Toronto International Film Festival announces 2015 Midnight Madness and Vanguard programmes

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WITH MIDNIGHT MADNESS AT THE 2015 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Midnight Madness returns to the Toronto International Film Festival® to satiate late night audiences’ appetites for wild sensory stimulation. The programme will present the best in action, horror, shock and fantasy films from the rabble-rousers of cinema, opening with Jeremy Saulnier’s tense siege shocker Green Room.

“Midnight Madness winds up Festival audiences as the days are winding down and they are hungry for more,” says Colin Geddes, International Programmer for the Festival. “From adrenaline-filled action and untamed horror to twisted comedy and darkly blurred lines of reality, this year’s lineup welcomes back celebrated masters and fresh visionaries of renegade genre cinema.”

Among this year’s returning Midnight Madness directors are Joe Begos and Sean Byrne, who both debuted in the programme and are back with their much anticipated follow-up features, and Japanese bad boy auteur Takashi Miike with his high-octane Yakuza Apocalypse. Closing out the selection is the raucously reverent homage to classic slasher movies The Final Girls. Films screening as part of the Midnight Madness programme include:

TIFF Soiree Features On-Stage Conversation With Natalie Portman

TIFF announced today that Academy Award®-winning actor Natalie Portman will grace the stage for a look back at her career to date at the first annual TIFF Soirée, a special charity event and cocktail party which will kick off the 40th Toronto International Film Festival®. The intimate on-stage conversation with Portman will be followed by musical performances and a cocktail. The event takes place at TIFF Bell Lightbox on Wednesday, September 9 at 6 p.m.

“Audiences are sure to experience an unforgettable evening with Natalie Portman as our special guest at the first annual TIFF Soirée,” said maxine bailey, VP of Advancement at TIFF. “This inspirational and entertaining event will help TIFF raise much-needed funds that allow us to continue our charitable year-round activities. TIFF provides vital mentorship, guidance and tools to people of all ages, circumstances and backgrounds so that they can express themselves creatively. Audiences who share our passion for film are encouraged to join us and show their support for TIFF.”

Toronto International Film Festival announces Talent Lab, Pitch This! and Rising Star participants

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2015 TALENT LAB AND TELEFILM CANADA PITCH THIS! PARTICIPANTS
Wim Wenders and Jim Stark to act as Governors for 12th annual Talent Lab

The Toronto International Film Festival® today announced the participants for the 2015 editions of Talent Lab™ and Telefilm Canada PITCH THIS! Produced by TIFF’s Industry Office, these essential development programmes provide valuable opportunity and exposure for emerging filmmakers at a crucial point in their careers.

Now in its 12th year, the Talent Lab is a comprehensive five-day artistic development programme led by esteemed governors who will guide 20 emerging filmmakers in group discussions that focus on creativity, the artistic process and independent voices. The programme provides emerging talent with an unparalleled education experience and an introduction to the global community of filmmaking. This year’s governors include Wim Wenders (The Salt of the Earth, Pina) and Jim Stark (Coffee and Cigarettes).

Toronto International Film Festival announces Canadian Selections for 2015

CANADIAN PERSPECTIVES PACK A POWERFUL PUNCH AT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Toronto International Film Festival revealed a lineup of bold Canadian works by filmmakers including Patricia Rozema, Andre Turpin, Anne Emond, Kazik Radwanski and Guy Édoin, documentarians Mina Shum and Avi Lewis, trailblazers Bruce McDonald, Guy Maddin and Philippe Falardeau, promising new work from Andrew Cividino, Adam Garnet Jones and Stephen Dunn, and an impressive first feature by renowned visual contemporary artist Mark Lewis. From hardcore horror and political comedy to intense dramas and true tales of bravery, Canadians continue to carve their own place in filmmaking.

“The Festival is excited to showcase these distinctively Canadian voices,” said Steve Gravestock, Senior Programmer, TIFF. “From compelling documentaries on pressing social issues and complex, affecting dramas to political satires, we are proud to share the impressive range and talent of Canada’s directors.”

2015 Toronto International Film Festival Reveals First Round of Galas, Special Presentations

Featuring World Premieres from filmmakers including Michael Moore, Ridley Scott, Deepa Mehta, Meghna Gulzar, Stephen Frears, Rebecca Miller and many more

Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, announced the first round of titles premiering in the Galas and Special Presentations programmes of the 40th Toronto International Film Festival®.

Of the 15 Galas and 34 Special Presentations announced, this initial lineup includes films from such acclaimed directors as Ridley Scott, Michael Moore, Deepa Mehta, Lenny Abrahamson, Brian Helgeland, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, Jason Bateman, Cary Fukunaga, Catherine Corsini, Stephen Frears, Tom Hooper, Hany Abu-Assad, Meghna Gulzar, Terence Davies, Jonás Cuarón, Julie Delpy, Rebecca Miller and Johnnie To.

“We are celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2015 and this first round of films offers a taste of the incredible lineup at this year’s Festival,” said Handling. “Made by both established and emerging filmmakers from around the world, these films offer a global snapshot of our times.”

2015 MTV Video Music Awards – nominations

The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are here — so get voting!

The list for the show, airing Sunday, August 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT — and hosted by Miley Cyrus — is led by Taylor Swift, who is up for nine Moonmen. Following Taylor, pal Ed Sheeran has six noms and is competing against her for the coveted Video of the Year category. We doubt there will be any bad blood, though.

The nominations were announced on Apple’s Beats 1 radio show today. Check out the full list below and start voting now.

The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from L.A.’s Microsoft Theater at 9 p.m. ET, on Sunday, August 30.

Polaris Music Prize announces 2015 short list

The 2015 Polaris Music Prize Short List was revealed this morning at The Carlu in Toronto.

Caribou (2008, 2010, 2015) and Drake (2012, 2014, 2015) now join Metric (2006, 2009, 2013), Shad (2008, 2010, 2014) and Owen Pallett (2006, 2010, 2014) as the only acts to be nominated for the Short List on three separate occasions. This is second time Braids (2011, 2015) and The New Pornographers (2006, 2015) have made the Short List. Alvvays, BADBADNOTGOOD, Jennifer Castle, Tobias Jesso Jr., Buffy Sainte-Marie and Viet Cong are all first-time nominees.

Call for submissions: Doc Circuit Montreal One-on-One Pitches for Emerging Filmmakers

Doc Circuit Montreal is proud to announce the fifth edition of the One-on-One Pitches for Emerging Filmmakers on Wednesday, October 7, 2015. Ten up-and-coming filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet ten established producers during a full-day event dedicated to documentary pitches. Doc Circuit Montreal is committed to offering a new generation of directors the opportunity to enhance their pitching skills and directly present their projects to film and television producers.

A networking and proposal activity, One-on-One Pitches for Emerging Filmmakers is designed to encourage the formation of new business partnerships and spark intergenerational discussions about the challenges, issues and changes facing the documentary industry. Filmmakers interested in participating have until September 15, 2015 to submit a project.

The Toronto International Film Festival Names Its Inaugural Platform Jury

The Toronto International Film Festival today announced the inaugural jury for Platform, the new programme to champion directors’ cinema from around the world. This year, the three-person international jury is composed of acclaimed filmmakers Jia Zhang-ke, Claire Denis and Agnieszka Holland. Together, they will award a prize of $25,000 to the best film in the programme, to be announced at the Awards Ceremony on September 20, 2015.

“We have a long history with Zhang-ke, Claire and Agnieszka. They are master filmmakers with unique voices that we have championed throughout the years, both at the Festival and in our year-round programming,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “We are honoured to welcome them back to Toronto on our 40th anniversary as we celebrate our renewed commitment to artistically ambitious filmmaking with Platform.”

“Platform is our new home for original, personal filmmaking and this is our dream jury," said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. “We are thankful to these visionary filmmakers for making the time to join us this September. We can’t wait for the conversations they’ll have about the Platform films.”

Saluting Vittorio De Sica

The films of neo-realist pioneer, Vittorio De Sica, are being celebrated this summer at an exhibition taking place at Toronto's Italian Cultural Institute.  Last night marked the North American premiere of Tutti De Sica, presented in collaboration with TIFF Cinematheque and curated by Italian-Canadian artist Mimmo Baronello.

The 59 photographs, two video stations, a projection of De Sica's signature film, The Bicycle Thief, and the bicycle used in that film amount to a scaled-down version of an exhibit presented in Rome at Ara Pacis in 2013. (Actually, the bicycle was missing during last night's opening, courtesy of Canada Customs which has held it up. It will be in the exhibit as of today.)

TIFF Celebrates its 40th Anniversary with Slate of Free Programming

TIFF thanks audiences for 40 years of support with 40 free films including a screening of Vertigo with a live score co-presented with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, crowd-sourced screenings and a free exhibition celebrating film fans

Piers Handling, Director & CEO of TIFF, tonight announced special programming taking place during the 2015 summer and fall seasons in celebration of the organization’s 40th anniversary. The announcements were made at a free community party held in David Pecaut Square in downtown Toronto, prior to this season’s first TIFF in the Park event, a screening of the 1992 Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award–winner Strictly Ballroom.

“The free programming we’re offering will revisit and commemorate TIFF’s history, and allow us to thank our audiences for their dedication and support over the last four decades,” said Handling. “This is a milestone year for the organization. Not only are we looking back and celebrating 40 years of bringing the world to Toronto, but we’re looking ahead to the next 40 years, with a focus on taking our programming to cultural centres around the world.”

RIDM announces lineup for 2015 en plein air summer screenings

Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM) or Montreal International Documentary Festival is pleased to announce its line-up of free outdoor screenings for the summer of 2015. Working with several organizations, the RIDM will present a series of excellent documentaries in Montreal parks and other uncommon venues. It’s a great way to enjoy the summer while discovering the best that documentary has to offer.

Quebec’s only film festival dedicated to documentaries, the Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal presents the best reality-based films, including the works of established directors and new talents.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences welcomes 322 new members

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 322 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2015.

“It’s gratifying to acknowledge the extraordinary range of talent in our industry,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “This year, our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization.”

26th Anniversary SOCAN Awards – winners

A who's who of the Canadian music industry gathered last night in Toronto to honour Canada's most talented "Born to Be" songwriters, composers, lyricists and music publishers at the 26th SOCAN Awards.

Sponsored by Gowlings, KPMG, RBC and HMV, and hosted by CMT Canada's Paul McGuire, the SOCAN Awards recognize the lifetime and more recent achievements of Canada's music creators, honoured in a host of categories, including Pop/Rock, Dance, Urban, Country, Jazz, Folk/Roots, Classical, and Film & Television.

Recipients of SOCAN's major achievement awards this year were the legendary Randy Bachman (Lifetime Achievement), Dallas Green (National Achievement), MAGIC! (International Achievement), music industry pioneer Bernie Finkelstein (Special Achievement), and "Born to be Wild" songwriter Mars Bonfire, who accepted SOCAN's first-ever Cultural Impact Award. All accepted their honours in person, as did R&B chart-toppers The Weeknd and Belly, rising country stars Brett Kissel and Tim Hicks, and film and TV composers Keith Power and Andrew Lockington, among many others.

36th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards – winners

Canadian Opera Company Leads the Field with 8 Wins: 5 for Falstaff including Outstanding Production and 3 for Die Walküre including Outstanding Direction to Atom Egoyan

The 36th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards for the 2014/2015 season were handed out in a star-studded ceremony in Toronto on the evening of Monday, June 22 at Harbourfront Centre’s WestJet Stage, hosted by the hilarious Gavin Crawford, whose eight seasons on CBC-TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes earned him numerous accolades and who recently won an ACTRA Award for his leading role in the film Two 4 One.

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards are produced and presented by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and celebrate excellence in Toronto theatre, dance and opera. For the 2014-2015 season, 117 producing companies registered 212 eligible productions. A total of 48 Dora Awards plus the Silver Ticket Award and the Audience Choice Award were given out.