Toronto Film Festival Kicks Off With Ben Stiller’s Return to the Screen

Stars from Jennifer Lopez to Nicole Kidman are expected to attend the screening through September 15. A total of 278 films are scheduled to be presented, including the latest features from Ron Howard and Angelina Jolie.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the largest in North America, opened on Thursday, September 5, with the screening of Ben Stiller’s first film in seven years, Nutcrackers.

Its presentation was briefly disrupted by several pro-Palestinian protesters who chanted slogans against the Royal Bank of Canada, a festival sponsor that has been criticized for investing in companies linked to Israel. The action briefly brought politics back to the forefront of the festival, which is returning in full force with all its pomp after last year’s edition was marred by twin strikes by actors and writers.

Hollywood’s biggest stars are set to descend on Toronto, with a slew of highly anticipated Oscar films, current affairs documentaries and plenty of red carpet glitz. Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman will be all set to grace Canada’s largest city.

Warmly welcomed by the spectators, Ben Stiller kicked off the match with Nutcrackers (“The Nutcracker” in French), directed by David Gordon Green, which tells the story of a Chicago real estate developer who must travel to Ohio to take care of his four orphaned nephews.

“When I read the script, which was so sincere and not cynical (…) I said to myself that I identified with this guy who seeks to get closer to his family,” said the actor on the red carpet. “I think it’s an important message, especially today.”

Eden, Ron Howard’s The Galapagos Islands survival thriller starring Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney is among the other highly anticipated world premieres. After setting Venice ablaze with her portrayal of opera legend Maria Callas, Jolie will present her latest film, Without Blooda story of family and revenge set in the early 20th century, starring Salma Hayek.

A total of 278 films are to be presented, including the latest work by British director Mike Leigh, Hard Truths. 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.

The Toronto festival is part, along with those in Venice and Telluride (United States), of the series of festivals that present previews of films that have a good chance of winning the Oscars, according to experts and producers. But the TIFF, 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 Unstoppable, which 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. Tiff runs through September 15, the day the Audience Award, seen as an early indicator for the Oscars, will be presented.