The 51st Toronto Film Festival unveiled the first titles for its Gala and Special Presentations categories on Monday.
The TIFF announced 64 titles, among which are included a whopping 32 world premieres.
The festival, which will take place from September 10-20, will open with the presentation of ‘Being Heumann’, directed by ‘CODA’ filmmaker Sian Heder.
The biographical drama film follows the life of disability rights activist Judith Heumann, and it stars Ruth Madeley and Mark Ruffalo.
Exciting debuts in Toronto
Films led by legendary British actress Helen Mirren and American actor and director Seth Rogen will premiere in Toronto.
Mirren will star as ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ author Patricia Highsmith in ‘A Talent for Murder’.
In the thriller, directed by Anton Corbijn, the novelist is persuaded to write more ‘Ripley’ books by a mysterious literary agent, played by Alden Ehrenreich.
Seth Rogen returns to Toronto with ‘Babies’, in which a childless couple adapts to the unexpected task of raising a three-year-old.
The film also stars Anna Kendrick and Issa Rae, and it was written by Rogen’s wife, Lauren Miller Rogen.
TIFF to explore the making of ‘Rocky’
Among the most anticipated titles of the Toronto Film Festival is also ‘I Play Rocky’, an exciting analysis of the production of ‘Rocky’, the Oscar-winning feature that marked Sylvester Stallone’s career.
American actor Anthony Ippolito will star as Stallone.
The movie is directed by Peter Farrelly, who, back in 2018, entrusted his film ‘Green Book’ to TIFF.
‘Green Book’ went on to win three Academy Awards the following year, among which the Oscar for Best Picture.
From ‘Friends’ to TIFF
‘Friends’ actress Courtney Cox is also landing in Toronto with a film – this time on the other side of the camera.
In ‘Evil Genius’, Cox explores the story of the so-called ‘pizza bomber’ Brian Wells.
The movie, based on a true crime series of the same title, stars ‘Stranger Things’ actor David Harbour and Hollywood icon Patricia Arquette.
“It’s stranger than fiction,” Cox explained.
“At moments darkly funny and yet deeply emotional,” she added.
A star-studded line-up
The 51st TIFF will feature films populated by numerous stars, many of whom will also make an appearance in Toronto during the festival.
Apart from the actors mentioned just above, the annual event will feature films with Taron Egerton (‘Everybody Wants to F–k Me’), Amanda Seyfried (‘The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd’), James McAvoy (‘Faith’), and Antonio Banderas (‘Up Against It’).
Margaret Qualley and Patrick Schwarzenegger will also most likely be in Toronto to present the romance ‘Love of Your Life’.
Finally, TIFF will also see the premiere of the adaptation of the stage drama ‘Prima Facie’, starring ‘Wicked’ actress Cynthia Erivo.
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