Anniversary, Discovery, Rising Stars & Line-up Finalized at TIFF 2018

The Joy Luck Club

While Crazy Rich Asians enjoys box office success, the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival will mark the 25th anniversary of The Joy Luck Club which chronicles three generations of Chinese women living in San Francisco; taking part in the celebration with be director and co-producer Wayne Wang along with original stars Kieu Chinh and Tamlyn Tomita.  “Back in 1993, The Joy Luck Club was a rare Hollywood studio film about the Chinese-American experience,” stated TIFF Artistic Director Cameron Bailey in a press release.  “Audiences embraced its moving depiction of mother-daughter relationships then, and ever since. We’re thrilled to give our own TIFF audience the chance to see this classic”

The Crossing

New cinematic talent from 37 different countries are responsible for the 46 films that are featured in the Discovery programme which opens with The Crossing by Bai Xue that revolves around a teenage girl becoming entangled with illegal activities.  “Bai Xue displays the rare talent of a young female filmmaker who has rewritten the coming-of-age genre, colouring it with thrilling action,” remarked TIFF International Programmer Giovanna Fulvi. “TIFF is proud to introduce to the world of moviemaking one of the strongest new voices from China.”  Other highlights include sci-fi comedy The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste García by Arturo Infante, Syrian conflict inspired The Day I Lost My Shadow by Soudade Kaadan, a Nigerian immigrant is confronted by racist skinheads in Farming by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, boxing tale Float Like a Butterfly by Carmel Winters, lesbian love story Rafiki by Wanuri Kahiu, and war redemption drama Jirga by Benjamin Gilmour.

The Day I Lost My Shadow

In front of the camera, emerging actors from France, United States, Egypt and United Kingdom provide the international representation for the Rising Stars programme.  “From a young stand-up comedian to an Olivier Award-winning musical performer, this diverse group is multi-talented and eager to make their mark,” stated Bailey.  “We’re so glad TIFF can provide this platform to help elevate them to the world stage.” All four thespians have movies screening during the festival with Eleanor Worthington-Cox having the title role in Gwen, Stéphane Bak starring in survival odyssey The Mercy of the Jungle, Ahmed Malek performing in EXT. Night, and Josh Wiggins cast in Giant Little Ones.

Clockwise, from top left: Stéphane Bak, Ahmed Malek, Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Josh Wiggins

A trio of movies by Xavier Dolan, Neil Jordan and Brady Corbet complete the line-up for the 2018 edition.  A young actor recalls his correspondence with a deceased television star in The Death and Life of John F. Donovan which is directed by Dolan and stars Jacob Tremblay, Kit Harington, Thandie Newton and Natalie Portman.  An unlikely friendship with sinister motives develops between an enigmatic widow and a young American woman in Greta which is helmed by Jordan and stars Chloë Grace Moretz and Isabelle Huppert, and musical drama Vox Lux by Corbet revolves around a violent incident that reshapes the lives of two sisters and has a cast that features Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Natalie Portman and Jude Law.

Greta

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.

Vox Lux