Toronto International Film Festival: Will movie stars be on the red carpet?

On paper, they’re still here in 2023, but in reality, will Hollywood’s biggest stars be hitting the red carpet when the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) kicks off in less than two months?

Nothing is less certain.

Since the actors and actresses went on strike on July 14, the organizers of TIFF, a festival known to attract dozens of celebrities each September to the Queen City, have been on their toes.

During the labor dispute, union members not only did not film, but they also did not participate in any promotional activities, which included posing and answering questions from journalists on the red carpets of the world’s biggest festivals dedicated to the 7^e art.

In Toronto, a first wave of sixty films was announced Monday morning. Among the names associated with them are those of Kate Winslet, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, Michael Keaton, Jessica Chastain, Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake and many others.

Cancellation and postponements

If the strike lasts until TIFF, which takes place from September 7 to 17, all these stars will not be in Toronto, a disaster for an event that runs on glamour.

Already, the strike has begun to disrupt the activities of certain events. In Montreal, Nicolas Cage canceled his presence at the Fantasia festival last weekend.

The Venice Film Festival, for its part, had to give up presenting the film as the opening Challengerswhich included actress Zendaya among its cast, the producers having chosen to postpone its release to spring 2024.

Quebec world premieres

In this time of uncertainty, two Quebec productions received great news when the program was unveiled. Solo And Happy Daysthe new films by Sophie Dupuis and Chloé Robichaud, will have their world premiere at TIFF.

Starring Théodore Pellerin in the skin of a drag queen, Solo will be the subject of a Gala presentation. The third feature film by Sophie Dupuis, which also features the names of Félix Maritaud (120 beats per minute) and Anne-Marie Cadieux in its credits, is to be released on September 15 in Quebec, immediately after its screening in the Queen City.

Chloé Robichaud, who is also making her third career feature film, will be in Toronto to unveil Happy Days, with, in the main roles, Sophie Desmarais, who plays a conductor, Sylvain Marcel and Nour Belkhiria. The film will then hit screens on October 20.