Contenders for Platform Prize at TIFF 2018

Cities of Last Things

Following in the footsteps of previous Platform Prize winners Alan Zweig (Hurt), Pablo Larraín (Jackie) and Warwick Thornton (Sweet Country) are filmmakers Emir Baigazin, Ho Wi Ding, Simon Jaquemet, Karyn Kusama, Alejandra Márquez Abella, Emmanuel Mouret, Carol Morley, Benjamín Naishtat, Alex Ross Perry, Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel, Markus Schleinzer and Tim Sutton who will be competing for $25,000 CAD award at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival.   “We are thrilled to present a slate that perfectly embodies the essence of the programme with so many risk-taking, challenging, and, at times, formally inventive titles that are the result of audacious directors making bold choices,” stated TIFF Director and CEO Piers Handling in a press release.  “Donnybrook [by Tim Sutton] is the perfect choice to open Platform, showcasing not only the calibre of filmmaking in the lineup, but also the depth of the challenging stories that make up the programme.”

Donnybrook

Donnybrook stars Frank Grillo, Margaret Qualley, James Badge Dale and Jamie Bell; the American heartland drama revolves around a young war veteran who enters a legendary bare-knuckle tournament in a desperate effort to provide for his poverty-stricken family.  Other notable entries are the backward in time Cities of Last Things by Ho Wi Ding, period abduction Angelo by Markus Schleinzer, family drama The River by Emir Baigazin, and crime mystery Out of Blue by Carol Morley.  Closing the proceedings will be the feature debut of Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel which takes place in a dystopian world where a leader of a group of rehabilitated marauders attempts to a create a more peaceful environment.   “We are very happy to have Jessica Forever premiere in such a prestigious selection, and we feel really honoured,” remarked Poggi and Vinel.  “It will be the first public screening of our movie, so it’s a strange mix between fear and joy. The Festival is also going to be our first trip to North America!”

Jessica Forever

For more information visit the official website for TIFF.  The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.