{"id":69422,"date":"2014-07-22T12:17:26","date_gmt":"2014-07-22T12:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2014\/07\/22\/denzel-washingtons-the-equalizer-among-2014-toronto-film-festival-selections\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T04:01:14","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T04:01:14","slug":"denzel-washingtons-the-equalizer-among-2014-toronto-film-festival-selections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/denzel-washingtons-the-equalizer-among-2014-toronto-film-festival-selections\/","title":{"rendered":"Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer Among 2014 Toronto Film Festival Selections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer Among Toronto Film Festival Selections<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

July 22, 2014<\/p>\n

\"Toronto<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2014 Toronto Film Festival<\/strong> announced its lineup in the\u00a0Gala and Special Presentations programs and among the film are Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer<\/strong>, starring Denzel Washington<\/strong>,\u00a0Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano<\/strong>\u2019s followup to \u201cThe Intouchables,\u201d<\/strong> the social comedy \u201cSamba,\u201d<\/strong> starring Omar Sy<\/strong>; and \u201cBlack and White,\u201d<\/strong> Mike Binder<\/strong>\u2019s tale of a grieving widower (Kevin Costner<\/strong>) in a custody battle. Octavia Spencer and Anthony Mackie<\/strong> are featured in the film.<\/p>\n

The Toronto International Film Festival run Sept. 4 to 14, 2014.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the Full List of TIFF Galas, World Premieres and Canadian Premieres:<\/h4>\n
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GALAS<\/h3>\n

Black and White<\/strong>\u00a0Mike Binder, USA
\nBlack and White is the story of a widowed grandfather who is left to raise his bi-racial granddaughter. When the little girl\u2019s paternal grandmother seeks custody, a bitter legal battle ensues that forces the uneasy family members to have an honest conversation about life, death, anger and America\u2019s racial divide. Starring Academy Award-winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, as well as Anthony Mackie, Jennifer Ehle, Gillian Jacobs, Bill Burr, Andre Holland and Jillian Estell.<\/p>\n

The Equalizer<\/strong>\u00a0Antoine Fuqua, USA World Premiere In this big-screen adaptation of the cult \u201880s TV show, McCall believes he has put his past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri, a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can\u2019t stand idly by \u2013\u2014 he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to extract vengeance upon anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer. Starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chlo\u00eb Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo.<\/p>\n

Foxcatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Bennett Miller, USA Canadian Premiere Based on true events, this film tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. Starring Anthony Michael Hall, Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Ruffalo and Sienna Miller.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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World Premiere<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Haemoo<\/strong>\u00a0Shim Sung-bo, South Korea International Premiere The ragtag\u00a0crew<\/a>\u00a0of a fishing boat takes on a dangerous commission to smuggle a group of illegal immigrants from China to Korea, in this tense high-seas adventure co-scripted by South Korean genre-movie guru Bong Joon-ho. Starring Kim Yoon-seok and Park Yoo- chun.<\/p>\n

The Judge<\/strong>\u00a0David Dobkin, USA World Premiere Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town\u2019s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank\u00a0sets<\/a>\u00a0out to discover the truth, and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D\u2019Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard and Billy Bob Thornton.<\/p>\n

.Closing Night Film.<\/em>
\nA Little Chaos<\/strong>\u00a0Alan Rickman, United Kingdom World Premiere A landscape gardener with a taste for the unconventional is invited to design one of the fountains at the Palace of Versailles. As she battles with the weather, the perilous rivalries at the court of Louis XIV and her own private demons, she finds herself drawn closer to the formality and enigma of the architect who hired her. Starring Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci, Alan Rickman and Matthias Schoenaerts.<\/p>\n

Maps to the Stars<\/strong>\u00a0David Cronenberg, Canada\/Germany North American Premiere David Cronenberg forges both a wicked social satire and a very human ghost story from today\u2019s celebrity-obsessed culture. Starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams, Sarah Gadon, John Cusack and Robert Pattinson.<\/p>\n

The New Girlfriend<\/strong>\u00a0(Une nouvelle amie) Fran\u00e7ois Ozon, France World Premiere When her best friend Lea dies, Claire falls into a deep depression. However, after making a surprising discovery about her late friend\u2019s husband, she\u2019s given a new lease on life. Starring Romain Duris, Ana\u00efs Demoustier and Rapha\u00ebl Personnaz.<\/p>\n

Pawn Sacrifice<\/strong>\u00a0Ed Zwick, USA World Premiere In this remarkable true story set in the height of the Cold War, chess legend Bobby Fischer is locked in a gripping championship clash with the Soviets as he struggles against his own psychological demons while the whole world anxiously awaits the outcome. Starring Tobey Maguire, Peter Sarsgaard and Liev Schreiber.<\/p>\n

The Riot Club<\/strong>\u00a0Lone Scherfig, United Kingdom World Premiere A privileged young man is inducted into the exclusive, debaucherous company of Oxford\u2019s elite \u201cRiot Club,\u201d in this scathing dissection of the British class system. Based on the hit play Posh, the film stars Natalie Dormer, Max Irons, Sam Clafin, Jessica Brown Findlay and Douglas Booth.<\/p>\n

Samba<\/strong>\u00a0Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, France World Premiere Samba migrated to France 10 years ago from Senegal, and has since been plugging away at various lowly jobs. Alice is a senior executive who has recently undergone a burnout. Both struggle to get out of their dead-end lives \u2014 Samba\u2019s willing to do whatever it takes to get working papers, while Alice tries to get her life back on track \u2014 until fate draws them together. Balancing light-hearted moments with heavier emotion, Samba is a story about two strangers on a new path to happiness. Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Omar Sy and Tamar Rahim.<\/p>\n

This is Where I Leave You<\/strong>\u00a0Shawn Levy, USA World Premiere Shawn Levy\u2019s dramatic comedy follows four adult siblings who return home after their father\u2019s death to spend a week with their over- sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and frayed relationships among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways. Starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll and Kathryn Hahn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Wild<\/strong>\u00a0Jean-Marc Vall\u00e9e, USA International Premiere After years of reckless behaviour, a heroin addiction and the destruction of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed makes a rash decision. Haunted by memories of her mother Bobbi and with absolutely no experience, she sets out to hike more than a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail all on her own. Wild powerfully reveals Cheryl\u2019s terrors and pleasures as she forges ahead on a journey that maddens, strengthens and ultimately heals her. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, Gaby Hoffmann and Kevin Rankin.<\/p>\n

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS<\/h3>\n

99 Homes<\/strong>\u00a0Ramin Bahrani, USA
\nAfter his family is evicted from their home, proud and desperate\u00a0construction<\/a>\u00a0worker Dennis Nash tries to win his home back by striking a deal with the devil and working for Rick Carver, the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him. Starring Andrew Garfield, Laura Dern and Michael Shannon.<\/p>\n

American Heist<\/strong>\u00a0Sarik Andreasyan, USA World Premiere Two brothers with troubled pasts become embroiled in a high-stakes bank robbery, in this indie action thriller. Starring Adrien Brody, Hayden Christensen, Jordana Brewster and Akon.<\/p>\n

Before We Go<\/strong>\u00a0Chris Evans, USA World Premiere Set in Manhattan, the story follows two strangers after their serendipitous meeting in Grand Central. Over the course of one night, they form an unlikely bond and the conflicts in their own lives become the basis for exploration into each other and themselves. Starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve.<\/p>\n

Breakup Buddies<\/strong>\u00a0Ning Hao, China World Premiere Recently cuckolded and reeling from a messy divorce, a hapless former singer hits the road \u2014 and the bar \u2014 with his all-too-helpful best bud, in this hilarious romantic comedy.<\/p>\n

Cake<\/strong>\u00a0Daniel Barnz, USA World Premiere Cake tells the story of the acerbic Claire Bennett who has managed to alienate everyone from her life, with the exception of her loyal housekeeper. When Claire becomes fascinated with the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group, she develops a poignant relationship with the woman\u2019s grieving husband and comes to terms with her own personal tragedy, catapulting her forward into life. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Anna Kendrick, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman and Sam Worthington.<\/p>\n

Coming Home<\/strong>\u00a0Zhang Yimou, China North American Premiere Lu Yanshi and Feng Wanyu are a devoted couple forced to separate when Lu is arrested and sent to a labour camp as a political prisoner, just as his wife is injured in an accident. Released during the last days of the Cultural Revolution, he finally returns home only to find that his beloved wife has amnesia and remembers little of her past. Unable to recognize Lu, she patiently waits for her husband\u2019s return \u2014 until Lu determines to resurrect their past together and reawaken his wife\u2019s memory. Starring Chen Daoming and Gong Li.<\/p>\n

The Dead Lands<\/strong>\u00a0(Hautoa) Toa Fraser, New Zealand\/United Kingdom World Premiere Hongi, a Maori chieftain\u2019s teenage son, must avenge his father\u2019s murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains led by Wirepa, Hongi\u2019s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden \u201cDead Lands\u201d and forge an uneasy alliance with a mysterious warrior, a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years. Starring Xavier Horan, Raukura Turei, Rena Owen, James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare and Te Kohe Tuhaka.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Canadian Premiere<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Dearest Peter<\/strong>\u00a0Ho-Sun Chan, China\/Hong Kong North American Premiere Drawing on remarkable true stories, Peter Chan delivers a moving drama about child abduction in China. Huang Bo stars as a father whose young son disappears in the streets of a big city. He sets out on a search across China, stopping at nothing to find him. In this star-studded cast, Zhao Wei plays the role of a mother from a poor rural area.<\/p>\n

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The Drop<\/strong>\u00a0Michael R. Roskam, USA World Premiere The Drop follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski through a covert scheme of funnelling cash to local gangsters in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv, Bob finds himself at the centre of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighbourhood\u2019s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living \u2014 no matter the cost. Starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts and John Ortiz.<\/p>\n

Eden<\/strong>\u00a0Mia Hansen-L\u00f8ve, France World Premiere In the \u201890s, French electronic music is developing at a fast pace. Entering this exciting Parisian nightlife, Paul and his best friend form a DJ duo called Cheers. But just as they rapidly find their audience, they are caught up in a euphoric and short-lived rise to fame. Eden retraces the steps of the \u201cFrench touch\u201d generation from 1992 to today \u2014 a generation that still enjoys outstanding international success thanks to DJs like Daft Punk, Dimitri from Paris and Cassius. Starring F\u00e9lix de Givry, Pauline Etienne, Vincent Macaigne, Greta Gerwig, Golshifteh Farahani, Laura Smet and Vincent Lacoste.<\/p>\n

Far From Men<\/strong>\u00a0(Loin des Hommes) David Oelhoffen, France North American Premiere Algeria, 1954. While the rebellion rumbles in the valley, two very different men thrown together by a world in turmoil are forced to flee across the Atlas mountains. In the midst of an icy winter, Daru, a reclusive teacher, has to escort Mohamed, a villager accused of murder. Pursued by horsemen seeking summary justice and vengeful settlers, the two men decide to confront the unknown. Together, they fight to gain their freedom. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb.<\/p>\n

Force<\/strong>\u00a0Majeure Ruben \u00d6stlund, Sweden\/Norway\/Denmark\/France North American Premiere A Swedish family\u2019s ski trip in the French Alps is cut short by news of an oncoming avalanche, during which an impulsive decision by the father Tomas drives a wedge between him and his wife, Ebba \u2014 he has run for his life, while she has stayed to protect her children. When the anticipated disaster fails to occur, reality and embarrassed relief returns to the mountainside resort, but the family\u2019s world has been shaken to its core. Force Majeure is an observational comedy about the role of the male in modern family life. Starring Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren, Kristofer Hivju and Fanni Metelius.<\/p>\n

The Gate<\/strong>\u00a0R\u00e9gis Wargnier, France World Premiere Two decades after forging an unlikely alliance in Pol Pot\u2019s Cambodia, a French ethnologist and a former Khmer Rouge official meet again after the latter is arrested for crimes against humanity, in this drama from top French director R\u00e9gis Wargnier.<\/p>\n

Good Kill<\/strong>\u00a0Andrew Niccol, USA North American Premiere A Las Vegas-based fighter pilot turned drone pilot fights the Taliban by remote control for 12 hours a day, then goes home to the suburbs and feuds with his wife and kids for the other 12. But the pilot is starting to question the mission. Is he creating more terrorists than he\u2019s killing? Is he fighting a war without end? This story follows one soldier\u2019s tale with epic implications. Starring Ethan Hawke and January Jones.<\/p>\n

The Good Lie<\/strong>\u00a0Philippe Falardeau, USA World Premiere Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon and an ensemble of young Sudanese actors \u2014 all of whom have direct personal ties to the war in their country \u2014 bring the inspiring and uplifting story of The Lost Boys of the Sudan to the screen in a film about heartbreak and hope, survival and triumph. Also starring Corey Stoll, Arnold Oceng, Kuoth Wiel, Ger Duany, Emmauel Jal and Femi Oguns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hector and the Search for Happiness<\/strong>\u00a0Peter Chelsom, Germany\/Canada North American Premiere Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become increasingly tired of his humdrum life. Deciding to break out of his deluded routine, he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive formula for true happiness\u2026 and so begins his larger-than-life adventure with riotously funny results. Starring Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Simon Pegg, Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd and Jean Reno.<\/p>\n

The Humbling<\/strong>\u00a0Barry Levinson, USA North American Premiere The Humbling tells the story of a legendary stage actor who has an affair with a lesbian woman half his age at a secluded country house in Connecticut. Based on Philip Roth\u2019s final novel, it is a tragic comedy about a man who has lived inside his own imagination for too long. Starring Al Pacino, Mandy Patinkin, Dianne Wiest and Greta Gerwig.<\/p>\n

Hungry Hearts<\/strong>\u00a0Saverio Costanzo, Italy International Premiere Mina and Jude meet while stuck together in the restroom of a restaurant, marking the beginning of a true love story. They move in together. They get married. And anticipate the arrival of their baby \u2014 until a spiritual guide tells Mina she is bearing an \u201cindigo\u201d child. Starring Adam Driver, Alba Rohrwacher and Roberta Maxwell.<\/p>\n

The Imitation Game<\/strong>\u00a0Morten Tyldum, United Kingdom\/USA Canadian Premiere Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.<\/p>\n

Kahlil Gibran\u2019s The Prophet<\/strong>, Canada\/France\/Lebanon\/Qatar\/USA World Premiere Roger Allers, Ga\u00ebtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, Joan C. Gratz,Mohammed Saeed Harib, Tomm Moore, Nina Paley, Bill Plympton, Joann Sfar and Michal Socha
\nInspired by the beloved classic, Kahlil Gibran\u2019s The Prophet is a richly-animated story and celebration of Gibran\u2019s book, created by artists, animators and musicians from around the world. Starring Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek-Pinault, John Krasinski, Frank Langella, Alfred Molina, John Rhys-Davies and Quvenzhan\u00e9 Wallis.<\/p>\n

The Keeping Room<\/strong>\u00a0Daniel Barber, USA World Premiere Left without men in the dying days of the American Civil War, three Southern women \u2014 two sisters and one African-American slave \u2014 must fight to defend their home and themselves from two rogue soldiers who have broken off from the fast-approaching Union Army. Starring Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld, Sam Worthington, Muna Otaru and Kyle Soller.<\/p>\n

The Last Five Years<\/strong>\u00a0Richard LaGravenese, USA World Premiere In this adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, The Last Five Years is a musical deconstruction of a love affair and a marriage taking place over a five year period. Jamie, a young, talented up-and-coming Jewish novelist falls in love with Cathy, a Shiksa Goddess and struggling actress. The film, told almost entirely through song and a beautiful pop music score, portrays an honest, heartbreaking, often funny, exploration of love and its consequences on individual identity. Starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.<\/p>\n

Learning to Drive<\/strong>\u00a0Isabel Coixet, USA World Premiere As her marriage dissolves, a Manhattan writer takes driving lessons from a Sikh instructor with marriage troubles of his own. In each other\u2019s company, they find the courage to get back on the road and the strength to take the wheel. Starring Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Love & Mercy<\/strong>\u00a0Bill Pohlad, USA World Premiere Focusing on Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys, Love & Mercy paints an unconventional portrait of the artist by interweaving seminal moments in his life, from his artistic genius to his profound struggles, and the love that keeps him alive. Starring Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, John Cusack and Paul Giamatti.<\/p>\n

Manglehorn<\/strong>\u00a0David Gordon Green, USA North American Premiere Angelo Manglehorn is a small town locksmith who never got over the love of his life. Clara was a beautiful, idealized woman who left him heartbroken 40 years ago. He still writes her letters obsessively as he tries to find her and get back the woman of his dreams. Manglehorn is the journey of this magical man, his son, his cat and a beautiful new woman trying to help him put the pieces of his heart back together. Starring Al Pacino, Holly Hunter and Chris Messina.<\/p>\n

Mary<\/strong>\u00a0Kom Omung Kumar, India World Premiere Glamorous Indian star Priyanka Chopra completely transforms herself to play Mary Kom, world champion in women\u2019s boxing. From traditional village life in remote Manipur state to high-stakes bouts in India and around the world, this is a remarkable story of triumph.<\/p>\n

Men, Women and Children<\/strong>\u00a0Jason Reitman, USA World Premiere Men, Women and Children follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. Starring Jennifer Garner, Adam Sandler and Judy Greer.<\/p>\n

Miss Julie<\/strong>\u00a0Liv Ullmann, Norway\/United Kingdom\/Ireland World Premiere A country estate in Ireland in the 1880s. Over the course of one midsummer night, Miss Julie explores the brutal, charged power struggle between a young aristocratic woman and her father\u2019s valet. Starring Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton.<\/p>\n

Mr. Turner<\/strong>\u00a0Mike Leigh, United Kingdom Canadian Premiere This biopic explores the last quarter century of the great if eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775\u20131851). Profoundly affected by the death of his father, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady with whom he eventually lives incognito in Chelsea, until his death. Throughout his life, the popular \u2014 if anarchic \u2014 member of the Royal Academy of Arts travels, paints, stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, has himself strapped to the mast of a ship so that he can paint a snowstorm, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and by royalty. Starring Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson, Lesley Manville, Martin Savage, Joshua McGuire, Ruth Sheen, David Horovitch and Karl Johnson.<\/p>\n

My Old Lady<\/strong>\u00a0Israel Horovitz, USA World Premiere A down-and-out New Yorker inherits an apartment in Paris from his estranged father and is stunned to find a refined old lady living there with her protective daughter. Starring Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas.<\/p>\n

Ned Rifle<\/strong>\u00a0Hal Hartley, USA World Premiere Ned Rifle is the third and final chapter of Hal Hartley\u2019s tragicomic epic begun with Henry Fool (1997) and continued with Fay Grim (2007). At once a saga concerning the Grim family of Queens and how their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of the self- proclaimed genius Henry Fool, the trilogy is also an illustration of America\u2019s grappling with ideas, art, politics, and religion over the course of 20 years. In this swiftly paced and expansive conclusion, Henry and Fay\u2019s son Ned sets out to find and kill his father for destroying his mother\u2019s life. But his aims are frustrated by the troublesome, sexy and hilarious Susan, whose connection to Henry predates even his arrival in the lives of the Grim family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nightcrawler<\/strong>\u00a0Dan Gilroy, USA World Premiere Lou Bloom, a driven young man, discovers the nocturnal world of L.A. crime journalism. Joining a group of freelance\u00a0camera<\/a>\u00a0crews
\nwho film marketable mayhem, Lou makes his own place at the table, aided by Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news. Blurring the line between observer and perpetrator, Lou finds his calling in a murderous world reduced to transactions. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed and Bill Paxton.<\/p>\n

Pasolini<\/strong>\u00a0Abel Ferrara, France\/Italy\/Belgium North American Premiere Rome: on the night of November 2, 1975, the great Italian poet and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini is murdered. Pasolini is the symbol of an art that\u2019s fighting against the power. His writings are scandalous, and his films are persecuted by the censors; many people love him and many hate him. The day of his death, Pasolini spends his last hours with his beloved mother and later with his dearest friends, until he finally goes out into the night in his Alfa Romeo in search of adventure in the eternal city. At dawn Pasolini is found dead on a beach in Ostia on the outskirts of the city. In a film dreamlike and visionary, blending reality and imagination, it reconstructs the last day in the life of this great poet. Starring Willem Dafoe.<\/p>\n

Phoenix<\/strong>\u00a0Christian Petzold, Germany World Premiere Nelly Lenz is a concentration camp survivor who has been left with a disfigured face. Following facial reconstruction surgery, Nelly begins the search for her husband Johnny. When she finally does find him, he does not recognise her. Nevertheless he approaches her with a proposal: since she resembles his wife, whom he believes to be dead, he asks her to help him claim his wife\u2019s considerable inheritance. Nelly agrees, and becomes her own doppelganger \u2014 she needs to know if Johnny ever loved her, or if he betrayed her. Starring Nina Hoss.<\/p>\n

The Reach<\/strong>\u00a0Jean-Baptiste Leonetti, USA World Premiere Ben, a young man who works as a hunting guide, gets a job of a lifetime when he is hired by Madec, a wealthy businessman from Los Angeles, to hunt a bighorn sheep. Their excursion in the Southwestern desert quickly goes from bad to worse when overly-eager Madec gets trigger happy, accidentally killing an old prospector. He attempts to bribe Ben for his secrecy, but Ben staunchly refuses. Outraged, Madec turns on Ben, determined to eliminate the only witness to his crime. Trapped in a sadistic cat-and-mouse game, Ben has to rely on his basic survival skills to make it out alive. Starring Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Mangan, Lawrence and Ronny Cox.<\/p>\n

Red<\/strong>\u00a0Amnesia (Chuangru Zhe) Wang Xiaoshuai, China North American Premiere A retired widow has her daily routine derailed when she starts receiving mysterious, anonymous phone calls, in this scintillating thriller from Chinese \u201cSixth Generation\u201d master Wang Xiaoshuai. Starring L\u00fc Zhong, Shi Liu, Feng Yuanzheng, Qin Hao and Amanda Qin.<\/p>\n

Return to Ithaca<\/strong>\u00a0Laurent Cantet, France North American Premiere A terrace overlooking Havana. Five friends gather to celebrate the return of Amadeo after 16 years of exile. From dusk to dawn, they reminisce about their youth, the group they used to form, the faith they had in the future \u2014 also their disillusionment.<\/p>\n

Rosewater<\/strong>\u00a0Jon Stewart, USA Canadian Premiere The Daily Show\u2019s Jon Stewart makes his directorial debut with the true story of Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari (played by Gael Garc\u00eda Bernal), whose appearance on Stewart\u2019s show in 2009 precipitated his five-month imprisonment by the Iranian government.<\/p>\n

A Second Chance<\/strong>\u00a0(En chance til) Susanne Bier, Denmark World Premiere How far are decent human beings willing to go, when tragedy blurs the line between just and unjust? Susanne Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen have crafted a startling yet moving drama, about how easily we lose our grasp on justice when confronted with the unthinkable, and life as we know it hangs by a thread. Starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Ulrich Thomsen, Maria Bonnevie, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Lykke May Andersen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Still<\/strong>\u00a0Alice Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, USA World Premiere Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested. Alice\u2019s struggle to stay connected to who she once was is frightening, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Starring Kristen Stewart, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth and Julianne Moore.<\/p>\n

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The Theory of Everything J<\/strong>ames Marsh, United Kingdom\/USA World Premiere The extraordinary true story of one of the world\u2019s greatest living minds, Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Hawking receives an earth-shattering diagnosis at age 21. Together, Stephen and Jane defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis and Emily Watson.<\/p>\n

Time Out of Mind<\/strong>\u00a0Oren Moverman, USA World Premiere George, a man on the decline, enters the New York City homeless shelter system when he runs out of options. George struggles to navigate his way through this new world with the help of Dixon, a shelter veteran while trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Maggie. Starring Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Jena Malone, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeremy Strong, Yul Vasquez, Coleman Domingo, Geraldine Hughes, Michael Kenneth Williams and Steve Buscemi.<\/p>\n

Top Five<\/strong>\u00a0Chris Rock, USA World Premiere Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, Top Five tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist forces him to confront both the career that made him famous and the life he left behind. Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, Kevin Hart, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Jay Pharoah, Anders Holm and Michael Che. And featuring music by Questlove.<\/p>\n

While We\u2019re Young<\/strong>\u00a0Noah Baumbach, USA World Premiere Noah Baumbach\u2019s exploration of aging, ambition and success, stars Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a middle-aged couple whose career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives. Also starring Amanda Seyfried, Adam Driver, Charles Grodin, Maria Dizzia and Adam Horovitz.<\/p>\n

Whiplash<\/strong>\u00a0Damien Chazelle, USA Canadian Premiere Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite East Coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man\u2019s life. Andrew\u2019s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability \u2014 and his sanity. Starring Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Max Kasch and Damon Gupton.<\/p>\n

Wild Tales<\/strong>\u00a0(Relatos salvajes) Damian Szifron, Argentina\/Spain Canadian Premiere More than living up to its title, director Dami\u00e1n Szifron\u2019s compendium of outrageous, hilarious and truly bizarre anecdotes offers a subversive, blackly comic portrait of contemporary Argentina. Starring Ricardo Darin, Oscar Martinez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Erica Rivas, Rita Cortese, Julieta Zylberberg and Dario Grandinetti.<\/p>\n

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