TORONTO -- The Toronto International Film Festival kicked off its 27th edition Thursday night in a low-key manner for the hometown crowd with the North American premiere of native son Atom Egoyan's Ararat. Eager fans lined up along the red carpet outside Roy Thomson Hall downtown to catch a glimpse of Egoyan, his wife and the film's star, Arsinee Khanjian, and the film's Bruce Greenwood, as well as other stars walking up the red carpet to the entrance lobby. Peppered throughout the onlookers were Teamsters drivers from International Local 847, holding picket signs in protest. Tim Cadeaux, a business agent for Teamsters Local 847, said the protesters were looking for a labor contract with Canadian producers as well as increased wages. Thursday night was a precursor to what's expected over the next 10 days when Hollywood star power descends on Toronto. Warner Bros. Pictures beats the drum tonight for White Oleander, with stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Renee Zellweger and Robin Wright Penn expected to appear on the red carpet. Other galas set to bow over the weekend are Neil Jordan's The Good Thief, the Salma Hayek starrer Frida and Paramount Pictures' The Four Feathers.
The 2002 Toronto Film Festival has announced its line-up for the 27th festival, which will showcase 343 films from 50 countries, including 263 features, of which 193 are world and North American premieres. Seven Gala films were announced in addition to the previously announced presentations; they include Joel Schumacher.s Phone Booth (world premiere), Neil Jordan.s The Good Thief (world premiere), Danièle Thompson.s Jet Lag (world premiere), Todd Haynes. Far From Heaven (world premiere), Jim Sheridan.s In America (world premiere), The Other Side of the Bed (world premiere), and Patrice Leconte.s L.Homme Du Train (North American premiere). Special Presentations films, in addition to those previously announced, include Robert Duvall.s Assassination Tango, Matt Dillon.s City of Ghosts, Alan Rudolph.s The Secret Lives of Dentists, Michael Hoffman.s The Emperor.s Club, Paul Schrader.s Auto Focus, Menno Meyjes. Max, Pedro Almodóvar.s Talk To Her, and two films from Philip Noyce: Rabbit-Proof Fence and the long-delayed The Quiet American. See http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2002/ for the complete schedule.
- 8/21/2002
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