By Alicia Sealey
Photos courtesy TIFF

Honestly, what’s a film buff to do?

The 39th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) starts next Thursday where it will showcase a smorgasbord of 392 films from 70 countries over 10 days.

True, it’s impossible to see all these films but don’t despair. The next best thing is to take a closer look at the various programs within which all films are divided. There are 16: Galas, Special Presentations, Documentaries, Midnight Madness, Contemporary World Cinema, etc.

One significant aspect of TIFF is that all films are open to the public for viewing. Not all film festivals are.
This is why studios and directors alike love to debut their work at TIFF.They get an honest audience reaction to their upcoming films. Speaking of which, 2014 marks the first time TIFF will screen world premieres for its first four days.
Two world premieres may be of early interest:

Chris Rock will be here promoting his film Top Five which he wrote, directed and stars in. Rock plays a successful actor and comedian who just got a rather nasty review in The New York Times. He agrees to a Times journalist (Rosario Dawson) to write a follow-up profile piece about him.

Privately, he wants to do a serious film about the Haitian Revolution. However, everyone around him wants him to remain a money-making machine. This film will be a Special Presentation at TIFF (Sept 6).
“Rock tailors the movie to suit his own mix of up-to-the-minute social criticism and raw gutter comedy,” says Barbados-born Cameron Bailey, artistic director of TIFF.

Director Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer stars Denzel Washington in a remake of the 1980s action/drama TV show of the same name. It will be a Gala at TIFF 2014 (Sept 7). Therefore, yes fans, Denzel will be here to promote and walk its red carpet.

TIFF’s economic impact is CAD$189 million and its mission is to transform the way people see the world though film.
For tickets and descriptions and video trailers from most presented 2014 films, check www.tiff.net. You can also call the box office at 416-599-TIFF (8433).

Watch for more film reviews next week.

  Chris Rock, film festival, the Equalizer