The Toronto International Film Festival® has earned global recognition for its breadth of diversity and innovation in programming, and the lineup for the Masters programme is no exception. The slate of 11 films includes an outstanding list of prolific filmmakers known for taking stylistic and thematic risks with their work, including Alanis Obomsawin, the first […]
August
15
TIFF Announces Contemporary World Cinema Slate
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® revealed today the 48 titles from international filmmakers that make up the Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema slate. This year’s programme features a powerful lineup that covers disparate regions of the world with a strong presence from Latin America, Scandinavia, and Central Europe. The schedule includes an eclectic mix that showcases […]
August
15
TIFF Adds to its Gala and Special Presentation Lineups
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® today unveiled its second serving of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes in September. Six Galas and 32 Special Presentations have been added to the lineup of leading titles already announced. Audiences can look forward to innovative storytelling from some of the most prominent filmmakers and actors […]
August
15
Talking One False Move on Forgotten Filmcast
posted by Courtney Small
I had the pleasure of joining Todd Liebenow, the brains behind Forgotten Films, on his show Forgotten Filmcast to discuss Carl Franklin’s gem One False Move. Starring Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton (who also co-wrote the script), the film is a captivating drama about a small-town police chief who attempts to stop a group […]
August
12
Changing Reels Ep. 25 – The Lunchbox
posted by Courtney Small
The possibility of love opens for two lonely souls when the world’s most efficient delivery system makes a rare mistake. In this episode we talk love, the need for connection, the vibrancy of Mumbai and much more in Ritesh Batra delightful film The Lunchbox. We also take time to discuss our short film picks of […]
August
11
Step
posted by Courtney Small
As the final credits began to roll on Amanda Lipitz’s Step, a woman sitting next to me turned and said “wow.” She stated that she felt like she had cried throughout the whole film. I must admit that the sound of her sniffles and her frequent dabbing of the eyes did not go unnoticed, but […]
August
09
29 Canadian Short Films Added to TIFF’s Short Cuts Lineup
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® announced today the 29 Canadian short films that will light up the screens this September. The 2017 lineup includes the directorial efforts of multiple TIFF alumni, accomplished actors, filmmakers with recent projects at multiple major Festivals and discoveries by TIFF programmers that together round out a powerful and eclectic mix. […]
August
09
Canadian Storytellers Shine Bright at TIFF
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® unveiled today the 25 titles that make up the Festival’s Canadian feature slate. Featuring a crop of provocative first features, this year’s diverse and varied Canadian lineup boasts one of the highest numbers of feature directorial debuts ever, as well as one of the highest numbers of films from Western […]
August
09
Toronto Youth Shorts 2017 Sneak Peek
posted by Courtney Small
The 9th Annual Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival will take place from August 11th to August 12th. Featuring 53 short films from five distinct programs, the festival has become a vital launch pad for emerging artist looking to share their unique stories with audiences. Aside from the immense talent on display, one of the pleasures […]
August
08
Detroit
posted by Courtney Small
Watching Detroit, the latest collaboration between director Katheryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal, reminded me of my experience observing D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation for the first time. While I marvelled at the filmmaking prowess on display, I was ultimately left feeling angry and cold. Thankfully, unlike Griffith’s cinematic propaganda, Bigelow’s film has no […]
August
03
TIFF Unveils Strong Platform Lineup
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® unveiled its lineup of 12 films for this year’s Platform programme, following on the success of last year’s Platform, which included celebrated films such as William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth, Pablo Larrain’s Jackie and Barry Jenkins’s Academy Award Best Picture winner, Moonlight. This year’s lineup hails from eight countries on five […]
August
01
TIFF’s Short Cuts Announces International Offerings
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival® has unveiled the 35 exceptional short films that make up the International portion of this year’s Short Cuts programme. A lineup that stands out for its diversity of voices and backgrounds, the International selection for 2017 includes works from over 30 countries in 16 different languages, with a strong presence […]
August
01
Midnight Madness Set to Energize TIFF Audiences
posted by Courtney Small
Tomb it may concern: strap in, secure your spooktacles, and feel free to let loose a mighty battle cry, because Midnight Madness has just launched its lineup for the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival®, presented by new programmer Peter Kuplowsky. Screening for near-riotous crowds into the wee hours, this year’s films are guaranteed to melt […]
August
01
Barack Obama and Jim Carrey Highlight TIFF Docs Programme
posted by Courtney Small
The Toronto International Film Festival’s® 2017 documentary programme presents a distinct collection of works from award-winning directors with an increased number of World Premieres and potential awards contenders. The TIFF Docs section will open with Sophie Fiennes’ Grace Jones: Bloodlight & Bami, a film that captures the legendary performer on and off stage. The lineup […]
August
01
Borg/McEnroe to Open TIFF 2017
posted by Courtney Small
TIFF will serve up one of the most exciting duels in sports history to kick off the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival®. The World Premiere of Borg/McEnroe will be the Opening Night Gala film at Roy Thomson Hall on September 7. Directed by Janus Metz and written by Ronnie Sandahl, the film stars Shia LaBeouf, […]
July
30
Changing Reels Ep. 24 – C.R.A.Z.Y.
posted by Courtney Small
A young man tries to come to terms with his sexuality in a household where his father refuses to truly see him for who he is. Sound like a standard coming-of-age tale? Think again. In the hands of director Jean-Marc Vallée, C.R.A.Z.Y. is a vibrant exploration of youth, sexuality, family and music. Basking in the […]
July
28
Win Big Little Lies on DVD!
posted by Courtney Small
The HBO hit limited series Big Little Lies arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on August 1, 2017. The fine folks at HBO Home Entertainment have provided us with a DVD copy of the acclaimed series to give to one lucky reader! Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club; Wild; Demolition), Big Little Lies is based […]
July
26
Cineplex Events Celebrates Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
posted by Courtney Small
Cineplex Events is transporting five of the best-known works from Hayao Miyazaki and iconic Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli to theatres across Canada with the ‘Studio Ghibli Anime Series’. Each feature in the Series – screening from July through November – is a cinematic gem comprised of the traditional animation and complex characters that Studio […]
July
25
New to Blu-Ray: Ghost in the Shell
posted by Courtney Small
In the works for nearly a decade, it has been a turbulent journey to the big screen for the live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. Based on the popular Japanese manga book, which has spawned several animated movies, video games and a television series, Rupert Sanders’ film received major backlash when it was first […]
July
24
Dunkirk
posted by Courtney Small
During Dunkirk’s opening sequence the audience watches as a British soldier, Tommy (Fionn Whitehead), runs for his life after his troop is ambushed by German soldiers. The echoing sound of his feet on the paved streets, as bullets sail pass him, slowly begin to mimic the pulsing heartbeats growing within the viewer. It is the […]
