TIFF announces opening and closing films for this year
Posted July 20, 2021 4:40 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2021 4:53 pm.
The 46th Toronto International Film Festival is a little over a month away from starting, and they’ve revealed their selections in the Gala and Special Presentation Programmes as well as their opening and closing films.
Today is going to be an amazing day and here's why:
Announcing #TIFF21's Opening Night Gala: The World Premiere of DEAR EVAN HANSEN from @StephenChbosky. Starring @BenSPLATT, Amy Adams, @_juliannemoore, @KaitlynDever, Amandla Stenberg, and Nik Dodani. https://t.co/EmqdNPlCBx pic.twitter.com/e3WP6IFTwW
— TIFF Press & Industry (@TIFF_Industry) July 20, 2021
Opening Film
Dear Evan Hansen, an adaptation of the Broadway musical, is set to open the festival on Thursday, September 9th at the Roy Thomson Hall. This will be the film’s world premiere.
The film stars Ben Platt, who played the title role on Broadway from 2015-2017, as Evan Hansen. It also stars Julianne Moore (from Still Alice), Amy Adams (from Arrival) and Kaitlyn Dever (from Unbelievable).
Dear Evan Hansen is about a a high school student suffering from social anxiety who gets wrapped up in a big lie revolving around the suicide of a fellow student. This adaptation is directed by Stephen Chbosky who wrote the acclaimed young adult novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Closing Film
As for the closing film, that will be One Second, directed by Zhang Yimou. That will play on Saturday, September 18th.
We are thrilled to announce #TIFF21's Closing Night Gala, the North American Premiere of master director Zhang Yimou's ONE SECOND about a man who escapes a labour camp for a glimpse of his beloved daughter. Starring Wei Fan and Xiaochuan Li. https://t.co/bpZiAVGIQN pic.twitter.com/nLKj6AsjNr
— TIFF Press & Industry (@TIFF_Industry) July 20, 2021
Yimou is a famous Chinese filmmaker who’s part of the Fifth Generation of China’s film industry. He previously directed famous films like Hero and House of Flying Daggers. One Second is a drama set during the Cultural Revolution about a man who escapes from a prison so he can see his daughter once more.
Other films playing
Both of those films are part of the Gala series, which features some of the highest profile releases from around the world. Other films in this series include Clifford the Big Red Dog (which stars David Alan Grier as the voice of Clifford), The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the cat-obsessed artist), and Last Night in Soho (the next film from Edgar Wright, the director of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World).
As for the Special Presentation series, that features premieres from some of the world’s leading filmmakers. Some of those films this year include the world premiere of the Eyes of Tammy Faye (starring Jessica Chastain as the televangelist), the world premiere of Canadian film All My Puny Sorrows (starring Sarah Gadon and Alison Pill), and the North American premiere of Bergman Island (directed by famed French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve).
Following the federal government’s announcement that the border will open to fully vaccinated international travelers on September 7th, the festival intends to offer in-person screenings for member of the press and industry officials.
They’ll also offer online screenings on TIFF Digital Cinema Pro for press and industry officials who are unable to travel to Toronto.
In a release, the festival says its number-one priority is “the health and well-being of both Festival filmgoers and residents of the community.”
