And the Show Goes on for TIFF 2023

Red carpet gala screenings will be missing the Hollywood glam if predictions are correct that the actors’ strike will continue into 2024 but having survived a global pandemic which put everything on hold for two years, the 48th Toronto International Film Festival is moving forward to provide a worldwide showcase to industry insiders and the general public of what to expect from established and up and coming cinematic talent.  The plan is to have 37 World Premieres and content spanning 70 countries from September 7 to Sept. 17, 2023.  Among filmmakers in question are Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money, Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt, Um Tae-Hwa’s Concrete Utopia, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Lukas Moodysson’s Together 99, Michael Keaton’s Knox Goes Away, Lee Tamahori’s The Convert, Ethan Hawke’s Wildcat, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster.

Check out all of our TIFF coverageOpening the festivities is anime legend Hayao Miyazaki reemerging from retirement to adapt a book from his youth entitled How Do You Live by Genzaburo Oshino which has captivated audiences in Japan and now gets to the opportunity to do so with the rest of world under the title of The Boy and the Heron.  Studio Ghibli has been a regular contributor over the years with Princess Mononoke, The Red Turtle, and The Wind Rises but this time holds the distinction of being responsible for the first animated feature to start things off for TIFF.  “Already acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki’s new film begins as a simple story of loss and love and rises to a staggering work of imagination,” remarked Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF.  “I look forward to our audience discovering its mysteries for themselves, but I can promise a singular, transformative experience.”

While Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar are honoured at the 2023 TIFF Tribute Awards that are potential future honourees making their directorial debuts and sophomore efforts as part of the Discovery Programme such as Farhad Delaram’s Achilles, Sara Summa’s Arthur & Diana, Patrcia Arquette’s Gonzo Girl, M.H. Murray’s I Don’t Know Who You Are, Ali Kalthami’s Mandoob, and Katalin Moldovai’s Without Air.  However, if being terrified at the bewitching hour is your preference then there is the Midnight Madness Programme which will be screening Larry Charles’ Dicks: The Musical, Nikhil Nagesh’s KILL, Jason Yu’s Sleep and Weston Razooli’s Riddle of Fire.

If you want to narrow the field of view down to 10 World Premieres, the Platform Award contenders might be the answer.  “We are especially delighted to present Kristoffer Borgli’s latest film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, as Platform’s opening film,” stated Robyn Citizen, Director, Programming & Platform Lead, TIFF. “This surrealist satire-comedy has sharp, timely observations about social media culture — especially ‘going viral’ — and its impact on the way that we interact with others in our day-to-day life. Cage delivers some of his finest work.”  Borgli and Cage will be in the company of Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s Dear Jassi, Kei Chika-ura’s Great Absence, Ginevra Elkann’s I Told You So, Christian Sparkes’ The King Tide, Hanna Slak’s Not A Word, Jaione Camborda’s The Rye Horn, Nora El Hourch’s Sisterhood, Axel Petersén’s Shame on Dry Land, and Héléna Klotz’s Spirit of Ecstasy.

Real-life storytelling remains a staple for TIFF with 22 documentaries from 12 countries being presented by A&E IndieFilms.  “We believe documentaries have a unique power to illuminate untold stories, challenge perspectives, and inspire meaningful change,” stated Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “We are committed to celebrating the artistry and impact of documentary filmmaking, and it’s an absolute privilege to provide a platform for these remarkable storytellers.” Topics range from the consequences of sexual harassment on the career of Louis C.K. in Caroline Suh and Cara Mones’ Sorry/Not Sorry, Chris Wilcha’s mid-life crisis Flipside, Kasia Smutniak’s refugee exposé Walls, Robert McCallum’s biographical Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, and Stevie Salas and James Burn’s identity crisis Boil Alert.

Outside of the theatres is the TIFF Industry Conference which is divided into Visionaries, Dialogues, Perspectives, Connections, Microsessions, and Spotlights; a variety of topics will be addressed like ‘Pathways from Shorts to First Features’ and African cinema.  For the general public, Festival Street will be back with a portion of King Street being shutdown to allow live-performances, partner activities and outdoor screenings.  “From thought-provoking narratives to breathtaking visuals and stories so unreal they have to be real, each work embodies the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and move audiences,” stated Bailey.  “Get ready to experience an unforgettable celebration of film and a memorable and star-studded festival showcasing the best of global cinema for film lovers in September.”

The 48th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7-17, 2023, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.

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