Latest in Toronto Film Festival

The Toronto Film Festival said Thursday that it will suspend participation by film organizations and media outlets supported by the Russian state for its next festival, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But it said that it “will continue to include films from independent Russian filmmakers in our…

The Toronto Film Festival said Thursday that it is planning a return to an in-person festival for this year’s edition, which it confirmed will run September 8-18. The festival had been all but virtual the past two years because of the global pandemic. Plans call for a return of TIFF’s networking and events as well…

After three years with the Toronto Film Festival, Diana Sanchez has exited her role as Senior Director, Film. While the reasons behind Sanchez’s departure were not immediately made clear, they appeared to be personal in nature. She wrapped up her time with TIFF on December 31. “Three years ago Diana joined us…

Refresh for updates… The news that writer-director Jean-Marc Vallée died suddenly over the weekend at age 58 has spurred reactions from his homey country Canada to Hollywood and beyond. The Montreal-born filmmaker behind Dallas Buyers Club, which won Oscars for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, and Wild, which…

Despite the continuing challenges of the pandemic, it was a year of highlights from film festivals around the world. Who could forget Spike Lee’s now-infamous moment when he accidentally revealed this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner early after a translation mix-up? How about Titane director Julia Ducournau making…

Cameron Bailey, a 31-year veteran of the Toronto Film Festival, has been elevated to the role of CEO. Bailey recently led the festival as Co-Head and Artistic Director with Co-Head Joana Vicente. At the end of September, Vicente departed for the Sundance Institute, where she was named CEO.  Planning on Toronto 2022 is…

Following its world premiere at Toronto, HBO Films has taken exclusive North American rights to Barry Levinson’s The Survivor about Holocaust survivor and U.S. boxer Harry Haft. Ben Foster plays Haft in the movie, which marks a reteam with his Liberty Heights writer-director Levinson. Deal was 8-figures, making it the…

Neon has acquired worldwide rights to Beba, the debut film by New York Afro-Latina artist Rebeca Huntt that recently made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, earning rave reviews. The 16mm feature of poetry and interview footage will debut in 2022. Huntt undertakes an unflinching exploration of her own…

After three years as the Executive Director and Co-Head of the Toronto International Film Festival, Joana Vicente is heading to the Sundance Institute as their new CEO. She will start her new job at the beginning of November, splitting her time between Sundance’s office in New York, Los Angeles and Park City…

EXCLUSIVE:  One of the few titles up for sale at TIFF this year was Phillip Noyce’s thriller Lakewood starring Naomi Watts, and Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions have landed North American rights to the the female-driven thriller. The movie, which was fully financed by Boies Schiller Entertainment and…

Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical, black-and-white drama Belfast claimed the TIFF People’s Choice Award on Saturday night, affirming its status as a major player to contend with in the 2022 Oscars race. Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog, The Electrical Life o…

Writer/ director Camille Griffin’s Silent Night takes us to a very stiff upper lip British dinner party hosted by Nell (Keira Knightley) and Simon (Matthew Goode). Among their children are Art, played by Griffin’s own son Roman Griffin Davis (JoJo Rabbit), while the guests include interloping American girlfriend…