TIFF 2013: TIFF Makes Four Major Announcements

Nothing beats a stack of press releases. We’re serious, by the way, because we’re talking about a whole host of fresh announcements from the Toronto International Film Fest (September 5-15) unveiled just moments before typing this sentence (it’s been a while since the last major news, after all). Here’s the latest from TIFF 2013:

The Fifth Estate Kicks Off 38th Annual TIFF
The world premiere of DreamWorks Pictures’ The Fifth Estate will open the Festival on September 5. A dramatic thriller based on real events, Bill Condon’s The Fifth Estate reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization. We’re talking about Wikileaks, of course, which forever changed the game by triggering our age of high-stakes secrecy, explosive news leaks and the trafficking of classified information. It’s safe to call this one a must-see.

Galas, Special Presentations
Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, have unveiled the first round of titles set to premiere in the Galas and Special Presentations programmes. Of the 16 Galas and 55 Special Presentations revealed, this first slate of films includes 40 world premieres, highlighted by The Fifth Estate’s portrayal of the Wikileaks story on Opening Night and Life of Crime on Closing Night. 

A full overview of Galas and Special Presentations can be found here.

Recognizing the Best in Canadian and International Film
People’s Choice voting is back, which will crown the festival’s favourite film overall along with the winner of TIFF’s annual Midnight Madness programme and the top documentary. A jury of industry professionals will also award prizes for this year’s best feature film, first-time feature film and short film. 

The NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere and Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award, honouring a filmmaker in the Discovery programme, are returning after their debut in 2012. Other awards handed out at this year’s festival include the International Federation of Film Critics Awards (FIPRESCI Prizes) and Prize of the International Critics, all of which will be presented at the Festival’s Awards Reception on September 15. 

Life Of Crime Closes the Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival will close with the world premiere of Daniel Schechter’s sly crime story Life of Crime. Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel The Switch, the closing night Gala features a stellar cast including Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes, yasiin bey (a.k.a. Mos Def), Isla Fisher, Will Forte, Mark Boone Jr, and Tim Robbins. Expect a fun ride to cap off what will surely be another unforgettable edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. 

Purchase Festival ticket packages online 24 hours a day at tiff.net/festival, by phone Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433, or visit the box office in person from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West, until August 19.