Cameron Bailey Promoted to Co-Head of Toronto Film Festival

Cameron Bailey​ has been promoted to the newly created position of artistic director and co-head of the Toronto International Film Festival. Bailey is one of the public faces of the annual celebration of moviemaking, helping to select the productions that debut up north as the artistic director, a post he has held since 2012, and […]

By Brent Lang | Apr 19, 2018 | 4:00PM

IFC Buys Gemma Arterton Drama ‘The Escape’ (EXCLUSIVE)

IFC Films has nabbed U.S. and Canadian rights to “The Escape,” a character study that features a bravura turn by Gemma Arterton as an unhappy wife and mother. The film, which was written and directed by Dominic Savage (“Love + Hate”) and co-stars Dominic Cooper (“The History Boys”), premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film […]

By Brent Lang | Nov 07, 2017 | 9:10PM

Glenn Close’s ‘The Wife’ Bought by Sony Classics for North America

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all North American rights to the Glenn Close drama “The Wife.” Directed by Björn Runge, the film is adapted by Jane Anderson from the Meg Wolitzer novel of the same name. The film stars Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, and Annie Starke. The film recently premiered […]

By Dave McNary | Sep 27, 2017 | 6:46PM

Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to ‘Let The Corpses Tan’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s “Let The Corpses Tan” which had a critically acclaimed unspooling at Toronto’s Midnight Madness section and Austin’s Fantastic Fest. The stylish neo-Western film centers on a gang of robbers who are looking to lay low after an armored-car robbery and find a […]

By Elsa Keslassy | Sep 27, 2017 | 5:04PM

Denmark Selects ‘You Disappear’ as Foreign-Language Oscar Entry

Rolling off its international premiere at Toronto Film Festival, Peter Schønau Fog’s drama “You Disappear” has been chosen to represent Denmark in the Foreign Language Oscar category. Based on Christian Jungersen’s bestselling novel and penned by Fog, “You Disappear” centers on a woman who is married to a successful headmaster suffering from a brain tumor. […]

By Elsa Keslassy | Sep 20, 2017 | 2:30PM

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ Wins Toronto Film Festival Audience Award

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won the audience award on Sunday at the Toronto Film Festival, putting it in prime position to compete at the Academy Awards. Directed by Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards” stars Frances McDormand as a woman who takes a stand against the police, using the titular three billboards after her daughter is murdered […]

By Seth Kelley | Sep 17, 2017 | 6:01PM

Paul Schrader on the Extinction of the Human Race and His New Film ‘First Reformed’

It’s no surprise that Paul Schrader, a filmmaker associated with such dark classics as “Taxi Driver” and “American Gigolo,” has a pessimistic streak. But it’s still bracing to hear him argue that humanity, as we know it, is unlikely to last through the next century. In an interview at the Toronto Film Festival, Schrader said […]

By Brent Lang | Sep 15, 2017 | 9:51PM

Why the Toronto Film Festival Felt Smaller Than Ever

For evidence that climate change is real, look no further than the Toronto International Film Festival. The official fall kickoff to awards season is usually accompanied by hot sales that burn through the streets of Canada’s largest city. In 2017, the market wasn’t just frosty. It was more like an arctic blizzard had suddenly swept […]

By Ramin Setoodeh | Sep 15, 2017 | 3:18PM

Toronto: Disney Takes Constanza Novick’s ‘The Future Ahead’ in Argentina, Latin America (EXCLUSIVE)

Disney, one of Argentina’s most decisive movie players, has acquired rights to Argentina and the rest of Latin America to Constanza Novick’s “El futuro que viene” (The Future Ahead), produced by preeminent Argentine director Lisandro Alonso (“Jauja,” “Liverpool”). Novick’s feature debut, “The Future Ahead” has just had its world premiere at the Toronto Festival, screening […]

By John Hopewell | Sep 14, 2017 | 11:33AM

Kristin Scott Thomas on ‘Darkest Hour’ and Rediscovering Her Love of Film

This seating simply won’t do. Kristin Scott Thomas, the Oscar-nominated actress, has just plunged into an oversized chair that threatens to completely envelop her slight, 5 foot 6 frame. With a slightly imperious air, she insists we relocate to a sectional couch a few steps away to talk about why she left Hollywood, her on-and-off […]

By Brent Lang | Sep 13, 2017 | 3:26PM

Toronto: IFC Buys Ellen Page Zombie Movie ‘The Cured’ (EXCLUSIVE)

IFC Films has scooped up North American distribution rights to “The Cured,” Variety has learned. Represented in international markets by Bac Films, the zombie movie starring Ellen Page debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to strong reviews. The deal was in the seven-figure range, and the movie will receive a robust theatrical release in […]

By Ramin Setoodeh | Sep 13, 2017 | 3:51AM

Toronto: A24, DirecTV Buy Emma Thompson’s ‘The Children Act’ for U.S.

A24 and DirecTV have bought U.S. rights on the British drama “The Children Act,” starring Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, and Fionn Whitehead. “The Children Act” premiered on Sept. 10 at the Toronto Film Festival in the Special Presentations section. Directed by Richard Eyre from a script by Ian McEwan and based on McEwan’s novel, the […]

By Dave McNary | Sep 12, 2017 | 11:37PM

Taking Toronto’s Pulse: Fuzzy Awards Picture, More Politics

The Toronto Film Fest has offered plenty of A-list talent, including appearances from George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lawrence. But the fest approaches its midpoint with no blockbuster film sales or clear-cut best picture contender. From the looming presence of Trump to meaty female-driven projects, here are five takeaways from the Canadian gathering. Lack […]

By Brent Lang | Sep 12, 2017 | 3:45PM

Jennifer Lawrence on Why ‘Mother!’ Is a Feminist Movie

Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” — about a woman (Jennifer Lawrence) who lives with her husband (Javier Bardem) on a deserted farmhouse — has generated more debate than any film to debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The Paramount Pictures release, which opens on Friday, has been shrouded in mystery, and critics are still trying […]

By Ramin Setoodeh | Sep 12, 2017 | 2:06PM

Toronto: Globo-Conspiraçao’s ‘Under Pressure’ Proves a TV Blockbuster

Globo and Conspiraçao, one of Brazil’s biggest independent production houses, have a huge hit on their hands which looks likely to vindicate and accelerate the Brazilian’s TV colossus’ push into high-end series and the Brazilian movie community’s disembarking in TV series creation. Co-produced by Globo and Conpiraçao and show-run by screenwriter Jorge Furtado and movie […]

By John Hopewell | Sep 12, 2017 | 12:59PM

Christian Bale Unrecognizable as He Prepares for Dick Cheney Role

Christian Bale has gone through some shocking body transformations during his career, including losing 65 pounds and eating only an apple and a can of tuna a day for “The Machinist,” and then bulking up to play the Batman in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Bale sat down with the Variety Studio presented by AT&T at the […]

By Matt Fernandez | Sep 12, 2017 | 1:43AM

Why Nicolas Cage Doesn’t Like the Word ‘Acting’: ‘I Don’t Act, I Feel’

Nicholas Cage may be known throughout popular culture of his distinctive brand of on-screen wackiness, but for the record, he’s not so sure he’s “over-the-top.” “You show me where the top is, and I’ll let you know whether I’m over it or not, all right?” Cage said during his interview, alongside “Mom and Dad” director […]

By Matt Fernandez | Sep 12, 2017 | 1:08AM

Focus Takes International Distribution on Saoirse Ronan’s ‘Lady Bird’

Focus Features has acquired international rights to Saoirse Ronan’s “Lady Bird” and will handle distribution in all territories outside North America. “Lady Bird,” directed by Greta Gerwig in her feature debut, premiered on Sept. 3 at the Telluride Film Festival, then showed on opening night at the Toronto Film Festival. Peter Debruge of Variety gave […]

By Dave McNary | Sep 12, 2017 | 12:58AM

Louis C.K.’s Comedy ‘I Love You, Daddy’ Sells to The Orchard for $5 Million

The Orchard has locked up worldwide rights to Louis C.K.’s “I Love You, Daddy,” a dark comedy, shot in black-and-white. “I Love You, Daddy” sure sounds controversial, and has already inspired some negative op-eds. It centers on a successful television writer whose daughter becomes the object of an older filmmaker idol’s obsessions. His daughter, played […]

By Brent Lang | Sep 11, 2017 | 7:57PM

Toronto: Neon, 30WEST Land ‘I, Tonya’ With Margot Robbie

Neon and 30WEST have nabbed domestic rights to “I, Tonya,” a dark comedy about Olympic skater Tonya Harding. The deal was signed out of the Toronto Film Festival, where the film premiered over the weekend. It is in the $5 million range. The big draw here is star Margot Robbie, who plays Harding, a gold […]

By Brent Lang | Sep 11, 2017 | 4:57PM