World preems (Mother and Child, L’Affaire Farewell, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, I, Don Giovanni), Venice titles (The Road, A Single Man, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Baaria) and a Telluride pic in Werner Herzog's My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done are part of the Gala and Special Presentations and among the last batch of titles announced for the 2009 edition of the Toronto Film Festival.
The Toronto FIlm Festival have announced everything Canadian (or in some cases co-produced with Canada) with the world premiere of Atom Egoyan's Chloe.
I’m not sure what to make of this – but this year Top 20 batch of film’s have death as a focal point in the plot or use bereavement thematically: death of a dream, death of a soul, death out of defiance and death of a culture, society and way of life. I don’t really have a fascination with death, but I’ve noticed that my own mortality and the eventual passing of my loved ones seem to have embedded itself in some aspects of my daily routine.
Because the Dramatic Main Competition category can only hold so many titles, the Spectrum becomes a second option for Sundance staff to include some more dramatic fair. 12 of the 16 selected are world premieres (I caught Johnny Mad Dog at Cannes and missed out on Lymelife at TIFF) from returnee directors such as Sterlin Harjo, Jeff Lipsky and Bobcat Goldthwait.
Based on pure speculation and educated guesses, in anticipation of the 25th Sundance Film Festival, I’ve assembled a lengthy list of films that might be announced in next week’s press releases for selection announcements in everything from the Competition categories to the Premieres and the fringe Park City at Midnight.