After many years of attending the film festival as a guest, 2021 marks the first year I’ll be covering the festival as accredited press. So for all the times I’ve thought to myself, “I wish I got a chance to see this film or that film,” I’m going to attempt to watch as many as I can while staying mentally stable. It won’t work, but the attempt will be fun. So before I begin talking about some of the films I’ve seen, let’s talk about some of my most anticipated titles, in alphabetical order of course.
DASHCAM (Dir. Rob Savage)
Last year, Rob Savage made massive waves with his Zoom Screenlife horror film Host. Everyone saw it and started talking about how inventive and intense it is. So, it comes as no surprise that some people are looking forward to his next film. I am one of those people. I plan to see many films during the festival based on the creative team or the cast during the festival. DASHCAM is 100% because of the team behind the film. I’m looking forward to being in a theatre filled with fans terrified. I’m hoping to get into the Midnight Madness premiere, but stay tuned. We’ll find out.
Dear Evan Hansen (Dir. Stephen Chbosky)
Dear Evan Hansen was always a film I was positive would play at TIFF. There’s something about the film that screams TIFF. I was happy to be proven right. I’ve listened to the soundtrack more times than I can count. In 2019, I saw the production here in Toronto twice. I was an inconsolable mess both times. There are many aspects to Dear Evan Hansen that hits me on multiple levels, and I’m not prepared to see it, but I also need to see it. It’s been a year of musicals that speak to me and hit me. I’m sure this will also be added to the list.
Dune (Dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Listen, look. Dune. It’s Dune. It’s new Denis – it’s fucking Dune. I don’t need to explain much more than that.
Last Night in Soho (Dir. Edgar Wright)
Anya Taylor-Joy is one of my favourite working actors. I’ve been following her career as most people have since The Witch, and Last Night in Soho looks remarkable. While I know some may disagree with me, I’m hoping that Last Night is more of a return to form than his last feature film (The Sparks Brothers rules, FYI). Give me more Wright as he gives us that great horror content.
Memoria (Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
A movie I do not know how I will feel when at the end of the film. I’m sure I have no idea what I’m truly in for, but it looks gorgeous. And to start my festival (officially at least, I’ve already seen five films before the start of the fest) with it, sounds extremely enticing. To see something that is going to remind me of how gorgeous and odd cinema can be. Plus, Tilda Swinton is always incredible.
Spencer (Dir. Pablo Larraín)
We at The UnderSCENE are K-Stew stans. We admit it. We know it. The idea of Stewart as Princess Diana is exciting, but when that performance is being directed by none other than Pablo Larraín, you know you’re in for a treat. A Chilean filmmaker who, time after time, is proving to be one of the best filmmakers working. Ema is a marvelous feast of a film, Jackie is haunting and incredible, and his Chilean films are some of the best to have been released from the country. I haven’t had time to dive into Lisey’s Story, but Larraín always delivers. And I, for one, and many others, are ready for it.
Titane (Dir. Julia Ducournau)
I missed out on the infamous Raw screening, but I did see the film at the festival. For lack of a better term, I ate the film up. I was invested and excited for anything and everything it was offering to give up, and then since then, we’ve waited for another film by Julia. We’ll talk about the film shortly, and soon, but until then, let’s just say, I was hoping to get into the Midnight screening of the film because it needs to be watched with a crowd.
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