Film Visionaries shape and influence cinematic landscape with TIFF masters programme

The slate of 11 films includes an outstanding list of prolific filmmakers known for taking stylistic and thematic risks with their work, including Alanis Obomsawin, the first and only First Nations female filmmaker to be featured in the Masters programme.

Artistic Director of TIFF, Cameron Bailey, said: "These are some of the greatest and most respected filmmakers working today, and we are excited to bring their latest films to TIFF audiences. This year’s Masters programme is a master class in creating bold, groundbreaking films that leave a mark on our cultural landscape."

Paolo and Vittorio Taviani bring the World Premiere of Rainbow - A Private Affair to TIFF.

This classical piece of film making tells the story of a young love triangle in Italy during the Second World War. Now in their 80s, the Taviani brothers have written or directed more than 20 films together and have won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Lucrecia Martel, one of the most important filmmakers from Latin America and a reference point for international cinema, is also featured in the lineup. Her latest offering, Zama, is a cinematic masterpiece with a unique language and a particular point of view that reinforce her status as a master of the craft.

Finnish master Aki Kaurismäki’s latest film, The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen), is a timely and touching film that follows a young Syrian seeking refuge in Finland as he searches for his sister. The film earned Kaurismäki the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.

Veterans of the industry, these filmmakers bring decades of experience as screenwriters, directors, producers, film critics and actors. Collectively, they have produced feature films, documentaries, short films, television series, theatre productions and art installations.

Many have received or been nominated for jury prizes at international film festivals, while others have served as members of juries. Known to challenge audiences, these filmmakers are true masters of the craft and are sure to excite and inspire audiences with their latest entries in the 2017 TIFF Masters programme.

The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival will be held between September 7 and September 17.

Films screening as part of the Masters programme include:

The Day After (Geu-hu) Hong Sangsoo, South Korea
North American Premiere

Faces Places (Visages Villages) Agnès Varda, JR, France
Canadian Premiere

First Reformed Paul Schrader, USA
Canadian Premiere

Happy End Michael Haneke, France/Austria/Germany
North American Premiere

The House by the Sea (La Villa) Robert Guédiguian, France
North American Premiere

Loveless (Nelyubov) Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany
Canadian Premiere

The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen) Aki Kaurismäki, Finland/Germany
Canadian Premiere

Our People Will Be Healed Alanis Obomsawin,
Canada World Premiere

Rainbow - A Private Affair (Una questione privata) Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani, Italy/France
World Premiere

Zama Lucrecia Martel, Argentina/Brazil/Spain/France/Netherlands/Mexico/Portugal/USA
North American Premiere

The TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world, through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution programme Film Circuit.