Starting with the big names, TIFF announced more Gala and Special Presentations movies. You know, the ones you spend $35 for a ticket to see even though they open theatrically like two weeks later? This year’s closing night Gala will be Page Eight, a David Hare–directed British spy thriller starring Bill Nighy. Other galas of note include Joel Schumacher’s home invasion thriller, Trespass, starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, which will make its world premiere; the world premiere of Gary McKendry’s elite killer movie Killer Elite (starring Clive Owen, Jason Statham, and Robert DeNiro); the international premiere of Christophe Honoré’s Beloved. Special Presentations–wise, TIFF 2011 will see new films from international directors including Andrea Arnold (Wuthering Heights), Johnnie To (Life Without Principle), and Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress).

Creation The Toronto International Film Festival begins tonight with opening-night gala Creation, a controversial choice not because of the subject matter (Charles Darwin) but because it’s only the third time a non-Canadian film has opened the festival. Surprising, but Festival Co-director Cameron Bailey stated that they “fell in love with this movie,” and we felt [...]

The Toronto International Film Festival lands with a thud today and is going to colour this city in its inimitable fashion for the next 10 days, and, as before, we’ll be there to cover the festival inside and out with reviews, listings, and more each day. Though it’s only the first day—traditionally a quiet one [...]