New works by Kenneth Branagh, Edgar Wright, and Céline Sciamma will screen at the 2021 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Branagh’s “Belfast,” a coming-of-age story that follows a young boy in Northern Ireland growing up amidst the political tumult of the 1960s; Wright’s twisty horror film “Last Night in Soho”; and Sciamma’s “Petite Maman,” her follow-up to 2019’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” are among the films tapped for the festival’s official selection.
The long-running celebration of movies, now in its 46th year, will also return to in-person screenings at some of its most prominent venues, including TIFF’s signature Bell Lightbox theater, as well as the cavernous Roy Thomson Hall and Princess of Wales Theatre.
Peter Nord, TIFF’s consultative partner on health and safety for the pandemic, said that the festival was “confident” about returning to in-person events because the rollout of vaccines in Canada has dramatically accelerated.
“As of today in Toronto, more than 75% of adults have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 25% have received their second dose.
Hollywood often uses the festival as a key launching ground for its award season contenders, screening past Oscar winners such as “Nomadland,” “Green Book,” and “Roma” in Toronto before rolling them out to the general public.
“It is so powerful to be able to share these films with Festival-goers in theatres.
Vicente said the festival will bring back its digital cinema platform in order to host screenings for members of the press and studio executives, as well as host virtual press conferences and other events.