By John H. Foote TIFF begins today, the 26th consecutive time I have attended this massive festival, one of the rare film festivals that is also a public festival. Since its modest beginning in the mid-seventies it was insisted upon by the creators that it be for the people and has remained such ever since.…
By Alan Hurst The advance buzz for the Bradley Cooper helmed remake of A Star Is Born (2018) is positive to the point of hysteria. It did well at the Venice Film Festival and is one of the big-ticket attractions for TIFF. It stars Cooper and Lady Gaga and word is that both give superb…
By John H. Foote There will be a profound sense of melancholy at this years Toronto International Film Festival, not because of the films or the celebration of the art form, but because it is the last festival with the great Piers Handling at the helm. The popular, intelligent zen master will step down after…
By John H. Foote This year marks the 24th Toronto International Film Festival I have covered as press. In that time, I befriended the creator William Marshall and his wife Sari, two lovely people I came to love; Piers Handling, one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met; interviewed my idols, became friends…
By John H. Foote As expected, and hoped, Boy Erased will be here this September, the controversial film about a family struggling with their sons homosexuality, believing sending him to a religious camp will heal the gay right out of him. Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Lucas Hedges star in a film directed and written by…
WORLD PREMIERE OF DAVID MACKENZIE’S OUTLAW KING STARRING CHRIS PINE IS THE TIFF 2018 OPENING NIGHT GALA FILM. WORLD PREMIERE OF JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LEROY TO CLOSE OUT THE 2018 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Nick MaylorNick is an actor/writer/comedian/musician from Hamilton, ON Canada. Having been a film nut since the early days of his life, Nick…
By John H. Foote In a huge coup, Michael Moore returns to Tiff with his latest film, Fahrenheit 11/9, an anti-Trump tirade that should anger the attention President by calling him out for what he is. Moore, no stranger to controversy directed the superb Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) which made clear George W. Bush was a…
By John H. Foote In the beginning one of the central mandates of the Toronto Film Festival, when it was still known as the Festival of Festivals was to showcase the work of homegrown filmmakers. The creators, Bill Marshall in particular understood the bevy of talent in this country and watnted to celebrate and showcase…
By John H. Foote In announcing the first group of titles of films to be screened at the 40th anniversary edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, there was excitement in the air as well as melancholy. Great titles dominated the first group of announcements, but this marks the final festival with Piers Handling at…