Ok, so here we are days away from the most exciting 10 days of films, industry networking, receptions/parties and of course stars. What I am taking about “TIFF”.  It’s the most recognized four letters that are now redefining the lengthy title of one of the largest public festival in the world – Toronto International Film Festival.

Each year I spend an afternoon reviewing the official selections and then I compile a list of films for friends and those who find it hard to choose from over 310 films. TIFF has served as a star-studded kickoff to awards season – four out of the five most recent best-picture winners debuted here, as well as dozens of other trophy-netting performances and directorial acknowledgements, so wouldn’t you want to say you were sitting in the theatre when said film premiered. I’m been fortunate to see those Oscar nominated films here at TIFF but I have to admit I have less fortunate in seeing the Plame d’Or winning film in Cannes. So, perhaps if you follow my suggestions this year; you could just easily become one of the first when the Oscar race begins to say proudly – “I’ve seen that”. 

The list below is comprise of some of my favourite artists such as directors, writers and actors. Directors like Steve McQueen (A name you won’t soon forget), Lar Von Tier (a name most during Cannes didn’t want to associated with, Alexander Payne, Fernando Meirelles , Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Pedro Almodóvar and Canadian Jean Marc Valle. Actors such as Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Michelle Yeoh and Charlotte Gainsbourg. I’ve also included a film made by a friend of mine from South Africa Akin Omotoso(MAN ON GROUND) and a touching short film that I programmed years ago now a feature film carrying the same title LUCKY – but luck has nothing to do with it. By far South Africa has come a long way in telling their stories – 3 films from the once oppressed African country made my list. I’m also delighted to included Oscar winning writer Geoffrey Fletcher directorial debut film VIOLET & DAISY, Fletcher won the Oscar for the adaptation of PRECIOUS in 2009.

As always – I must caution you on my selections – storyline and themes can be quite heavy. If you find yourself in need of mental health day after seeing one or two from the section ”Highly Recommend” films – then consider yourself warned.

There were certain key words that came to mind when I compiled the list – mass migration, unravelling, morality, struggle, give up, extinct, selfish and shame – lies as the trend for this year. It’s not far cry from my overview of what I saw in Cannes – mostly all of the Cannes line-up made it to TIFF this year. (Note – the films that have * I’ve watched in Cannes)

So whether or not you choose from the 25 films that I carved from roughly 310 and I hope you do, it’s a testament to the TIFF programmers. I can only imagine their choices must have been harder.

However, if you rather take a stab at choosing on your own, never the less the outcome will still remain the same. We will all gather in the dark cinema anxious to be moved to tears, laugh, learn and be frighten (Midnight Madness) by our personal choice. You can almost hear the silence as you patiently wait for that projection to begin.

Bon festival! And as always please let us know what you will see at the festival.

Highly Recommended

   1.   SHAME – dir Steve McQueen pervious film HUNGER (United Kingdom)    

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/shame

   2.   THE ARTIST – dir Michel Hazanavicius (France)  

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/theartist 

   3.   360 – dir Fernando Meirelles  previous film CITY OF GOD &CONSTANT GARDERNER

           http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/360film

   4.   WE NEED TO TALK TO KEVIN* – dir Lynne Ramsay (United Kingdom)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/weneedtotalkaboutkevin

   5.   BEAUTY* – dir Oliver Hermanus (South Africa)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/beauty

   6.   ELENA* – dir Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/elena

   7.   ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA* - dir Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey)

           http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/onceuponatimeinanato

   8.   DRIVE* – dir Nicolas Winding Refn previous film (Valhalla Rising) (U.S.A)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/drive

   9.   LUCKY – dir Avie Luthra (South Africa)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/lucky

  10.  CAFE DE FORE – dir Jean-Marc Vallée previous film C.R.A.Z.Y (Canada)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/cafedeflore

  11.  MELANCHOLIA* - dir Lar Von Tier (Denmark)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/melancholia

  12.  THE SKIN I LIVE IN – dir Pedro Almodóvar (Spain)

           http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/theskinilivein

  13.  LIPSTIKKA – dir Jonathan Sagall (Israel)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/lipstikka

  14.  THE KID WITH A BIKE* – dir The Dardenne Brothers previous film  L’enfant (Belgium)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/kidwithabike

  15.  LAST CALL AT THE OASIS – Dir Jessica Yu (U.S)

          http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/lastcallattheoasis 

Definitely Worth The Rush Line

COLOUR OF THE OCEAN – dir Maggie Peren (Germany)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/coloroftheocean

 SPLEEPING BEAUTY – dir Julia Leigh (Australia) http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/sleepingbeauty2

 MICHEAL  - dir Markus Schleinzer (Austria)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/michael2

 KILLER ELITE – dir Gary McKendry (U.S/Australia)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/killerelite

 THE LADY – dir Luc Besson (France) http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/thelady

 STARBUCK – dir Ken Scott (Canada)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/starbuck

 THE DECENDENTS – dir Alexander Payne previous film SIDEWAYS (U.S)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/descendants

 DARK GIRLS – dir Bill Duke (U.S) http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/darkgirls

 MAN ON GROUND – dir Akin Omotoso (South Africa)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/manonground

 VIOLET & DAISY – dir Geoffrey Fletcher  (U.S)http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/violetdaisy