Toronto: From the Sky Down,’ Academy Award-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim’s documentary about Irish band U2, will open the 36th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) that runs here from September 8 to 18.
Films produced by Madonna and George Clooney are among 10 films that will have their international galas at the festival. There will be 43 special presentations during the 11-day festival that generates $170 million into the Toronto economy.
Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto, who made her mark at last year’s film festival with for her role in two films – Woody Allen’s You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and Julian Schnabel’s Miral’ – will be back in Toronto this year also.
She stars in Michael Winterbottom’s film Trishna which will have its world premiere at the festival.
Based on Thomas Hardy’s novel ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles,’ the film is shot in Rajasthan and Mumbai. It tells the tragic love story between the son of a wealthy property developer and the daughter of a rickshaw puller. Riz Ahmed (Centurion) plays the role of the son of the wealthy property developer in the film.
There will be at least four films from India this year, said film festival co-director Cameron Bailey. Asked to name of any of them, he told IANS, “Not yet. You have to wait. We will make these announcement soon.”
Interestingly, this is the first time that a documentary will open the world’s premier film festival. (IANS)