The Toronto International Film Festival is bringing back the star power after last year’s Hollywood labor disruptions led to a lack of big names at the annual event.
Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Riz Ahmed, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and other projects will have their world premieres in Toronto in September, as will significant awards contenders such as Edward Berger’s “Conclave” and Sean Baker’s “Anora.”
Gia Coppola’s anticipated drama “The Last Showgirl” starring Anderson will be shown in the special presentations section. The “Baywatch” star plays a dancer who, after her long-running Las Vegas revue is abruptly disbanded, is forced to confront her failures and find a new direction. The picture was exhibited as a work-in-progress for potential buyers in Cannes in May, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most high-profile sales titles at TIFF this year.
“Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe,” on the legendary Italian tenor, will also be shown during the festival. It joins the already announced music documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late.” The nonfiction selection is completed by the anticipated “Piece by Piece,” filmmaker Morgan Neville’s animated depiction of Pharrell Williams’ life and work using Lego figures.
Narrative world premieres include “Unstoppable,” about a wrestling champ born without his right leg and raised in an abusive household, starring Jharrel Jerome and Lopez and produced by Damon and Affleck; “Hard Truths,” the latest from Mike Leigh and a reunion with his “Secrets & Lies” star Marianne Jean-Baptiste; and Ron Howard’s starry ensemble “Eden” with Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby and Jude Law.
Director John Crowley (“Brooklyn,” “Boy A”) will reunite Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in A24’s love drama “We Live in Time.” Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Ann Dowd, and Constance Wu will star in “The Friend,” directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, while Ed Burns’ “Millers in Marriage,” starring Julianna Margulies, will make its debut.
Awards contenders include Jacques Audiard’s Cannes-winning “Emilia Perez,” Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada,” the critically acclaimed “All We Imagine as Light,” Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here,” Samuel L. Jackson’s “The Piano Lesson,” and Angelina Jolie’s “Without Blood.” For the first time, festival programmers are sharing insights into their selections. Watch the TIFF reel below. This year’s festival will run from September 5 to 15.