Toronto film festival opens with 200-plus films and major stars

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) opens Thursday with more than 200 films and a line-up featuring stars including John Malkovich, Penélope Cruz, Chris Rock, Helen Mirren and K-pop star Lisa.

The 51st edition of North America’s largest film festival runs through September 20, following major festivals in Venice and Telluride. Hundreds of thousands of audiences are expected to attend screenings and red-carpet events in Toronto.

The festival opens with the world premiere of “Being Heumann”, directed by Oscar winner Sian Heder, best known for “CODA”. Ruth Madeley stars as US disability rights activist Judy Heumann, with Mark Ruffalo also in the cast.

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Among the major premieres is “I Play Rocky”, directed by Peter Farrelly of “Green Book”. The film tells the story of Sylvester Stallone’s struggle to get “Rocky” made and establish himself as its star, with Anthony Ippolito playing the young Stallone.

Chris Rock returns behind the camera with “Misty Green”, a Hollywood satire starring Rosalind Eleazar, Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver and Anna Kendrick. Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine”, starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, is also among the festival’s high-profile titles.

Other major films include “Elsinore”, starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman; Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy “The Debut”; and Zack Snyder’s “The Last Photograph”, starring Stuart Martin and Fra Fee.

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Helen Mirren stars as author Patricia Highsmith in the psychological thriller “A Talent for Murder”, while Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz play a couple in crisis in “Bunker”, which arrives in Toronto after premiering in Venice.

The festival will also feature documentaries, including “Always Lalisa”, following Lisa’s solo career and her move into acting after her work with Blackpink and her appearance in “The White Lotus”.