By Travis Johnson
The good people of the Toronto International Film Festival have unveiled a staggering number of screenings and events today, including new films from the likes of Walter Hill, Ken Loach, Lee Tamahori, Pedro Almodovar, Terence Davies, and more.
Two galas have been added to the program: Joseph Cedar’s Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer sees Richard Gere, Steve Buscemi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Michael Sheen in a tale of New York grifting and Israeli politics as a small time New York hustler becomes connected with the future prime minister of Israel; while Terry George’s The Promise follows an Armenian apothecary as he travels to Constantinople to study medicine, where he develops a rivalry with an American photojournalist over the affections of an Armenian artist. The WWI-set drama stars Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, and Christian Bale.
14 special presentations have also been added, including Walter Hill’s thriller, (Re)Assignment, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver; Emmanuelle Bercot’s 150 Milligrams; Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, which is about Chuck Wepner, the real-life inspiration for Rocky; Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake; and Terrence Malick’s much-anticipated Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey.
The contemporary World Cinema Program includes films from across the globe, including Victor Garivia’s The Animal’s Wife (Colombia); Boo Junfeng’s The Apprentice (Singapore); Kleber Mendonça Filho’s accliamed Aquarius (Brazil); Adrian Sitaru’s The Fixer (Romania); Avi Nesher’s Past Life (Israel); Alison Maclean’s The Rehearsal (New Zealand); and many more. Also on the slate is the Contemporary World Speakers program, which sees experts from the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs extemporising on subjects addressed by the films after their second public screenings.
For the eighth iteration of the City to City program, TIFF shines a light on the films of Lagos, Nigeria, the heart of the rapidly-evolving “Nollywood” cinema industry. Nigeria is now the centre of one of the most prolific film industries on the planet, with hundreds of features being produced every year. Eight Lagos-produced films will screen this year, and actor, film producer, and singer Genevieve Nnaji and actor, film producer, and director Kunle Afolayan will also join audiences for a unique and intimate discussion as part of the Festival’s In Conversation With… program.
The 2016 Masters program includes 22 films from acknowledged masters of contemporary cinema around the world. Wim Wenders’ The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez, a two-hander based on Peter Handke’s play of the same name; Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women, in which three lives intersect in a small town after a hostage situation; Pedro Almodavar’s Julieta, which adapts three stories from Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro; and Benoit Jacquot’s meditation on love and grief, Never Ever.
Finally, the Wavelengths program, curated by Andrea Picard, consists of 51 diverse and challenging works of film art, including pieces by Douglas Gordon, Lav Diaz, Jõao Pedro Rodrigues, Ana Vaz, Matías Piñeiro, Joana Pimenta, belit sağ, Tomonari Nishikawa, Angela Schanelec, Ruth Beckermann, Ismaïl Bahri, Nina Könnemann, Wang Bing, Cyprien Gaillard, Sky Hopinka, plus a rare exhibition of films and photographs by Ana Mendieta, and major installations by Sharon Lockhart and Albert Serra.
Australia-wise, three films have been announced as part of the program so far: Lion which will enjoy a Special Presentation; Goldstone which will play as part of the Platform strand; and Mirrah Foulkes’ short film, Trespass which will play as part of Short Cuts.
The 41st Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 8 to 18, 2016. For further info, go to the official site.
