TIFF 2023: Nicolas Cage’s ‘Dream Scenario’ to open competitive Platform program

 

TORONTO – Nicolas Cage’s surrealist comedy “Dream Scenario” will open up the aggressive System program at the Toronto Intercontinental Film Competition, with acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins set to direct the jury.

Cage stars in the satirical feature from U.S.-based mostly filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli as an educational “thrust into the limelight just after he starts off inexplicably appearing in people’s desires.”

Brampton, Ont.’s Michael Cera and U.S. actress Julianne Nicholson also star.

It’s joined by the Canadian drama “The King Tide,” directed by Christian Sparkes, and eight other titles decided on for their “unique directorial perspectives,” TIFF claimed Wednesday in a launch.

“Moonlight” director Jenkins will head a 3-member panel that will pick out the winner of a $20,000 award.

The jury consists of Canadian filmmaker Anthony Shim, whose movie “Riceboy Sleeps” gained last year’s prize, and Nadine Labaki whose Oscar-nominated movie “Capernaum” gained the 2018 jury prize at the Cannes Film Pageant.

All 10 films will have their environment premiere at the pageant, set to operate Sept. 7 to 17.

They contain India’s “Dear Jassi,” from “The Cell” director Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, and France’s “Spirit of Ecstasy (La Venus d’argent),” from Helena Klotz and starring French pop star Claire Pommet in her acting debut as “an ambitious non-binary individual eager to make their mark.”

The yearly motion picture marathon gears up amid historic twin Hollywood strikes that have despatched unionized writers and actors off the occupation in fractious disputes with the Alliance of Movement Photograph and Television Producers.

It is really unclear how the labour action will have an impact on the star wattage at this year’s fest, but TIFF has acknowledged it will have an effects.

Platform’s programming lead Robyn Citizen claimed Cage provides some of his finest operate in “Dream State of affairs.”

“This surrealist satire-comedy has sharp, timely observations about social media lifestyle – particularly `going viral’ – and its affect on the way that we interact with other individuals in our day-to-day existence,” Citizen mentioned in Wednesday’s release.

This is a glimpse at the relaxation of the Platform lineup:

• “Great Absence,” directed by Kei Chika-ura, Japan
• “I Told You So (Te l’avevo detto),” directed by Ginevra Elkann, Italy
• “Not A Word (Kein Wort),” directed by Hanna Slak, Germany/Slovenia/France
• “The Rye Horn (O Corno),” directed by Jaione Camborda, Spain/Belgium/Portugal
• “Sisterhood (HLM Pussy),” directed by Nora El Hourch, France
• “Shame on Dry Land (Syndabocken),” directed by Axel Petersen, Sweden.

This report by The Canadian Press was initial posted Aug. 02, 2023.