The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is less than a week away, and certain members of Chlotrudis are getting very excited. With nearly 300 films screening from all around the world, and dozens of shorts as well, TIFF is knowns as the biggest and best Film Festival for the public. While Cannes is arguably the most glamarous of the festivals, it is largely for industry folk. Sundance has had its ups and downs, but Toronto remains a consistent crowd-pleaser.
Films are split into 16 cateogries: Canada First, Canadian Retrospective, Contemporary World Cinema, Discovery, Midnight Madness, Planet Africa, Special Presentations, Visions, Canadian Open Vault, Short Cut Canada, Dialogues: Talking with Pictures, Masters, National Cinema, Real to Reel, Viacom Galas, and wavelengths. This year features new films from many Chlotrudis-favorite directors, including Claire Denis, Lukas Moodysson, David Gordon Green, Olivier Assayas, Catherine Breillat, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Brad Anderson, and Todd Solondz to name a few.
But as anyone who knows about Chlotrudis knows, one of the big draws is the plethora of Canadian film that plays at the Festival. Chlotrudis friends and favorites, Don McKellar and Daniel MacIvor, both have new films at the festival. Both bring their second directorial efforts to TIFF. Don McKellar’s new film is called CHILDSTAR, in which an American, child, action star comes to Toronto to shoot his latest film. McKellar plays an experimental filmmaker who winds up being the star’s driver… then surrogate father as he becomes involved with his mother. As any fan of LAST NIGHT knows, McKellar is adept at combining quirky humor with powerful drama, and CHILDSTAR is sure to satisfay.
Daniel MacIvor impressed Chlotrudis audiences at this year’s Awards Ceremony, where he picked up the “Body of Work” award. MacIvor’s follow-up to the sublmie PAST PERFECT is called WILBY WONDERFUL. Featuring an all-star Canadian cast, MacIvor’s film focuses on the small island community of Wilby, and the quirky characters that inhabit it.
A gang of Chlotrudis members and Boston film exhibitor types have taken over a beautiful bed & breakfast called Cawthra Sq. Expect lots of news and reports post-Toronto, as well as the next issue of Chlotrudis Mewsings!