North America’s largest film festival kicks off Thursday in Toronto with a jam-packed line-up of more than 200 films and high-wattage stars including John Malkovich, Penelope Cruz, Chris Rock and K-pop superstar Lisa.
Underdog stories take center stage in the program for the festival’s 51st edition, which will host the world premiere of “I Play Rocky.
Opening night is reserved for the world premiere of “Being Heumann,” a biographical drama directed by Oscar winner Sian Heder that highlights the tenacity of US activist Judy Heumann, who fought for the rights of people with disabilities.
Hot on the heels of Venice and Telluride, the Toronto International Film Festival draws hundreds of thousands of attendees to screenings and red-carpet events for some of the year’s most anticipated premieres. Directed by Oscar winner Peter Farrelly , the film tells the unlikely story of how a then-little-known Sylvester Stallone took on Hollywood to bring to the screen and star in a movie that would change his life. It stars Rosalind Eleazar as an actress who has fallen on hard times and is now seeking a second chance.
US comedian Chris Rock is bringing Hollywood satire “Misty Green” to the festival in a film that marks his return as writer-director. Also making their way to Toronto from the Telluride festival in Colorado are “Elsinore,” starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman, and the musical comedy “The Debut,” the latest directorial effort from Jesse Eisenberg. Arriving directly from Venice are “Bunker,” a psychological thriller starring real-life husband and wife Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as a couple in crisis, and “Bucking Fastard,” the latest film from German director Werner Herzog.
