By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
More TIFF Cliff Notes
There was a list of filmmakers and guests are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival this year. It was so big, I decided it would make good wallpaper for the festival, maybe for the laptop or your phone.
Also released today, a Fact Sheet, including:
336 Total Features – 268; Shorts – 68 (339 Total: Features – 258; Shorts – 81)
249 Features that are World, International, or North American Premieres: 123, 28, and 98 respectively
90% Feature-length films that are World, International, or North American premieres (69%)
3461 Total Submissions: International – 2,502, Canadian – 959 (3,526: International – 2,677, Canadian – 849)
65 Countries (59)
61 First Features (64)
33 Screens Used (33)
There were also some additional titles announced. New films from two filmmakers who often seem like kindred spirits are included…
I Wish (Kiseki) Hirokazu Kore-Eda, Japan International Premiere Koichi lives with his mother and retired grandparents in Kagoshima, the southern part of Kyushu region. Separated by their parents’ divorce, his brother Ryunosuke lives with their father in Hakata in northern Kyushu. A new bullet train line in the region will be inaugurated soon, and Koichi starts to believe a “miracle” will happen the first moment these new bullet trains intersect each other from opposite directions with their highest speed; his only wish is for his family to live together once again. With some help from grown-ups around him, Koichi sets out on a journey with a group of friends, each hoping to witness a miracle.
Restless Gus Van Sant, USA North American Premiere Restless is a powerful and emotional story of discovery that centres on the relationship of two outsiders brought together by unforeseen circumstances. The story of friendship becomes an engaging and provocative love story.