The Toronto International Film Festival is back in full force in 2022
By Andre Luis & Leila Monteiro Lins | Published September 2022
After two years of mostly virtual screenings, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) returns in September 2022 for its 47th edition – 11 days of international and Canadian cinema, special events with some of the biggest names in cinema and the TIFF Industry Conference, offering diverse and innovative perspectives on the art and business of film.
From September 8-18, TIFF will screen many of the year's most anticipated films from some of the biggest filmmakers in the world. Steven Spielberg, Martin McDonagh, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Park Chan-wook, Lena Dunham, Sam Mendes, Rian Johnson, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Rodrigo Garcia, Darren Aronofsky, Jafar Panahi, Stephen Frears, Ruben Östlund, Sarah Polley and many others will be showing their films this year.
THE SWIMMERS AT THE TIFF OPENING
The official schedule of the 47th TIFF kicks off with “The Swimmers” , a drama by Sally El Hosaini inspired by the story of two Syrian sisters, from the time they fled the war to their participation in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
DALILAND HAS PREMIERE ON THE CLOSING NIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, announced that the film “Dalíland” will have its world premiere on the closing night of the Film Festival on Saturday, September 17 at Roy Thomson Hall.
“Dalíland” tells the story of the last years of the strange and fascinating marriage between the genius Salvador Dalí and his wife, Gala, when their seemingly unshakable bond begins to break.
Set in New York and Spain in 1973, the story is told through the eyes of James, a young assistant eager to make a name for himself in the art world, who helps the eccentric and mercurial Dalí prepare for a major exhibition at gallery.
TWO FILMS AND A COMPETITIVE PORTUGUESE CO-PRODUCTION
The Portuguese short films “O Homem do Trash” and “Ice merchants” , and the Portuguese co-production “L'ombre des papillons” are part of the official selection of TIFF.
The organization announced the list of 39 short films, from 18 countries, selected for the festival, which includes “O homem do trash”, by Laura Gonçalves, “Ice merchants”, by João Gonzalez, and “L'ombre des papillons ”, by Moroccan director Sofia El Khyari, co-produced by France, Qatar, Morocco and Portugal.
“The garbage man” is the latest film written and directed by Laura Gonçalves (photo) , after co-signing the short film “Água mole” with Alexandra Ramires in 2017.
The work is about recollections and memories, based on the life story of “Uncle Button”, who worked as an emigrant in France as a garbage man, reads the synopsis.
This year, “O Homem do Trash”, produced by BAP — Animation Studios, won the Best Portuguese Short Film Award at the Monstra-Festival de Animação de Lisboa, and won the Grand Prix of the professional jury and the Audience Award at the Animafest festival. Zagreb, Croatia.
“Ice Merchants” , by João Gonzalez, is about a father and son, who produce ice in the inhospitable house where they live, and from which they parachute every day to sell it in the village, at the foot of the mountain.
The film, for which João Gonzalez also wrote the script and soundtrack, won this month the award for best animated short film in the competition at the Melbourne International Film Festival, in Australia.
The short film, produced by Cola Animation with partnerships in France and the United Kingdom, had already been distinguished at the Critics' Week at the Cannes Festival, in France, at the Guadalajara festival, in Mexico, at the Motovun Festival, in Croatia, and at the Curtas Festival in Vila do Conde.
“L'ombre des papillons”, by Sofia El Khyari, according to the film's synopsis, tells the story of a woman who, “in a mysterious forest is slowly drawn into a nostalgic reverie while watching butterflies”.
The film was shown this month at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
Previously, it had already been announced that the Portuguese film “Fogo-Fátuo” , by João Pedro Rodrigues, the Portuguese-Brazilian co-production “Mato seco em chamas” , by Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós, and “Pacifiction ”, by the Spaniard Albert Serra, with Portuguese co-production by Rosa Filmes, would be part of this year's program.
BRAZIL ALWAYS WELL REPRESENTED IN TIFF
In the wake of the 2018 short Rádio Coração, directors Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós return to the outskirts of Ceilândia, in Brasília, to create “Mato seco em chamas”, a formally austere and hybrid new film that walks the fine line between documentary narrative, crumbling science fiction, and the Western classic.
The film centers on the sisters Chitarra and Léa, leaders of a female gang that refines oil extracted from an underground pipeline in their makeshift facility. They sell the gasoline they manufacture to working-class bikers, motorcycle couriers who depend on it to survive in the Sol Nascente favela.
Also the film “Carvão”, by award-winning short filmmaker Carolina Markowicz, was officially selected for the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
In the film, actress Maeve Jinkings plays Irene who, with her husband, Jairo (Romulo Braga), has a small charcoal factory in their backyard. They have a young son, Jean (Jean Costa), and her father doesn't get out of bed, doesn't talk, doesn't listen.
In this situation, the family receives a profitable but dangerous proposal: to host a stranger in their home, in a small town in the countryside. Before he even arrives, however, arrangements will need to be made, and family life begins to change – not always for the better.
The film was shot in Joanópolis, in the interior of São Paulo, a city close to which the director grew up, and she confesses that she knows this environment well.
Another film that promises to have an impact on TIFF is “Miúcha, a Voz da Bossa Nova” , by directors Daniel Zarvos and Liliane Mutti.
Despite her position at the epicenter of the Brazilian Bossa Nova scene, singer Heloísa Maria Buarque de Hollanda, known as Miúcha, has been widely underrated. This documentary, which delves into her career and personal life through a rich archive of archives, aims to change that.
Bossa Nova became an international music sensation in the late 1950s with its fusion of Brazilian samba and cool jazz. The genre's stories tend to focus on its famous male composers. But Miúcha, A Voz da Bossa Nova, gives us a new perspective on a key singer-songwriter who has been underappreciated: Heloísa Maria Buarque de Hollanda, known as Miúcha.
Among the men whose names became more celebrated, she was the sister of Chico Buarque , student of Vinicius de Moraes, second wife of João Gilberto, musical partner of Antônio Carlos Jobim, and the voice that accompanied Stan Getz's saxophone.
So why don't more people know her name? Director Daniel Zarvos (Miúcha's cousin) and co-director Liliane Mutti had extraordinary access to the family's archives: personal letters, diaries, audio diaries, home movies and the singer's expressive watercolor drawings animated for the film. These allow Miúcha's story to be told largely in her own words.
STREET FESTIVAL 2022 WILL ENTERTAIN TORONTO
Back in its seventh year, the excitement and fun of the Toronto International Film Festival spills over from theaters to Festival Street and David Pecaut Square. King Street West, between Peter Street and University Avenue, will become TIFF's street party.
Festival Street celebrations take place September 8-11, and activities at David Pecaut Square take place September 8-18. TIFF is also pleased to announce this year's selection for the Cinematheque program , featuring five films.
The beating heart of Festival Street is the people of Toronto. There's something for everyone to participate in, from performances to outdoor screenings at OLG Cinema Park in David Pecaut Square.
Starting September 8, and throughout the day, the public is invited to witness the art production as StreetARToronto will be creating a live art tour generously supported by the Micki Moore Foundation.
TIFF's new open-air cinema, OLG Cinema Park, located in David Pecaut Square, will feature the films "The Greatest Showman", "UHF", "West Side Story" (2021), "The Mummy", a screening of celebration of the 30th anniversary of “A League of Their Own” (1992), in addition to “School of Rock” and “Love & Basketball”, both presented by the Next Wave Committee.
Visitors can also have a drink on one of the esplanades, taste delicious treats from a variety of food trucks and have fun with many other initiatives from different TIFF partners.
TIFF Cinematheque is proud to bring five classic films to TIFF 2022 audiences, including many 4K restorations. Screenings at the TIFF Cinematheque are free for all audiences. For more information on showtimes and locations, visit tiff.net.
PURCHASE OF TICKETS
Ticket package sales are now closed. If you have purchased a ticket package, you will be notified shortly when you can pick it up.
But if you missed the opportunity to buy a ticket package, you can still buy individual tickets . Become a TIFF member to gain access to tickets starting September 3rd. Individual tickets will go on sale for TIFF Insiders and free pass holders under 25 on September 4th and for public hearings on September 5th.
GENERAL ADMISSION
TIFF Bell Lightbox e Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Normal weekday Daytime (adult)
from 19 dollars
Normal weekend + night
from 30 dollars
Normal weekday Daytime (Under 25)
from 11 dollars
Rush (premium) – Starting at $45 Rush (regular) – Starting at $25
TIFF 2022 Program Book – $55
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
Instagram, TikTok, & Letterboxd: @tiff_net
Facebook.com/TIFF #TIFF22