43 Major Films You Could Possibly See At #TIFF2012

My favourite time of the year, the Toronto International Film Festival is coming up fast. In less than a week, TIFF will begin to announce part of their program, beginning with some Galas and Special Presentations.

I have put together this [rather lengthy] list of films you could possibly see at TIFF 2012. I decided to focus on some of the more major or better known films, most of which would premiere in a Gala or Special Presentation spot. There are a few possibly Midnight Madness films and even a TIFF Kids surprise.

Take this list with a grain of salt as it’s only my thoughts on what could potentially be there. I am not saying any of these are rumoured or not, and all of this is my opinions only.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th to 16th 2012.

Hit the jump for my list.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment) – Special Presentation

Dir. Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Mae Whitman
Release Date: September 14th 2012

This coming of age film by first time director Stephen Chbosky fits into the TIFF mould perfectly. The film is directed by the novel’s author which should spark interest. It might want to generate interest for a release right after TIFF.

Chances: Good

Dredd (Lionsgate) – Midnight Maddness

Dir. Pete Travis
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey
Release Date: September 21st 2012

Yes, it’s a reboot of the  character from the 1995 film. It’s an adaptation of the 2000 AD comic book character and a recent comic con screening has said it’s bloody, action packed fun. Works in the Midnight Madness program and would generate tons of interest before it’s late September release.

Chances: Possible. Midnight Madness programmer Colin Geddes has said a 3D film is possible… but might be a little too mainstream.

Killing Them Softly (The Weinstein Company) – Gala

Dir. Andrew Dominik
Starring: Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Sam Rockwell, Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta
Release Date: September 21 2012

The Weinstein’s love showing their films at TIFF and Andrew Dominik’s previous collaboration with Brad Pitt “Assassination of Jesse James” had a bow at TIFF in 2007. TIFF also loves to show off Brad Pitt on the red carpet.

Chances: Pretty much a lock.

End of Watch (Open Road Films) – Special Presentation

Dir. David Ayer
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo
Release Date: September 28th 2012

David Ayer did bring ‘Harsh Times’ to TIFF and he could possibly return with his next film. The end of September date also makes it a strong candidate.

Chances: Good

Looper (TriStar/FilmDistrict) – Special Presentation

Dir. Rian Johnson
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels
Release Date: September 28th 2012

Another director whose previous film showed at TIFF. In 2008, Johnson brought ‘Brothers Bloom’ to Toronto. Looper looks great and a TIFF 2012 makes sense to add even more interest in the film.

Chances: Very good.

Trouble with the Curve (Warner Brothers) – Gala

Dir.  Robert Lorenz
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, Matthew Lillard, John Goodman
Release Date: September 28th 2012

TIFF loves Clint Eastwood and the sports drama ‘Moneyball’ played well at last years fest. It also has a good cast to surround Eastwood I bet TIFF presses hard for this.

Chances: Very good.

Won’t Back Down (20th Century Fox) – Special Presentation

Dir. Daniel Barns
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Holly Hunter, Oscar Isaac, Ving Rhames
Release Date: September 28th 2012

Seems like typical TIFF fare in a film where two unlikely women team up to help an inner city school.

Chances: Possible. Depends on the other bigger films. It has a good cast but could possibly be bumped for a ‘bigger’ film.

The Paperboy (Millennium Films) – Gala

Dir. Lee Daniels
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Macy Grey, John Cusack, Nicole Kidman
Release Date: October 5th 2012

Paperboy received pretty awful reviews at Cannes, but Lee Daniels fared well with ‘Precious’ and TIFF would love this cast to grace their red carpet.

Chances: Most Likely

Sinister (Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment) – Midnight Maddness

Dir. Scott Derrickson
Starring: Ethan Hawk, Vincent D’Onofrio, James Ransone
Release Date: October 5th 2012

Sinister got very good reviews out of a screening at SXSW. I could see this possibly showing at Midnight Madness. Although the film isn’t exactly a found footage film… it does have some aspects of it. Colin Geddes has stated on Twitter he is sick of found footage films.

Chances: Likely, but the comment on Twitter about being sick of found footage films doesn’t look good for it’s chances. The twist on the genre could help though.

Argo (Warner Brothers) – Gala

Dir. Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler
Release Date: October 12th 2012

Affleck showed ‘The Town’ last year and I expect him to do the same with ‘Argo’. It has a very good cast and even features some Canadian elements.

Chances: Very good, maybe even a lock.

Gambit (CBS Films) – Gala

Dir. Michael Hoffman
Starring: Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci
Release Date: October 12th 2012

TIFF loves the Coen Brothers. Even though they didn’t direct Gambit, the cast and their Coens alone would attract the TIFF programmers.

Chances: Possible

The Master (The Weinstein Company) – Gala

Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Jesse Plemons
Release Date: October 12th 2012

PTA has been at TIFF before and it seems like the perfect place to debut his follow up to “There Will Be Blood”. He did skip TIFF with ‘Blood’ a couple years ago. The film was recently rated ‘R’ by the MPAA meaning the film is definitely finished.

Chances: TIFF will want it, not sure if The Weinstein’s will want to go. They did skip a rumoured premiere at Cannes, so maybe TIFF will be in the cards.

The Big Wedding (Lionsgate) – Gala

Dir. Justin Zackham
Starring: Robert De Niro, Amanda Seyfried, Katherine Heigl, Robun Williams, Topher Grace, Susan Surandon, Ben Barnes, Diane Keaton
Release Date: October 26th 2012

Seems like a pretty typical ensemble throwaway comedy, but TIFF does like to throw these in from time to time. It has a big cast to walk the red carpet and TIFF does like that even if the film might not be very good.

Chances: Possible, leaning towards not likely. It’s chances will rise if TIFF is snubbed by some of the bigger directors.

Cloud Atlas (Warner Brothers) – Gala

Dirs. Wachowski Siblings
Starring: Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon
Release Date: October 26th 2012

Not sure if Cloud Atlas is quite a TIFF film. It’s a big budget film and a possible blockbuster… but its 2 hour 45 minute run time with multiple stories from the past, present and future with intertwining story lines and cast playing multiple roles. At one point it was seemed to be impossible to make it into a film, but early word is that it’s actually very good. It was recently submitted to the MPAA and received an ‘R’ rating, meaning the film is actually completed.

Chances: Not likely… it’s a long shot, but anything is possible.

On The Road (IFC Films) – Gala

Dir. Walter Salles
Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Alice Braga, Elizabeth Moss
Release Date: September 21st 2012 (UK)

On The Road premiered at Cannes and seems like a perfect film to make a North American debut at TIFF. It garnered pretty negative reviews at screenings in Cannes but that doesn’t really stop TIFF from still wanting a flashy premiere.

Chances: Likely

Flight (Paramount Pictures) – Special Presentation

Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Kelly Reilly
Release Date: November 2nd 2012

Zemeckis returns to live action drama for the first time since 2000′s ‘Cast Away’ Paramount and Zemeckis might want to garner some early buzz for his return.

Chances: Possibly, but not likely. 

The Man With The Iron Fists (Universal Pictures) – Midnight Maddness

Dir. RZA
Starring: Russell Crowe, RZA, Lucy Liu
Release Date: November 2nd 2012

RZA’s directorial debut ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’ looks like a perfect Midnight Madness film. It features gore kings Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino in the team and looks so ridiculous, bloody, and awesome. Would play well with the MM crowd. 3D would be interesting. Geddes has said a 3D film might play.

Chances: Depends if it’s done in time. Could be a good place to debut. I’m going to say it’s very likely.

Wreck-It-Ralph (Disney) – TIFF Kids or Special Presentation

Dir. Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
Release Date: November 2nd 2012

Disney usually doesn’t play their major animated features at film festivals but for some reason ‘Wreck It Ralph’ seems like it would play well with everyone at TIFF. It has that ‘Toy Story’ vibe where the older and younger generation might enjoy it a lot. Could either play at TIFF Kids for families or Special Presentations for the older crowd.

Chances: Very little chance. But it would be cool.

Seven Psychopaths (CBS Films) – Gala

Dir. Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Gabourey Sidibe
Release Date: November 2nd 2012

Psychopaths has an interesting premise, a good cast and good director. I enjoyed In Bruges a lot… and I feel like this could be a good dark comedy. TIFF does enjoy dark comedies.

Chances: Good chance

Lincoln (Touchstone) – Gala

Dir. Steven Spielberg
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon Levitt
Release Date: November 9th 2012

Spielberg follows up ‘War Horse’ with another heavy drama in the bio-pic Lincoln. With a great cast and a legendary director like Spielberg, I’m sure TIFF would love this as a Gala. Unknown if they want to go the festival route though.

Chances: Slim chance. Spielberg skipped the festival route last year with ‘War Horse’ and will probably do the same.

Skyfall (Columbia Pictures/MGM) – Gala

Dir. Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, Albert Finney, Ben Wishaw
Release Date: November 9th 2012

I know what you’re thinking. You’re insane Matt. There is no chance Skyfall will go the festival route. Especially over a month before it’s release… but hear me out. TIFF is hosting a special Bond exhibit starting October 26th for the 50th anniversary of Bond. Sam Mendes has shown at TIFF before. What better way to promote the franchise and the exhibit than a huge premiere of Skyfall at TIFF 2012? It definitely would make a spectacular opening night film and party.

Chances: Probably not, but I have this feeling that this might be a huge surprise. If the film is completed in time I think they should do it.

Anna Karenina (Focus Features) – Special Presentation

Dir. Joe Wright
Starring: Kiera Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfayden
Release Date: November 9th 2012

Wright was at TIFF in 2007 for Atonement. Looks like a perfect place to debut his new period piece.

Chances: Most likely

Life of Pi (20th Century Fox) – Gala

Dir. Ang Lee
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Gerard Depardieu
Release Date: November 21 2012

Other than ‘Hulk’, Ang Lee is a frequent visitor of the Toronto International Film Festival. He has brought his other three films here and it’s likely that TIFF will try to lure him and his new film ‘Life of Pi’ It would be probably the biggest major 3D premiere the festival has had.

Chances: Pretty much a lock. 

The Silver Linings Playbook (The Weinstein Company) – Gala

Dir. David O Russell
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Chris Ticker, Jacki Weaver
Release Date: November 21 2012

Russell did bring his last dramedy ‘I ? Huckabees’ to TIFF a couple years ago but did skip when he had ‘The Fighter’ coming out in 2010. He is returning to the drama/comedy genre and could bring it with him to TIFF. Weinstein’s help it’s chances.

Chances: Likely, because of The Weinstein’s being the main/only distributors.

Hyde Park on Hudson (Focus Features) – Special Presentation

Dir. Roger Mitchell
Starring: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West
Release Date: December 7th 2012

Bill Murray is garnering a lot of attention for a possible great performance as FDR in Hyde Park. TIFF could be a great place to first show his performance.

Chances: Good chance. Seems like a very ‘TIFF’ movie.

Deadfall (2029) – Special Presentation

Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky
Starring: Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Charlie Hunnam, Kate Mara
Release Date: December 7th 2012

Although it seems like Deadfall has some solid stars attached, I believe it’s getting a VOD release before a limited theatrical one. If TIFF is hurting, they could try for this.

Chances: Not likely, but I mean Trespass did play last year.

Les Miserables (Universal Pictures) – Gala

Dir. Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks
Release Date: December 14th 2012

Tom Hooper premiered his ‘Best Picture’ winning film ‘The Kings Speech’ at TIFF a couple years ago so expect TIFF to make a major push to nab this large ensemble musical for a Gala debut.

Chances: Pretty good chance.

Zero Dark Thirty (Columbia Pictures) – Special Presentation

Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Nash Edgerton, Harold Perrineau
Release Date: December 19th 2012

Bigelow had some luck when she premiered her ‘Best Picture’ winning Hurt Locker over a year before it’s theatrical release. Zero Dark Thirty AKA her Osama Bin Laden film is along the same lines of Hurt Locker in content/tone.

Chances: Likely

Amour (Love) – Special Presentation

Dir. Michael Haneke
Starring: Jean Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva
Release Date: December 19th 2012

It’s very positive reviews should garner the interest of TIFF brass. Hanake has shown at the festival before. TIFF crowd should love it. 

Chances: Very likely 

Django Unchained (Columbia/The Weinstein Company) – Gala

Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Johnson, Kerry Washington, Jonah Hill, Walton Goggins, Franco Nero
Release Date: December 25th 2012

Tarantino has usually premiered his films at Cannes of late; however, he did not have Django done in time for this year so he could be looking to show it at another fest. Tarantino has been here before with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Harvey Weinstein did say it wasn’t likely they would bring Django to TIFF.

Chances: Unlikely, but possible. Even though Weinstein said it wasn’t likely, Tarantino or TIFF might convince him to come.

The Great Gatsby (Warner Brothers) – Gala

Dir. Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher
Release Date: December 25th 2012

This flashy looking version of the classic novel could make a premiere at TIFF. Warner Brothers might not be interested in going the festival route but if it has Oscar dreams, it might be a good choice. I’m sure TIFF would love a red carpet gala for Gatsby.

Chances: Not likely… but it wouldn’t surprise me.

The Bitter Pill (Open Road Films) – Special Presentation

Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta Jone, Vanessa Shaw
Release Date: February 8th 2013

It seems Soderbergh makes a movie every couple months these days. Bitter Pill will be his third theatrical release in 1 1/2 years. That’s pretty impressive. After massive success with ‘Magic Mike’, Soderbergh might want to capitalize on his returned spotlight with a TIFF 2012 bow for his new psychological thriller.

Chances: Probable. Soderbergh likes coming to TIFF and his last 3 films just didn’t have the proper release schedules to co-align with TIFF. This works well.

Inside Llewyn Davis (StudioCanal) – Special Presentation

Dir. The Coen Brothers
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac
Release Date: February 8th 2013

The Coen’s skipped TIFF with their last film True Grit but are regular visitors of the fest. They like showing their films here and this seems like a perfect return. It’s on a smaller scale than Grit and will play well to TIFF audiences. 

Chances: Most likely.

Stoker (Fox Searchlight) – Gala

Dir. Park Chan-Wook
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver.
Release Date: March 1st 2013

Searchlight also loves showcasing their films at TIFF and it seems like the perfect place for the english debut of Park Chan-Wook. It was just given a March release date.

Chances: Not likely. Release date might be too far into 2013 to get a TIFF date.

Only God Forgives (FilmDistrict) – Special Presentation

Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Burke
Release Date: None

Refn has brought his last couple films to TIFF and had massive critical acclaim with last year’s Drive. ‘Only God Forgives’  re-teams Refn and Gosling.

Chances: Good chance.  

Much Ado About Nothing - Special Presentation

Dir. Joss Whedon
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Amy Acker, Clark Gregg, Alexis Denisof, Ashley Johnson
Release Date: None

Whedon looks to follow up his massive hit ‘The Avengers’ with a smaller indie. He has mentioned he is submitting it to festivals. It makes sense to premiere at TIFF

Chances: High. Whedon has previously mentioned he is bringing it to festivals and TIFF would bring him the most spotlight.

Liberal Arts (IFC Films) – Special Presentation

Dir. Josh Radnor
Starring: Josh Radnor, Zac Efron, Elizabeth Olsen, Elizabeth Reaser, Allison Janney, Richard Jenkins
Release Date: None

Liberal Arts premiered at Sundance to fairly good reviews. I would expect Radnor to try and win over the TIFF crowd to gain even more exposure.

Chances: High

Antiviral (Rhombus Media)

Dir. Brandon Cronenberg
Starring: Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcom McDowell, Douglas Smith
Release Date: None

David Cronenberg’s son makes his directorial debut. It competed at Cannes and it’s likely TIFF will let the younger Cronenberg come to play. 

Chances: Almost a lock.

The Words (CBS Films) – Special Presentation

Dirs. Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Ben Barnes, Dennis Quaid.
Release Date: None

Debuted at Sundance earlier this year and it’s released had been delayed until after the festival. Makes sense to attempt an entry to gain some more exposure. 

Chances: Good

The Sessions (Fox Searchlight) – Special Presentation

Dir. Ben Lewin
Starring: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood
Release Date: October 26th 2012

The Sessions was a major hit at Sundance and could be a player during Oscar time. It seems like very heavy festival fare and a prototypical Searchlight TIFF film. Hawkes is supposedly magnificent and is a frequent visitor of TIFF.

Chances: Very likely.

The Place Beyond The Pines - Special Presentation

Dir. Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Bruce Greenwood
Release Date: None

In what seems like a return to the type of content seen in Gosling’s last TIFF film ‘Drive’. Just replace the car with a motorcycle and the films seem very similar. Pines would return director Derek Cianfrance to TIFF after premiering Blue Valentine in 2010. 

Chances: Very likely.

To The Wonder (FilmNation) – Gala

Dir. Terrance Malick
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Chastain, Ben Affleck, Michael Sheen, Javier Bardem, Amanda Peet, Olga Kurylenko
Release Date: None

For a filmmaker who usually takes a VERY long time between films. Malick sure does have a lot on his plate at the moment. The finished ‘To The Wonder’ might look to go the festival route.

Chances: Not likely, but possible. TIFF did have a Malick spotlight at the Lightbox earlier this year which might be good sign.

Aku No Kyoten [Lesson Of The Evil] – Midnight Madness

Dir. Takashi Miike
Starring: Hideaki Ito
Release Date: November 2012 (Japan)

Takashi Miike is a TIFF regular. His films are featured a lot and the content in this seems perfect for Midnight Madness. Trailer had a ‘Battle Royale’ feel.

Chances: Safe bet.