Although the Academy Awards are months away, the Oscar race has officially begun on the streets of Toronto, where industry folk and local movie lovers alike have gathered.
Yes, the Toronto International Film Festival kicked off last Thursday and so far, I feel like there are far too many great films to see and such limited time. That would be 333 films, over 11 days, to be exact, which isn’t such a bad thing. It’s more like a luxury problem actually.
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Currently in its 44th year, the festival is showcasing films from over 80 countries on big screens throughout the city. So, between hopping in Ubers to and from screenings, luncheons, premieres and panel discussions at Roy Thomson Hall, the legendary TIFF Bell Lightbox on King Street West and the Winter Garden, Ryerson, Scotiabank, Princess of Wales and Elgin Theaters, I took a moment to whip up a list of few must-sees.
01
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
This Is Us‘s Susan Kelechi Watson appears in this look at the life of iconic television host Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks). A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood follows journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) sent to profile Rogers but the piece Vogel planned soon turns into something more.
Courtesy of TIFF
02
Dolemite Is My Name
Eddie Murphy makes his grand return in Dolemite Is My Name, which tells the story of 70s Blaxploitation comedian and musician Rudy Ray Moore.
Netflix
03
Harriet
One of fall’s most anticipated films, Harriet, starring Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman and directed by Kasi Lemmons, heads to theaters November 1.
Focus Features
04
Hustlers
Hustlers is set to take viewers on a wild ride. The film follows a group of strippers who decide to steal from the rich crooks of Wall Street and give to themselves.
Courtesy of STXfilms
05
Just Mercy
Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson star in this film about a young civil rights lawyer who heads to Alabama to fight for a man who has been wrongly convicted of murder.
Courtesy of TIFF
06
Rocks
Rocks is a normal teenager living in London with her single mom and brother when things suddenly change and she is left to take care of herself and her younger brother.
Courtesy of TIFF
07
The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson
This gutwrenching drama tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian-American teen who is murdered by a police officer and forced to relive the day over and over again, examining difficult truths about his life and himself.
Courtesy of TIFF
08
Thirsty
This short film stars Maya Rudolph as a mosquito who falls in love with a man after tasting his blood. What follows is a journey that looks at love, intimacy and humanity through the eyes of a bug.
Courtesy of TIFF
09
Waves
Set to be released this fall, Waves follows a teenage athlete who seems to have everything but cracks begin to show in his perfect life.
10
American Son
Based on the Broadway play, Kerry Washington reprises her role as a mother who is desperate for answers about her missing son. Written by Christopher Demos-Brown and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the film makes its Netflix debut on November 1.
