Making a buzz this week is the upcoming 43rd anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival which is expected to feature this year's cinematic accomplishments. Heading the news are notable film selections such as from Ryan Gosling's moon landing drama, "First Man," and Bradley Cooper's Lady Gaga-starrer "A Star is Born."
On Tuesday, the Toronto Film Festival committee announced the partial list of movies up for screening during the event, which is expected to run from September 6 to September 16.
Among the favorite titles slated for the showcase is Gosling's aforementioned film. Directed by Damien Chazelle, "First Man" tells the story of NASA's moon landing mission, more particularly the life of Apollo 11's crew member, Neil Armstrong.
Gosling and Chazelle both come fresh from their Oscar-award winning success of "La La Land."
Meanwhile, "American Sniper" star Bradley Cooper returns to the screen (and behind the camera) for "A Star Is Born." Cooper is serving both as lead actor for the film and director for the country music drama.
"Beautiful Boy" is also up for consideration. It is a family drama featuring the acts of Steve Carell as a father of a recovering drug addict, played by Timothée Chalamet.
Another highly-anticipated 2018 TIFF title comes from Claire Denis' first English-language film, "High Life," a story about a group of criminals being sent to deep space. It stars Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, and Andre Benjamin.
Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench is also in the fold with the movie "Red Joan," where she plays the role of Joan Stanley - a British spy for the KGB during the Cold War era.
"We have an exceptional selection of films this year that will excite Festival audiences from all walks of life," Piers Handling, CEO, and director of TIFF told the press on Tuesday. "Today's lineup showcases beloved auteurs alongside fresh voices in filmmaking, including numerous female powerhouses. The sweeping range in cinematic storytelling from around the world is a testament to the uniqueness of the films that are being made."
Cameron Bailey, the TIFF artistic director, meanwhile said that the film lineup is yet to be confirmed although, it is expected that one-third of the total number of showcases will feature the works of female directors.
Aside from the influx of heavy-belter celebrities attending the occasion, this year's Toronto Film Festival will see some changes. An example would be the absence of key figures like Harvey Weinstein who, as remembered, was recently tied to several sexual harassment and assault charges.
