Screen Australia congratulates the directors, producers and creative teams behind the thirteen extraordinary Australian films that have been selected for the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). These include six world premieres, three international premieres (outside Australia), three North American premieres and one Canadian premiere. Other Australian talent including Toni Collette, Naomi Watts, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Joel Edgerton, and Nicole Kidman will feature in other films shown throughout the Gala and Special Presentations sections.Graeme Mason, CEO at Screen Australia, says: We're incredibly proud of the Australian talent and productions selected for this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Having strong representation across seven different categories is an incredible achievement. It shows how strongly Australian film is performing at a global level, and gives us reason to be immensely proud of our industry. We congratulate all the film makers and talent who have worked long and hard on making these films so successful.
This year's TIFF selection of Australian films is the largest since 2009, with the Festival comprising eight categories recognising different genres and qualities. These include Gala Presentation (movie stars, red-carpet premieres and major audience interest), Special Presentations (high-profile premieres and the world s leading filmmakers), Contemporary World Cinema (compelling stories and global perspectives), Discovery (directors to watch and the future of world cinema), TIFF Docs (candid and unscripted: the best non-fiction cinema from around the world), Midnight Madness (the wild side: midnight screenings of the best in action, horror, shock and fantasy cinema), Short Cuts (the best short films from emerging and established Canadian and international filmmakers) and Platform (recognising films of high artistic merit that demonstrate a strong directorial vision).
The thirteen Australian films selected are:
Beast (World Premiere)
Directed by Tom McKeith and Sam McKeith
Discovery
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
The Boyfriend Game (World Premiere)
Directed by Alice Englert
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
The Dressmaker (World Premiere)
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Gala Presentations
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Deszcz (World Premiere)
Directed by Malina Maria Mackiewicz
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
A Month of Sundays (World Premiere)
Directed by Matthew Saville
An Adelaide Film Festival production
Contemporary World Cinema
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Spear (World Premiere)
Directed by Stephen Page
Discovery
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Downriver (International Premiere)
Directed by Grant Scicluna
Discovery
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Last Cab to Darwin (International Premiere)
Directed by Jeremy Sims
Contemporary World Cinema
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Women He's Undressed (International Premiere)
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
TIFF Docs
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
The Daughter (North American Premiere)
Directed by Simon Stone
Special Presentations
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Looking for Grace (North American Premiere)
Directed by Sue Brooks
Platform
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Nulla Nulla (North American Premiere)
Directed by Dylan River
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Sherpa (Canadian Premiere)
Directed by Jennifer Peedom
TIFF Docs
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com
Screen Australia is again taking part in the Producers Lab Toronto, providing places for two Australian producers to participate during this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of the international co-production forum will take place 9 - 12 September and the chosen Australian producers are Raquelle David (Damsel Pictures) and Rebecca Summerton (Closer Productions). They will participate in a number of seminars and events with 22 other producers from Europe, Canada and New Zealand who will come together to pitch and discuss their projects.
Rebecca Summerton has also been selected for the 10th annual Ontario Media Development Corporation's International Financing Forum (IFF) which is feature co-financing market for English-language projects. IFF will run 13 - 14 September during Toronto International Film Festival, and Australian producer Laura Sivis (Courage Films) will also be in attendance.
OTHER AUSTRALIAN TALENT ATTENDING TIFF
Gala Presentations
Jai Courtney in Dito Montiel's Man Down also starring Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, Gary Oldman.
Toni Collette in Catherine Hardwicke's Miss You Already also starring Drew Barrymore, Dominic Cooper, Paddy Considine, Tyson Ritter and Jacqueline Bisset.
Ben Mendelsohn in Ryan Fleck's Mississippi Grind also starring Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton and Alfre Woodard.
Wayne Blair's Septembers of Shiraz starring Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody and shot by Warwick Thornton, will have its world premiere in the Gala Presentations.
Naomi Watts will star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper in the Opening Night film Demolition from director Jean-Marc Vall e.
Emily Browning stars opposite Tom Hardy in Legend, which is directed by Brian Helgeland.
Special Presentations
Naomi Watts (also in opening night film Demolition) Gaby Dellal's About Ray also starring Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Tate Donovan, Li
