New works by\u00a0Kenneth Branagh,\u00a0Edgar Wright, and C\u00e9line Sciamma will screen at the 2021 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition, the festival will also host a special presentation of \u201cDune,\u201d the big-budget adaptation of Frank Herbert\u2019s science-fiction novel that is set to have its world premiere at this summer\u2019s Venice Film Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Branagh\u2019s \u201cBelfast,\u201d a coming-of-age story that follows a young boy in Northern Ireland growing up amidst the political tumult of the 1960s; Wright\u2019s twisty horror film \u201cLast Night in Soho\u201d; and Sciamma\u2019s \u201cPetite Maman,\u201d her follow-up to 2019\u2019s \u201cPortrait of a Lady on Fire,\u201d are among the films tapped for the festival\u2019s official selection. Other notable features that will make the trip to Canada include HBO\u2019s Alanis Morissette documentary \u201cJagged,\u201d which is directed by Alison Klayman, and \u201cThe Starling,\u201d an off-beat comedy-drama directed by Theodore Melfi that stars Melissa McCarthy as a woman obsessed with killing a bird that\u2019s nested in her backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long-running celebration of movies, now in its 46th year, will also return to in-person screenings at some of its most prominent venues, including TIFF\u2019s signature Bell Lightbox theater, as well as the cavernous Roy Thomson Hall and Princess of Wales Theatre. Last year\u2019s festival, which took place as COVID-19 was raging unchecked around the world, included a handful of drive-in screenings and digital premieres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s welcome news for the movie business, which had wondered how Toronto would move forward this year. Initially, Canada lagged behind the U.S. and other countries in Europe in vaccine distribution, although the situation has improved considerably. At the same time, travel between the U.S. and Canada remains restricted, with Canada signaling that 75% of the people in the country would need to be vaccinated for the borders to be fully opened. Right now, that stands at 20 %. Dr. Peter Nord, TIFF\u2019s consultative partner on health and safety for the pandemic, said that the festival was \u201cconfident\u201d about returning to in-person events because the rollout of vaccines in Canada has dramatically accelerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCanada\u2019s first-dose immunization rate has surpassed the U.S., and recently reached the best rates in the world,\u201d he said. \u201cAs of today in Toronto, more than 75% of adults have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 25% have received their second dose. We fully anticipate that by the time the festival arrives, all Ontarians will have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. Public health indicators, such as hospitalizations, ICU occupancy, and case rates indicate that we\u2019re on the right \u2014 and safe \u2014 path to fully reopening. In addition, audiences will confidently be able to enjoy in-cinema screenings by maintaining a safe physical distance and wearing a mask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, TIFF\u2019s leadership acknowledged that international crowds might be more sparse in 2021 than they are traditionally. Hollywood often uses the festival as a key launching ground for its award season contenders, screening past Oscar winners such as \u201cNomadland,\u201d \u201cGreen Book,\u201d and \u201cRoma\u201d in Toronto before rolling them out to the general public. This year\u2019s festival will take place Sept. 9 to Sept. 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is so powerful to be able to share these films with Festival-goers in theatres. And while the world is definitely moving towards a degree of normalcy, many of our industry and press colleagues may not be able to travel across international borders,\u201d said Joana Vicente, TIFF executive director and co-head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vicente said the festival will bring back its digital cinema platform in order to host screenings for members of the press and studio executives, as well as host virtual press conferences and other events. That signals that TIFF will deploy something of a hybrid model at a time when festivals like Cannes and Venice are moving forward with more traditional festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe believe that digital access is an important part of providing accessibility to audiences and will be vital to the future of film festivals,\u201d said Vicente. \u201cThis inclusivity across all our offerings helps to ensure that, no matter where you are located, you can participate in the Festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other films in the official selection include \u201cCharlotte,\u201d directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, \u201cDionne Warwick: Don\u2019t Make Me Over,\u201d directed by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner, \u201cLakewood,\u201d directed by Philip Noyce, and \u201cNight Raiders,\u201d directed by Danis Goulet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival said more than 100 films will screen in its Official Selection. The rest of those titles will be announced in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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