Javier Bardem, Gael García Bernal, Angelina Jolie and Helen Mirren will headline a series of public conversations about their careers as part of this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
Many of these actors and filmmakers aren’t just trekking to Canada to take a jaunt down memory lane. They’re also on hand to launch new films. Bardem stars in “mother!,” Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming horror film, and “Loving Pablo,” both of which will debut at the festival. Jolie is bringing “First They Killed My Father,” a drama about the Cambodian genocide that she made for Netflix, to the gathering. Mirren is appearing opposite Donald Sutherland in “The Leisure Seeker,” another festival entry. And Bernal will be seen in “If You Saw His Heart,” which will screen at the event.
In addition, the festival also unveiled its 2017 Discovery program lineup. It boasts 45 first and second feature films by up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world. The festival’s backers say it’s the biggest line-up yet, with 25% more titles than the 2016 roster.
In a press release touting the additions, the festival’s brass said the films deal with a wide-range of social issues such as the push for LGBTQ equality and rural economic struggles.
“If you don’t support the future of filmmaking, you fall behind. So we’re always looking for new talent,” said Cameron Bailey, the festival’s artistic director, in a statement. “The fact that the Discovery program continues to grow is deeply encouraging, and speaks to the fact that there are a lot of people that want to make films when it is often increasingly more difficult to do so.”
These films join a list of Oscar hopefuls that include Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing,” Joe Wright’s “Darkest Hour,” and George Clooney’s “Suburbicon,” all of which will be screening at Toronto. The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.