Toronto Film Festival makes 2007 the year of the Canuck
This year's TIFF includes more Canadian contributions than ever
TORONTO (CUP) -- The end of summer yields glee for Toronto moviegoers, as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is quickly approaching.
Starting on Sepember 6 and running until September 15, the 32nd annual festival boasts a total of 349 films being screened this year. Out of these, 95 are Canadian productions or co-productions, making the festival the largest showcase of Canadian filmmaking among the international film festivals. Films from 55 countries are represented this year, with 85 per cent of the films international or North American premieres.
Keeping with the theme of being progressively Canadian, the festival was named one of Canada's top 100 employers by Maclean's magazine earlier this year. It was the only arts group to be included on the list.
The festival has also gained notice for its continual use of volunteers for various tasks surrounding the festival, from taking tickets at screenings to greeting international guests as they arrive at the airport.
But despite the spotlight shone on the festival's organization, its essence remains to bring together great films and film aficionados.
Screenings at this year's festival are abundant as per usual, but some of the year's most anticipated films will be shown for the first time on Toronto screens.
Peter Greenaway's Nightwatching is a biopic about the legendary Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. It is Greenaway's first feature film in eight years, being screened as a special presentation.
Listed in the fare is David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises—the director's first film since his highly acclaimed A History of Violence. The film revolves around a Russian gangster (History's Viggo Mortensen) who becomes entangled with a midwife (Naomi Watts) with the potential to bring down his organization.
Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of the Anthony Shaffer play, Sleuth, features the duality of Michael Caine and Jude Law. The screenplay is by playwright Harold Pinter, making the film a combination of formidable British talents.
Special presentations include Jonathan Demme's Man From Plains, which focuses on Jimmy Carter's post-presidential voyages as he toured for his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
Another film with a political conscience is Ted Braun's documentary Darfur Now, which deals with the Darfur genocide through the eyes of six passionate activists.
On the musical spectrum, Lou Reed's Berlin, directed by Julian Schnabel, focuses on the performance of Reed's 1973 album Berlin in its entirety. It was filmed in 2006 and produced by famed Canadian producer Bob Ezrin.
The festival's official website, www.tiff07.ca, is your best resource for keeping up with the latest announcements and information. It also features schedules, ticket information, and film and director profiles. Tickets are on sale now, but beware that many of the films may be sold out already — you will likely have to wait until they make it to the old-fashioned silver screen.
TORONTO (CUP) -- The end of summer yields glee for Toronto moviegoers, as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is quickly approaching.
Starting on Sepember 6 and running until September 15, the 32nd annual festival boasts a total of 349 films being screened this year. Out of these, 95 are Canadian productions or co-productions, making the festival the largest showcase of Canadian filmmaking among the international film festivals. Films from 55 countries are represented this year, with 85 per cent of the films international or North American premieres.
Keeping with the theme of being progressively Canadian, the festival was named one of Canada's top 100 employers by Maclean's magazine earlier this year. It was the only arts group to be included on the list.
The festival has also gained notice for its continual use of volunteers for various tasks surrounding the festival, from taking tickets at screenings to greeting international guests as they arrive at the airport.
But despite the spotlight shone on the festival's organization, its essence remains to bring together great films and film aficionados.
Screenings at this year's festival are abundant as per usual, but some of the year's most anticipated films will be shown for the first time on Toronto screens.
Peter Greenaway's Nightwatching is a biopic about the legendary Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. It is Greenaway's first feature film in eight years, being screened as a special presentation.
Listed in the fare is David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises—the director's first film since his highly acclaimed A History of Violence. The film revolves around a Russian gangster (History's Viggo Mortensen) who becomes entangled with a midwife (Naomi Watts) with the potential to bring down his organization.
Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of the Anthony Shaffer play, Sleuth, features the duality of Michael Caine and Jude Law. The screenplay is by playwright Harold Pinter, making the film a combination of formidable British talents.
Special presentations include Jonathan Demme's Man From Plains, which focuses on Jimmy Carter's post-presidential voyages as he toured for his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
Another film with a political conscience is Ted Braun's documentary Darfur Now, which deals with the Darfur genocide through the eyes of six passionate activists.
On the musical spectrum, Lou Reed's Berlin, directed by Julian Schnabel, focuses on the performance of Reed's 1973 album Berlin in its entirety. It was filmed in 2006 and produced by famed Canadian producer Bob Ezrin.
The festival's official website, www.tiff07.ca, is your best resource for keeping up with the latest announcements and information. It also features schedules, ticket information, and film and director profiles. Tickets are on sale now, but beware that many of the films may be sold out already — you will likely have to wait until they make it to the old-fashioned silver screen.
