Thu, Sep 7, 2023, 3:30 PM – Sun, Sep 17, 2023
TIFF 2023 is coming for you and the films are eclectic as usual. Promising big stars, buzzy indies, cool series, new filmmakers to discover, and my personal favorite, in the form of the sinister Midnight Madness section, TIFF has all the films you’ll be hearing about come awards season. Here are a handful of things on our radar this year. Look for coverage from us and our main man Steve Kopian at Unseen Films.
RIDDLE OF FIRE- (Midnight Madness Closing Night feature)
The movie follows three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to run an errand.
EPISODIC CONTENT
BAD BOY -World Premiere – Primetime Programme
From Ron Leshem (Executive producer of HBO’s Euphoria, Creator of the original Israeli Euphoria series off which the US series is based) and Hagar Ben-Asher (Bosch, City on a Hill)
Created alongside Daniel Chen, Roee Florentin, Moshe Malka, Amit Cohen (No Man’s Land, False Flag), Daniel Amsel (Euphoria, Valley of Tears).
Starring Bat Hen Sabag, Amjad Shawa, Guy Menaster, Havtamo Parada, Neta Plotnik, Liraz Chamami, Ishay Lalush, Daniel Hen, Ben Sultan
BAD BOY is a gripping true story about a young boy imprisoned in a chaotic and colorful juvenile detention facility. While in jail, DEAN bonds with ZORO, a mysterious fellow inmate who grows to be his closest friend and lifeline despite the fact that Zoro is serving time for cold-blooded murder. In order to survive the harsh reality behind bars, Dean learns to harness his unique creativity and humor – all while battling his own inner demons. Twenty years later, these traits still define Dean as a star comedian, while his time in jail is a secret that constantly threatens to resurface and tear his life apart.
Episode Count: 8×40
LIMBO (North American Premiere*)
Section: Centrepiece
North American Premiere
Australia/104 min/English
Directed by: Ivan Sen
Starring: Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen, Nicholas Hope
*LIMBO World Premired at Berlinale Film Festival 2023
Synopsis:
Travis, a jaded detective, arrives in the remote outback town of Limbo to investigate the cold case murder of local Indigenous girl Charlotte Hayes 20 years ago. As truths about the murder begin to unfold, the detective gains a new insight into the unsolved case from the victim’s fractured family, the surviving witnesses, and the reclusive brother of the chief suspect. A poignant, intimate journey into the complexities of loss and the impact of the justice system on Aboriginal families in Australia.
Screening times:
September 12 5:45 pm Public screening Scotiabank 3
September 13 3:45 pm Public screening Scotiabank 9
BACKSPOT – World Premiere – Discovery
Directed by: D.W. Waterson
Written by: Joanne Sarazen, Story by: D.W. Waterson
Produced by: Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Martin Katz
Executive Produced by: Elliot Page, Matt Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson, Katisha Shaw
Starring: Devery Jacobs (“Reservation Dogs”), Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”), Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale), Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide, Wendy Crewson
Synopsis:
A driven cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) struggles to handle the pressure when she and her girlfriend are both selected for an elite cheer squad, in D.W. Waterson’s feature directorial debut.
RT: 93 Minutes
Public Screenings
Friday, September 8 at 8:30PM at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Monday, September 11 at 3:00PM at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Friday, September 15 at 9:45PM at Scotiabank Theatre
THE CRITIC – World Premiere – Special Presentations
Directed By: Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie)
Written by: Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal)
Starring: Ian McKellen (The Good Liar), Gemma Arterton (Summerland), Mark Strong (1917), Romola Garai (Suffragette), Ben Barnes (Westworld) and Alfred Enoch (Foundation)
Gemma Arterton and Sir Ian McKellen star as adversaries forced to take desperate measures to save their careers, in this scintillating tale of ambition and deceit in the theatre world.
RT: 95 minutes
Public Screenings
Monday, September 11 at 12:00PM at the Princess of Wales
Wednesday, September 13 at 4:00PM at Scotiabank 2
Saturday, September 16 at 3:00PM at Scotiabank 2
IRENA’S VOW (Quiver Distribution) – World Premiere – Centerpiece Program
Directed by: Louise Archambault (Atomic Saké, Familia)
Written by: Dan Gordon (Passenger 57, Wyatt Earp)
Starring: Sophie Nélisse (“Yellowjackets,” 47 Meters Down: Uncaged), Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible 2, “Batwoman”), Andrzej Seweryn, and Maciek Nawrocki
Produced by: Nicholas Tabarrok, p.g.a, Beata Pisula, Tim Ringuette, Berry Meyerowitz and Jeff Sackman
Through the eyes of a strong-willed woman comes the remarkable true story of Irena Gut Opdyke and the triumphs of the human spirit over devastating tragedy. 19-year-old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Determined to help twelve Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she can think of: the basement of the German commandant’s house. Over the next two years, Irena uses her wit, humor, and courage to hide her friends until the end of the German occupation, concealing them in the midst of countless Nazi parties, a blackmail scheme, and even the birth of a child. Her story is one of the most inspiring of our time.
RT: 121 Minutes
Public Screenings
Sunday, September 10 at 3:15PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox Cinema 1
Monday, September 11 at 3:35PM at Scotiabank 11
KNOX GOES AWAY – World Premiere – Special Presentations
Directed by: Michael Keaton
Written By: Gregory Poirier (Rosewood)
Starring: Michael Keaton (Birdman), James Marsden (“Jury Duty”), Al Pacino (The Godfather), and Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic RIver)
Michael Keaton directs and plays Knox, a hitman losing his memory, putting him in a race against time to help his estranged son (James Marsden) cover up a messy crime.
RT: 114 minutes
Public Screenings
Sunday, September 10 at 9:45 PM at The Princess of Wales Theatre
Monday, September 11 at 5:30 PM at Roy Thomson Hall
SUMMER QAMP– WORLD PREMIERE – 2023 Toronto International Film Festival
Directed by Jen Markowitz
Mins 80 | Language English | Year 2023 | Country Canada
SUMMER QAMP is a moving, compelling and joyful documentary following a group of LGBTQ+ youth at an idyllic lakeside camp in Alberta, Canada – CAMP fYrefly. The campers enjoy the traditional summer camp experience in a safe, affirming environment where they deepen their connections with their own community and themselves.
Screenings:
World Premiere – Saturday, September 9 at 12:15 PM at Scotiabank 13
Sunday, September 10 at 4:30 PM at Scotiabank 12
For more information on TIFF 2023 click here!
The 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival takes place Thursday, September 7—17, 2023.
Michael Reagan plays Tyler Wilson. Reagan balances a toxic masculinity that hides behind a starving artist’s desire. His dismissive intolerance is loathsome, fueled by Tyler’s not-so-secret problem with alcohol. Tedra Millan gives Jen relatability with her compounding worrying. Jen has a lot on her plate, and like most women, her need to solve all the world’s problems consumes her. Written on her face and the pace of her breathing, it’s a visceral feeling.
This film is an extraordinary story of a power struggle that takes aim at capitalism and cleverly pits mental health against self-preservation. GHOSTS OF THE VOID leaves us with questions of morality and equal parts relief and dread.
RESTORE POINT
It’s the year 2041, and humanity has reached the point where it can cheat death. Anyone who dies an unnatural death has the right to be brought back to life. All you have to do is to create a backup of your personality – a restore point – at least every forty-eight hours. But there exists a movement of people who try to sabotage this concept. “Agent Em” finds herself drawn into a case that is not as simple as it first seemed and the consequences of which reach to the highest levels of politics.
Matej Hádek plays David with an intentional glitchiness. The physical and emotional choices draw you into the mystery. Andrea Mohylová brings humanity that grounds her performance. You can see the gears turning, the struggle between the personal and principles of the case. Mohylová is badass, effortlessly carrying the action. She is extraordinarily watchable. As a duo, they are inarguably compelling.
The teenage shenanigans ring true. That feeling of invincibility and daring remind me of my crazy ideas and dumb decisions in the late 90s. Egghead and Twinkie take risks, make mistakes, hurt each other, get their hearts broken, and confess their fears. The film is a helpful guide for parents struggling to understand their kids’ feelings. Regardless of their core beliefs, 
Paiffe
THE LISTENER
YOU’LL NEVER FIND ME
THE MIRACLE CLUB
SUITABLE FLESH
SOMEWHERE QUIET
JE’VIDA
I.S.S.
WAITRESS, THE MUSICAL- LIVE ON BROADWAY!
THE FUTURE
ONE NIGHT WITH ADELA
ERIC LARUE
COLD COPY
Troy’s vulnerability flows off the screen. Reenactments directly from Troy’s storytelling deliver every emotion possible. Have tissues on hand. It will be impossible to maintain a dry eye. I wept through this film, thinking about my child with autism. If I can be a fraction as supportive as Len Kotsur, imagine what Wes may be capable of achieving. In just over twenty minutes, this unforgettable film is an ode to a parent’s unconditional love.
Save one or two, a group predominantly of elitist little shits wage war against the weaker for power. To no one’s surprise, these kids could not care less about following the religious aspects of the camp’s intentions, instead actively torturing the child with the darkest skin. Perhaps the saddest part is how the hatred spreads so quickly.
Outside the inner workings of the boys, there is a grander racism playing out beyond the chain link fence of the camp. A hole brings fear that an outsider has infiltrated the grounds. Slowly, we discover the nefarious intentions of the staff, the indoctrination of following orders, and never questioning authority.
The film plays out in two distinct acts. Once in the woods, the fractures widen, and smaller groups become exceedingly hostile. This Lord Of The Flies meets The Village script is exhilarating. My nerves almost could not take it. Performances are extraordinary. The film speaks to a growing global evil in Christofascism, sexual abuse in the church, and the destruction of otherness. A HOLE IN THE FENCE displays toxic masculinity at its core. It is a sick test and focuses on the myth of manhood. It is a microcosm, and we should all be afraid.
Director Oscar Harding happened upon the tape as a child but had only had the pleasure of watching until his father hit stop on the VCR. It isn’t until the VHS reemerges in his adulthood that he feels compelled to dig deeper into the man beyond the vast amount of background provided by Charles along the way.
Giedrius Kiela and Gabija Bargailaite play Paulius and Indre, respectively. Each brings qualities of pain. Kiela’s aggression has the audience in a death grip. His volatility is frightening. Bargailaite is more subtle. Her unraveling happens in a finale that breaks you. They are hypnotizing. 
Slick editing and long takes on a stationary camera make the audience an unwilling witness to Paulius and Indre’s plans. The script’s structure leaves much to the imagination as clues come slowly. My mind swirled as I watched Paulius walk Indre through the crime’s timeline. You feel compelled to keep watching. As someone whose close friend died under mysterious circumstances years ago, the unresolved pain and trauma are palpable. The need to understand and reason with the devil never fades, no matter how many years go by. PILGRIMS captures the very messy essence of grief.
Azia Dinea Hale plays Nina, a young phone tech who gives private lessons to Mordecai. Dealing with an unexpected family secret, Nina pushes onward to assure Mordecai that he can take his future into his hands and heal through experience and art. Hale is as sweet and patient as we need her to be. 
Sean Astin is Marvin, Mordecai’s son. Marvin’s confident facade begins to crack under the pressure of his cigar business, Fela’s diagnosis, and unresolved feelings with his father. Astin leaves his heart on the screen. Marvin is a complex person doing his best to keep his head above water. Astin takes each beat with thoughtfulness. It is a carefully crafted character study.
THE WORST ONES is a meta-narrative that succeeds in conveying hope through hardship. Not only does the film shine in its storytelling, embracing heartbreak and socioeconomic trauma, but the performances also by our four young actors will hypnotize the viewer. Check out the clip below for a taste:
On the surface, the film is an intimate character study of the growing tensions in a family and community in close quarters and the disruption of everyday life. Slyly mirroring the Israel-Palestine tensions in a darkly comedic way, LET IT BE MORNING tackles the status quo, the want for power, and the need for change in a superbly brilliant way. 
Playing out in real-time (56 minutes to be exact), 6 friends jump on a Zoom call after they hire a medium to entertain them. The visual setup is key. What appears to be totally casual laptop setups is actually comprised of very specific angles that will put any genre fan instantly on alert. A well-placed open door in any frame is a constant cause for anxiety. Since we’ve all been doing these damn calls for months now, Host stylishly lulls you into a false sense of familiarity before pulling the rug out from underneath you. It’s quite genius in its simplicity.
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