The biggest challenge people face (myself included) when the Toronto International Film Festival rolls around is deciding what films to watch! And who’s to blame us? There are over 370 films being screened across the city over the next 10 days. This year, I got a bit of a head start on my movie selection process at the TIFF Insider’s Event where the festival’s amazing programmers shared their top picks. They are the experts who selected the films that will be screened at the festival (there are 18 of them and they’ve watched over 3000 films this year!)
Needless to say, their recommendations are highly sought-after and incredibly insightful. You know I love sharing, so here is their coveted list (with links to the film descriptions/trailers to make life easier for you):
- Michèle Maheux: Life’s A Breeze, The Stag, Philomena
- Colin Geddes: Why Don’t You Play In Hell, Jodorowskys Dune, The Green Inferno
- Diana Sanchez: The Amazing Catfish, Paradise, Gloria
- Jane Schoettle: A Place In Heaven, White Lies, Canopy
- Dimitri Eipides: Le Grand Cahier, Blind Dates, An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker
- Alexander Rogalski: Short Cuts Canada Programme 1
- Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo: Gabrielle, The Dick Knost Show, Hi-Ho Mistahey! (Cameron Bailey told us that it’s the year to follow indigenous films from Canada, Australia and New Zealand)
- Noah Cowan: David Cronenberg Transformation, Stranger By The Lake, Child Of God
- Elizabeth Muskala: Antboy, Khumba
- Andréa Picard: Manakamana, The Strange Little Cat, Story Of My Death
- Thom Powers: Midway, For No Good Reason, Dangerous Acts Starring The Unstable Elements Of Belarus, The Dog.
- Brad Deane: Manila In The Claws of Light, Shivers
- Magali Simard: Short Cuts Canada Programme 5
- Rasha Salti: Giraffada, Ladder To Damascus, Omar
- Steve Gravestock: The Grand Seduction, When Jews Were Funny, Cinemanovels, Hotell, Concrete Night, Sapi
- Giovanna Fulvi: ‘Til Madness Do Us Part, The Missing Picure, Moebius (apparently the wildest and most disturbing film at the festival this year, according to Cameron Bailey).
- Piers Handling: IDA, Violette, Blue Is The Warmest Color
- Cameron Bailey: Le Week-end, Burning Bush, Ningen. As for the galas: The Lunchbox, Bright Days Ahead and Cold Eyes (the slickest film at the festival and fun to watch). The one film not to miss out on this year? 12 Years A Slave.
- New Wave Picks (from a committee of students ranging in age from 15 to 18) : The F Word, The Square, Tracks 183
And here are the top five on my list (so far!):
There are a million film lists floating around out there (pulled together by critics, the industry and audiences worldwide). The best part of TIFF is exploring. I really encourage you to get out and watch films that you wouldn’t normally attend – you may be pleasantly surprised! That’s how I usually find my festival gems. Happy exploring! Let the Starbucks, popcorn and canapé diet begin…
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