Stars gather to kick off Toronto Film Festival

(Toronto) Hollywood’s biggest stars gather starting Thursday for the Toronto Film Festival, with a slew of highly anticipated Oscar-nominated films, current affairs documentaries and plenty of glitz on the red carpet.

It is indeed the return in force of this event, the most important film festival in North America, with all its pomp, after an edition tarnished last year by the twin strikes of actors and screenwriters.

While the 2023 film slate was star-studded, the red carpets were not.

This time, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman will be there in Canada’s largest city.

“We are happy to have a festival without the constraints of last year,” Cameron Bailey, general director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), told AFP.

The event “is known for its enthusiastic audience, and that excitement reaches its peak when the world’s biggest stars are here,” he adds.

Ben Stiller will kick things off late Thursday with Nutcrackershis first film in seven years, which tells the story of a Chicago real estate developer who must travel to Ohio to take care of his four nephews.

Eden Other highly anticipated world premieres include Ron Howard’s The Galapagos Islands survival thriller starring Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney.

After setting Venice alight with her interpretation of opera legend Maria Callas, Angelina Jolie will be in Toronto to present her latest work: Without Blooda story of family and revenge at the beginning of the 20th century^e century, starring Salma Hayek.

In total, 278 films will be presented and while Cameron Bailey, who did not want to discuss his preferences, did indicate that it was a “special honour” to host the world premiere of the latest work by British director Mike Leigh, Hard Truths.

Lots of music

Elton John and Bruce Springsteen will also be on hand to present new documentaries about their epic careers.

But they won’t be the only music industry stars in attendance: Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Paul Anka and singer, producer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams are also expected to attend screenings that will touch on their personal and professional lives.

Bailey said the music-heavy programming was initially a “crazy accident.”

“We were surrounded by films that were really steeped in music. So we decided to give in,” he told AFP.

Other documentaries on show include: The Last Republicanabout former US elected official Adam Kinzinger and his break with his own party, but also Men of War about a mad attempt in 2020 to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

TIFF is part of a series of festivals, along with Venice in Italy and Telluride in the United States, that previews films that experts and producers believe have a good chance of winning the Oscars.

But the Toronto festival, where screenings are open to spectators, also offers films aimed at a wide audience such as Nutcrackers And The wild robotthe latest from DreamWorks Animation.

There will also be several works about sport inspired by true stories, including Unstoppablewhich tells the story of a wrestler (Jharrel Jerome) who has his right leg amputated while dreaming of becoming a professional. Jennifer Lopez plays his mother.

The movie The Fire Insidewhich chronicles boxer Claressa Shields’ journey to Olympic gold, is also making its world premiere.

TIFF runs through September 15, when the Audience Award, seen as an early indicator for the Oscars, will be presented.