’s wonderful adaptation of Embers. One of the great joys of this project was to be able to work with Viggo Mortensen, he is a great actor who I have admired for many years. It was something extraordinary to be on the set with him, István and a superb Hungarian crew,” says Fiennes.

“To have worked alongside Ralph Fiennes for István Szabó on Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Sándor Márai’s beautiful novel has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring challenge,” adds Mortensen.

Ari Lantos (REMEMBER, CLARA) is Producer, and Laura Lanktree (CRIMES OF THE FUTURE) is Co-producer. Executive Producers include Jan Mojto, Atom Egoyan, Tim Haslam, and Andrea Calderwood, with Hampton and Jeff Sackman as Co-Executive Producers.

Embankment Films is handling international sales. “Embers is a high stakes psychological duel, in which a moment of desire and betrayal defines a lifetime,” says Tim Haslam.

Joining Szabó are Academy Award winning composer Mychael Danna (LIFE OF PI), production designer Attila F. Kovacs (SUNSHINE), cinematographer Dániel Garas (RISE OF THE RAVEN), costume designer Bea Merkovits (RISE OF THE RAVEN) and editor David Wharnsby (AWAY FROM HER). The film was cast by Academy Award nominee Nina Gold (HAMNET).

Embers is a Serendipity Point Films, HGO Films, Potboiler Productions co-production. It is produced with the support of MTVA, Beta Film, Bell Media, and CBC Films.

Ralph Fiennes is represented by Simon Beresford at 42 Management and Production, Joel Lubin at Creative Artists Agency, and Jason Sloane and Tom Collier at SOWDLLP. Viggo Mortensen is represented by Theresa Peters at United Talent Agency, and Stuart Rosenthal at GGSSC. Charlotte Rampling is represented by Lesley Duff at Diamond Management, and Elisabeth Tanner at Time-Art. Leslie Siebert at Gersh represents Katherine Langford, along with Cynthia Pett at Brillstein Partners. Louis Hofmann is represented by Andrew Tsoules and Landon Shepanek at Creative Artists Agency, John Hyslop at United Artists, and Lucy Popkin at GGSSC. Miles Pathirana at The Artists Partnership and Sara Juricic at Henneman represent Gijs Blom.

About Serendipity Point Films:

Serendipity Point Films is focused on theatrical feature films and event television. Among the films produced by its owner, Robert Lantos, The Sweet Hereafter, Sunshine, Being Julia, Eastern Promises, and Barney’s Version were nominated for Academy Awards and/or Golden Globes. The Sweet Hereafter and Crash won Jury Prizes in Cannes, while Barney’s Version won the Audience Award in Venice and eXistenZ and Museo each won a Silver Bear in Berlin. Serendipity most recently produced the ten-hour historical epic series Rise of the Raven and the feature film Crimes Of The Future. www.serendipitypoint.com

About Embankment:

Founded by Tim Haslam and Hugo Grumbar, Embankment consistently delivers acclaimed, award-winning, and commercially resonant stories, including the Oscar-winning The Father, Oscar and BAFTA-nominated The Wife, the BAFTA-nominated documentary McQueen, and the worldwide streaming phenomenon Purple Hearts. Its in-house producing team includes Kevin Loader (Allelujah, The Death of Stalin, The Personal History of David Copperfield) and Nick Taussig (McQueen, Audrey, Churchill), whose combined experience along with the founders spans over 400 productions and a catalogue of more than 1,000 titles. https://embankmentfilms.com

The Promise of Music: the First World Congress on the Social Impact of Music commenced tonight in Toronto. The Festival celebrates the impact of Music brings together global artists, leaders, educators, scientists, technologists and changemakers in the City, across multiple concerts and venues from October 6 to 10, 2025.

Among the stars in town are acclaimed Actor Viggo Mortensen, three-time Academy Award nominee. Mortensen filled emcee duties at the opening night gala, The Glenn Gould Foundation Presents: The Promise of Music Celebration at gorgeous Aga Khan Museum. Mortsensen himself is a noted composer, having scored some of his films like Falling, and he is a multi-instrumentalist.

Mortensen also will narrate Sistema New Brunswick Children’s Orchestra & Sistema Toronto: Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony, taking place at Koener Hall Wednesday, October 7, 2025.

A clip of Mortensen arriving, as he graciously signed autographs for fans:

More on the Festival and tickets here: https://promiseofmusic.com/tickets. Acclaimed Composer AR Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) closes out the Festival this Friday night at the Great Canadian Casino– Toronto with an in-conversation.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The finish line is in sight for TIFF ’23 but we’re still out and about! We spotted Ava DuVernay doing the rounds earlier! The history-making Oscar-nominated BAFTA and Primetime Emmy winner looked stunning earlier and was so lovely to stop for a snap! Her film ORIGIN was a late add to the lineup at TIFF ’23.

Shortly after, we saw Oscar-nominated Actress Salma Hayek Pinault arriving to her Red Carpet for SABOR DE LA NAVIDAD. In a rush to get to her interviews, she didn’ stop at the barricade for her fans. She serves as Executive Producer for the Film.

Also, a huge joy witnessing Chloe Domont‘s feature directorial debut FAIR PLAY. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve seen so far at TIFF ‘23. Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor play a couple who after getting engaged, live through a power struggle when one of them gets promoted at work. So wonderful seeing Domont at the Roy Thomson Hall Premiere tonight.

Please seeing Viggo Mortensen still here for THE DEAD DON’T HURT.

And last but not least, our friends at Elevation Pictures celebrated their 10th Birthday and it was a bustling party at their building on Richmond Street. They had a whopping 14 films at the Festival! Several noticables, including Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard were there.

(Photo/video credit Mr. Will Wong)

We approach the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival with managed expectations and full-on expect things a little lower key this year. But how exciting is it to capture some of the first sightings already around town?

Seen in-town tonight already are Oscar-nominated Actor Viggo Mortensen who tries writing and directing a second time in his feature THE DEAD DON’T HURT, premiering Friday at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The Feminist Western also stars TIFF Tribute Gala honouree Vicky Krieps. He also speaks at an In-Conversation next Monday at CBC.

While we’re on the topic of excellence, Oscar-winning Filmmaker Barry Jenkins was seen arriving as well. You remember him as the Director of Best Picture-winning MOONLIGHT and he’s set to direct MUFASA, a Lion King Prequel. In additon to being a Platform Programme Juror, he will be here supporting his partner Lulu Wang as she premieres series EXPATS at TIFF ’23 as well! She wasn’t with him, but we can’t wait to see her too. Obsessed with THE FAREWELL and have been waiting since!

We’ve only just begun. Don’t forget to check back daily for sightings!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Canadian Star System in full forcelast night at the North American Premiere of David Cronenberg’s Body Horror, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE. The Film, shot in Athens, got its World Premiere earlier this month in Cannes.

The Film looks Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen) and Caprice (Léa Seydoux), the former, a celebrity Performance Artist, who publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

The film has received wide-acclaim, sticking to Cronenberg‘s shocking sensibilites.

In attendance at the Red Carpet Premiere at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX was a who’s-who of Canadian Cinema including:

Don’t forget to visit TIFF Bell Lightbox as they celebrate Cronenberg‘s iconic career with display pieces from the David Cronenberg Permanent Collection throughout the building for a limited time only. TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash.  More at tiff.net.

Sphere Films will release CRIMES OF THE FUTURE June 3, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films/Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore

This latest effort from Auteur David Cronenberg takes place sometime in the future when the human species has adapted to a synthetic environment. In doing so, the human body undergoes new transformations and mutations. Saul (Viggo Mortensen) is a man whose organs metamorphosis. This leads him and his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux) to put on performance art shows where she operates on him, removing one of these mysterious organs at a time. However, a mysterious underground group believe that Saul’s ever-growing insides might just be the next step toward evolution.

Cronenberg opens with a young boy searching the ocean as a rotted shipwreck is just off the coast. It’s clear something has happened to Earth due to climate change. His mother warns him to not eat anything he finds. From her urgent, disgusted tone it’s clear he does this a lot. Soon we watch as he eats a plastic garbage bin. It’s a powerful opening to a film that works best as a commentary on climate change.

The impact of this climate change has caused the human body to transform in order to survive. However, this has led the species to feel no pain. As mentioned in the Film, pain acts as a warning sign. This brings into question how one can survive without it. The hollowness that comes with these characters causes them to crave something to feel.

The surgeries, and performance art, act as a substitute for sex in Crimes of the Future. As Kristen Stewart’s character Timlin explains: “Surgery is the new sex.” Stewart steals the show with her portrayal of the mousey Timlin. Particularly, in her advances upon Saul. It’s a shame she’s underused. But this statement is true as we see when watching Caprice (a daring and captivating performance from Seydoux) perform the surgeries on Saul. The look of desire and lust spreads across her face as she controls the procedure.

This theme of sex throughout the Film directly correlates to the idea of reproduction that continuously comes up. The evolution of humans won’t happen if no one is reproducing. One scene has Caprice unzip a part of Saul’s stomach and perform what is akin to oral sex. It’s as though Cronenberg is asking: how will the human race continue if they don’t procreate? They can adapt all they want, but without procreating the species will cease to exist.

The stylistic world Cronenberg and his Production Design team have created brings us into this futuristic world. The bed Saul sleeps in resembles a cocoon. He eats in a chair shaped like a skeleton that constantly moves. When he’s getting operated on, the machine looks like he’s in an incubator. This world and Cronenberg’s vision are fully realized.

There are Subplots that Cronenberg explores in the Film. He touches on how the Government police human bodies. They don’t want the characters to stray from the natural transformation their bodies are going through. This is the significance and the young boy from the beginning and the underground group who are attempting to perform surgeries to progress the human body. This Subplot is an intriguing one and we wish we had more time spent to evaluate it.

Crimes of the Future does have its share of queasy moments, however, it might not be as nauseating as was promised. The gruesome aspects come from the operations Caprice performs on Saul. Although, even then these scenes aren’t horrific – unless you are terrified of organs. The brutal aspects come more from the child. These two segments of the Film aren’t for the faint of heart, but they do tie everything together.

Crimes of the Future screens at Cannes ’22:

Mon, May 23 at 9:30 PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Tue, May 24 at 12:00 PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Tue, May 24 at 7:00 PM at LICORNE

Tue, May 24 at 7:30 PM at SALLE BAZIN

Wed, May 25 at 12:30 PM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu, May 26 at 9:30 AM at CINEUM AURORE

The 2022 Cannes Film Festival might have started a week ago, but the excitement continues to build as David Cronenberg’s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE premiered tonight. In attendance were none other than Kristen Stewart, whom our Amanda Gilmore spotted at the Press Junket and Photo Call earlier in a pink Chanel suit. Also in attendance were Léa Seydoux, Scott Speedman and Viggo Mortensen.

The Horror centers on a Performance Artist couple Caprice (Léa Seydoux) and Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), whom publicly showcase the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

The Horror received both walkouts and a standing ovation, divisive as Cronenberg expected. CRIMES OF THE FUTURE arrives in theatres June 3, 2022 via Sphere Films.

Also spotted around town were Jamie Foxx, seen enjoying the French Riviera on a yacht.

Canada’s Nina Dobrev and Shaun White also were spotted around town at both the Top Gun: Maverick Premiere last week, and a Fundraiser for Ukraine, the With Love for Peace Gala.

Review here for CRIMES OF THE FUTURE.

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)

Huge news! Hot off its Premiere at Cannes, David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE will get a Canadian Premiere in Toronto at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX on May 30, 2022. This event is brought to us by TIFF, Sphere Films (known formerly as MK2 | MILE END) and Seredipity Point Films.

The event will be followed by Q&A with the Director, the Producer, and members of the Cast at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the exclusive Canadian venue to screen the film’s North American premiere. The Film opens across North America on Friday, June 3, 2022 including TIFF Bell Lightbox.
 
Tickets for the Crimes of the Future special one-night-only event as well as tickets for the film’s regular theatrical screenings go on sale starting at 10am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 for TIFF Members, and to the general public on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Tickets will be limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Synopsis:
 
Crimes of the Future is a meditation on human evolution. As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission — to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.
 
Following its North American premiere on May 30, Crimes of the Future will start its theatrical run at TIFF Bell Lightbox on June 3, 2022. On Tuesday, May 31, the day after the premiere, TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash. Tickets for Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past go on sale Wednesday, June 22 for TIFF Members and to the public the following week on June 29. All screenings will take place at TIFF Bell Lightbox.  Pieces from David Cronenberg‘s collection will be on-display also throughout TIFF Bell Lightbox in celebration of the Film.

(Photo credit: Sphere Films)
 

David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE will be premiering at Cannes! This is the sixth time the Canadian Filmmaker has appeared at the Festival in competition.

Shot in Athens, the Film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart and Scott Speedman.

Synopsis:

As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

From Sphere Films (formerly MK2 | MILE END), the Film will be opening across Canada on June 3, 2022, following its world premiere in the Official Competition at the Festival de Cannes

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films)

Following its premiere at TIFF ’20, FALLING gets a release in Canada via Mongrel Media. See the new Trailer!

Synopsis:

John (Viggo Mortensen) lives with his partner, Eric (Terry Chen), and their daughter, Monica (Gabby Velis), in California, far from the traditional rural life he left behind years ago. His father, Willis (Lance Henriksen), a headstrong man from a bygone era, lives alone on the isolated farm where John grew up. Willis’s mind is declining, so John brings him west, hoping he and his sister, Sarah (Laura Linney), can help their father find a home closer to them. Their best intentions ultimately run up against Willis’s angry refusal to change his way of life in any way. In his directorial debut, Mortensen explores the fractures and contrasts of a contemporary family. Willis’s abrasive nature, by turns caustic and funny, is aggravated by memory loss, bringing past and present into conflict. As father and son finally confront events that have torn them apart, including their differing recollections of John’s mother, Gwen (Hannah Gross), we embark on a journey from darkness to light, from rage and resentment to acceptance and hard-won grace.

See the Trailer:

Mongrel Media release FALLING February 5, 2021 on-demand, digitally and in select theatres (TBD).

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)