A Day in the Life of TIFF – Day 9: Brain on Fire, Strange Weather

The Toronto International Film Festival may be almost over but that doesn’t mean it’s out of surprises quite yet.  We’ve had a swarm of very famous producers in town this week – Colin Firth for Loving, Matt Damon for Manchester by the Sea, and Friday night Charlize Theron arrived for Brain on Fire.  Theron optioned the memoir, written by Susannah Cahalan, that tells of her battle against an autoimmune brain disorder.   Chloe Grace Moretz plays Susannah in the film, and after the premiere Cahalan herself along side her husband and the doctor who saved her held a Q&A with Moretz and director Gerard Barrett.  In a moving moment, Barrett called numerous survivors in the audience up on stage as well to be recognized. The film also co-stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Jenny Slate, and Tyler Perry.

Academy Award winning actress Holly Hunter walked the red carpet Friday night for Strange Weather.  The film tells the story of a grieving mother whose son, Walker, committed suicide seven years prior.  She heads to New Orleans to confront her son’s friend Mark, who has recently opened a restaurant with every detail of his new business an idea of Walker’s.  The film is being touted as a return to form for Hunter.

The final surprise of the evening though occurred during the world premiere of The Rolling Stones Ole Ole Ole!: A Trip Across Latin America.  Not surprisingly the film covers the band on their 2016 tour across Latin America, culminating in a historic concert in Havana, Cuba.  However, fans weren’t necessarily expecting Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood to show up at Roy Thomson Hall Friday evening.  While Mick Jagger was absent, he did send a long a video greeting for the audience.

One last premiere awaits Saturday…