Off to TIFF: Nathaniel's Journey Begins
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 2:00PM For the curious among you this is my very tentative list of films on my very jam-packed schedule at TIFF. This will be the 10th anniversary of my very first trip to TIFF from which my fondest memory was sitting behind Gael García Bernal and Javier Bardem for the premiere of The Sea Inside (the fondness of the memory is due to the view, not the movie). I haven't been attending annually but perhaps last year's short trip was the start of a tradition?
This list is highly subject to change - there are always cancellations, late starts, pop ups which all throw off schedules, you can try to follow the critical buzz which will throw off the schedule, you can meet with friends for food and conversation which will throw off the schedule, and you can sleep which will throw off the morning screening schedule. It's a madcap journey: eye strain, memory loss, and international film culture await up north. Some of these films are scheduled because I'm dying to see them, others less so because they fit exactly into the proposed schedule at an opportune moment. I'm going to try to skip some "must sees" like Maps to the Stars, Clouds of Sils Maria and more but 'WHY?' you shout in anger? Here's why: ten or so mouthwatering titles from TIFF's abundance are part of the New York Film Festival and those screenings begin in NYC literally the day after TIFF wraps.
on my tentative schedule
1001 GRAMS (Norwegian Romantic Drama)
BANG BANG BABY (Canadian Musical)
CHARLIE COUNTRY (Australian Drama)
CUB (Belgian Horror)
DUKTHAR (Pakistani Drama)
FAREWELL PARTY (Israeli Drama, Ophir Nominee)
FORCE MAJEURE (Swedish Oscar Submission)
FOXCATCHER (Channing Tatum in a singlet. I think other people and things are in it, too.)
THE GATE (Cambodian/French from the director of "Indochine")
THE GOLDEN ERA (Chinese epic starring Tang Wei from Lust, Caution)
A HARD DAY (South Korean drama)
IMITATION GAME (Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing breaks the enigma code)
IN HER PLACE (I already forgot what this one is)
KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND SADNESS (Documentary)
THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Musical)
LABYRINTH OF LIES (German Drama)
LIFE IN A FISHBOWL (Icelandic Oscar Probability)
A LITTLE CHAOS (Kate Winslet back in corsets. Whoooo)
LOS HONGOS (I already forgot what this one is)
MARGARITA WITH A STRAW (Indian, LGBT)
MISS JULIE (Jessica + Colin)
MOMMY (new Xavier Dolan)
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (new François Ozon)
OCTOBER GALE (from the director of "Cairo Time" starring Patty Clarkson again)
OUT OF NATURE (Norwegian Drama)
PHOENIX (German)
A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON ITS EXISTENCE (Swedish Oddity)
THE PROPHET (animated)
RED AMNESIA (Chinese Thriller)
RETURN TO ITHACA (from the director of "The Class")
THE RIOT CLUB (from the director of "An Education")
SCARLET INNOCENCE (I already forgot what this one is)
SHREW'S NEST (Spanish Thriller)
SONG OF THE SEA (from the filmmakers behind "The Secret of Kells")
STILL ALICE (indie Julianne Moore drama)
THEORY OF EVERYTHING (Eddie & Felicity court each other and Oscar)
TODAY (Iranian drama)
THE TRIBE (Ukranian Oscar Probability)
WILD (Reese hikes toward Oscar #2?)
WILD TALES (Argentinian comedy)
Anna Kendrick with the brilliant composer Jason Robert Brown ("The Last Five Years")
That's 40 films and I can guarantee I won't actually see that many and it's unwise to if you hope to remember any of them. But wish me luck in staying very roughly on track. Remember this: comments and retweets and shares are helpful fuel for those on the run from screening to screening. Follow Me on Twitter and Instagram if you want smaller and more frequent updates in addition to the reviews I'll be offering here.
What About the Blog?
I'll try to get you one TIFF diary a day. Meanwhile the team has some fun stuff planned for you while I'm up North including more "back to school" pieces, a Team Top Ten and a mini fest celebrating the centennial of Robert Wise.
Reader Comments (19)
You missed in your Keanu at 50 post that he in 91 starred in Paula Abdul's Rush Rush video.
Fly, Butterfly, Fly.
Enjoy yourself and bring us lots of stories to live vicariously through.
Sweet lord above, man, that is SO. MANY. MOVIES.
My sincerest wishes for fortuitous premiere timelines and some actual sleep.
What Margaret said.
Jesus. What Margaret and Anne Marie said, because we love you and we don't want you to die.
Damn, I hope some of these are good! Have a great time.
Of course, I will be expecting Audrey Rose to be included in the Wisefest.
Bon voyage. I can't wait for the follow-up podcast. I loved last year's and spent a good eleven months waiting to see The Strange Little Cat after hearing it talked up on your podcast.
Particularly jealous for: the Oscar contenders (Foxcatcher, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Wild), as well as The Last Five Years, Mommy, The Tribe, and the film that must have the indie-iest name ever, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence.
Have a great time!
1001 Grams is officially the Norwegian Oscar Submission. Announced earlier today
But good heavens! Your program is massive. Get some sleep Nate!
I thank you all for your concern I obviously will not see all 40 because I will collapse! That's just the starter list... To work from. My ideal is only 3 a day :) which means I will miss several of these ;)
It's definitely doable! I'll be doing 4 in one day on the 12th (I'll certainly try to, at least). The other one I'm seeing is The Last Five Years, which, the more I remember how brilliant the musical is, and the more I remember what makes the musical so amazing, the less I think the movie has any hope of working. It's just so... theatrical! I'm trying to withhold judgment until Monday, though.
All that said, good luck! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on what you do get the chance to see!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on L5Y! I'm so biased when it comes to that project that I love it even with its faults, but I am curious to know what another fan thinks.
I still can't get over how fantastic FORCE MAJEURE was! Top Ten of the year for me for sure. Hope you enjoy it.
Nathaniel
I hope that you get ample sleep.
I also hope that you can squeeze in one more film:
"I Am Here" from Fan Lixin, director of "Last Train Home"
and report back.
I am conflicted.
Enjoy the festival and take care of yourself! Looking forward to your thoughts and reactions.
Farewell Party is excellent. One of the best films i saw this year. Depressing, Hilarious, Well-acted and with a superb screenplay. Would love to hear your thoughts about it.
I am DYING to hear what you have to say about L5Y!
You are ambitious! I hope you have a great time and report back on Still Alice - it will probably be more than a year before we see it!