Toronto Film Festival Announces Films - 2 To Note
The prestigious Toronto International Film Festival announced 27 international film selections to screen at the festival this September. As can usually be expected, the list is made of a diverse, ecclectic group of films from countries all over the world (none from the African continent this year though).
Of note, 2 films I've mentioned previously on this blog, made the coveted list of 27, and I'm sure the filmmakers are euphoric right about now!
The first of the 2 films is Medicine for Melancholy by writer/director Barry Jenkins. I doubt that the film needs an introduction at this point. If you've been reading this blog, you should certainly be well aware of the film by now. If not, just perform a search above-left for the title, and you'll see all my previous posts about it.
The second is Hunger by Afro British filmmaker Steve McQueen - a film that, if you recall, won this year’s Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows Bobby Sands and the other political inmates of Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison in 1981, as they seek to gain special category status for republican prisoners.
I assume both filmmakers will be present at the festival for those of you planning on going. Medicine already has a distribution deal with IFC Films. Interestingly, Hunger was also picked up by IFC Films.
Given all that I've posted about IFC Films on this blog this year, it's safe to say that they are having quite a busy year over there! And with the IFC Center theater being right here in New York City, you can guarantee that both films will play there, and I'll certainly be front and center to see them! Also if you recall, a film called Ballast was once an IFC pick-up, but they lost it when the filmmaker opted for a deal with another company that afforded him more control over his work. Ballast, by the way, features an African American cast.
Of note, 2 films I've mentioned previously on this blog, made the coveted list of 27, and I'm sure the filmmakers are euphoric right about now!
The first of the 2 films is Medicine for Melancholy by writer/director Barry Jenkins. I doubt that the film needs an introduction at this point. If you've been reading this blog, you should certainly be well aware of the film by now. If not, just perform a search above-left for the title, and you'll see all my previous posts about it.
The second is Hunger by Afro British filmmaker Steve McQueen - a film that, if you recall, won this year’s Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows Bobby Sands and the other political inmates of Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison in 1981, as they seek to gain special category status for republican prisoners.
I assume both filmmakers will be present at the festival for those of you planning on going. Medicine already has a distribution deal with IFC Films. Interestingly, Hunger was also picked up by IFC Films.
Given all that I've posted about IFC Films on this blog this year, it's safe to say that they are having quite a busy year over there! And with the IFC Center theater being right here in New York City, you can guarantee that both films will play there, and I'll certainly be front and center to see them! Also if you recall, a film called Ballast was once an IFC pick-up, but they lost it when the filmmaker opted for a deal with another company that afforded him more control over his work. Ballast, by the way, features an African American cast.
So, the message seems to be: if you're a black filmmaker, and/or have a film about a black person or black people, then IFC Films just might be the distributor whose door you should be knocking on right about now :o) Of course, I'm being facetious, but if I did have a film, I'd certainly have consider seriously the facts above.
Hey man, thanks for all the love!
We are most definitely excited about Toronto, it's one of those things where being in the right place at the right time paid BIG dividends.
And to reply to your post on my blog, yes, the Tindersticks are an amazing band and Dickon is an absolutely great composer.
I'm planning to start posting on my blog again soon. Hopefully we'll give each other some ideas to get excited about!
Much thanks,
Barry