Nicolas Cage in Toronto to premiere “Trespass” says he lived through similar home invasion nightmare

Under the file of ‘truth meets fiction” we have the new movie, Trespass which director Joel Schumacher and Nicolas Cage brought to the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. Seems the home invasion story hit very close to home for Cage who said during the films press conference his family had actually lived through a similar nightmare in real life.

“It was two in the morning. I was living in Orange County at the time and was asleep with my wife. My two-year old at the time was in another room. I opened my eyes and there was a naked man wearing my leather jacket eating a Fudgesicle in front of my bed,” Cage told reporters ahead of the films TIFF premiere. “I know it sounds funny … but it was horrifying.”

Atom Egoyan enjoys TIFF much more as fan, than filmmaker

Cadillac Festival Insider spotted celebrated Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan at Bell Lightbox a few times this week as he was just quietly taking in films. We asked Egoyan one day, “Do you enjoy TIFF better when you have a film in the Festival or not?” Egoyan quickly replied, “without a doubt, NOT.”

Infamous street-artist Mr. Brainwash creates new installation for TIFF (Brad Pitt and Madonna are collectors)

The Toronto International Film Festival has proven the last few years to not just be about films. TIFF has shown it’s about music with attracting to the Festival some of the biggest pop acts in the world (Bruce Springsteen, U2.) The Festival has also very much shown it’s about art. In the case of the 2011 edition – TIFF is embracing a street-art style with commissioning none other than Thierry Guetta, aka Mr. Brainwash, to install works around Gala red carpets.

In celebration of the installation, Gallery One in Yorkville opens an exhibition to the public of Mr. Brainwash original works the day TIFF starts and running through to the end of the Festival (September 18th.)

The elusive street-artist Guetta even made an appearance at the private opening on September 7th. Guetta works in the same street-art style as masters in the field like Shepard Fairey – the artist behind the iconic Obama “Hope” poster, and of course, the infamous Banksy, the British star street-artist who pioneered the explosive interest in their types of works. Banksy directed the Oscar-nominated documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop last year which featured Mr. Brainwash at work.

The Gallery One exhibition is sure to attract some TIFF celebrities. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Madonna are all known to actively collect the works of Mr. Guetta.

At the exhibition opening, prices for some of Guetta’s pieces exceeded $25,000 – and they were selling. Mr. Brainwash art has been described in the past as “throwing modern cultural icons into a blender and turning it up to eleven.”

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[POSTER] The era of the silent film returns – The Artist premieres at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

It seems a silent film is set to get people talking during the 2011 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The Artist premiered to enthusiastic audiences back at May’s Cannes Film Festival – where star Jean Dujardin was named best actor. The Weinstein Company, sensing a beautifully lensed, black and white movie that captures “old Hollywood” could make a serious run come awards season, snapped up rights to the Michel Hazanavicius film.

The Artist will continue to play at festivals this fall before opening to the public, in limited release, starting in late November. The poster for the film features a striking black and white image of stars Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. See the official trailer for The Artist here.

[VIDEO] Film Critic Richard Crouse shares his TOP 10 #TIFF11 picks with Cadillac Festival Insider

Our friend, esteemed film critic Richard Crouse was kind enough to sit down with Cadillac Festival Insider at the Bell Lightbox a few days before the Toronto International Film Festival is set to kick off. Crouse shares quick thoughts on 10 movies that will premiere during #TIFF11 that WILL BE worth seeing. Richard has nice words so far for; Drive, 50 /50, The Artist, The Skin I Live In, Take Shelter, Melancholia, Machine Gun Preacher, Take This Waltz, Afghan Luke, and Breakaway. [VIDEO]

Are we ready to add David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen to list of all-time great director / actor collaborators?

The working relationship between lead actor and director of a movie is one of the most special in Hollywood. When it goes well, the results can be magical and truly special films are born. Just think of the output some of these actor – director pairings produced: Deniro and Scorcese. Depp and Burton. DiCaprio and Scorcese. And perhaps the time is coming to add David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen to the list of all-time great film collaborators.

When A Dangerous Method premieres during the Toronto International Film Festival this year – it will officially be the third collaboration between Cronenberg and Mortensen. They had successfully teamed up in the past, to critical acclaim, in the films A History Of Violence (2005) and Eastern Promises (2008).

The Cadillac Festival Insider had the chance to chat with Cronenberg during TIFF last year (when he was in the midst of shooting A Dangerous Method) and asked him why the continued collaborations with Viggo, “It’s a love affair. It’s a marriage.” replied a half-serious Cronenberg. “Viggo and I have similar senses of humour. It helps you get through long production days.”

A fourth teaming of the actor – director pair will almost certainly happen as a rumored sequel to Eastern Promises has already been given the go-ahead.

TIFF insiders night with the Festival programmers and their best picks

The Toronto International Film Festival held its annual TIFF Insiders night where the TIFF team of programmers all come together and share some of their favorite picks of the Festival. After all, it is this group of people that screen thousands of films each year – rejecting about 90% – to eventually arrive at the 300+ films that make up the 36th edition of TIFF.

So a crowded room of TIFF sponsors, donors, and other festival friends got a chance to meet the programmers and hear about some of the films that really stand out in their minds.

It didn’t take long for the first few programmers to talk about a documentary that seems to make an impact on whoever has seen it, Pink Ribbons, Inc. Léa Pool’s investigative film about the industry and “culture” around breast cancer.

Programmer Jane Schoettle’s highlighted the performance of Matthew Goode in Burning Man as must-see. A personal favorite of Schoettle’s is Pariah with director Dee Rees as a talent to watch out for. We’re already hearing the company behind Pariah is planning a push to get it noticed by Oscar voters.

Another two titles we heard talked about in the room that night; The Hunter with Willem Defoe playing a mercenary and Juan Of The Dead and its funny trailer.

A personal fave of TIFF Midnight Madness programmer Colin Geddes is You’re Next by the director and writer of last year’s Festival indie hit, A Horrible Way To Die. Geddes gem of the Festival is a “Die Hard” type of action film, Sleepless Night (Nuit Blanche.)

Drive, starring a stunt-driving Ryan Gosling was called out a few times as a fun one to see. The film earned the director, Nicolas Winding Refn an award at Cannes this year. (We were then reminded that Drive will open up wide in theatres the week after TIFF, so perhaps look for films at the Festival that are harder to find playing later.)

Real To Reel programmer Thom Powers wasted no time in calling Paradise Lost 3 – Purgatory his gem of the festival. The filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky started their quest almost twenty years ago with the first Paradise Lost. It was just a few weeks ago when the featured protagonists of the films, were in the news, as the final twist in their two decade legal odysssy was finally written.

A hot pick of veteran TIFF Programmer Michèle Maheux is We Need To Talk About Kevin starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. Maheux’s favorite was The Artist – shot entirely in black and white, without dialogue and in a traditional 1.33 aspect ratio, the film excited someone in the audience who previously saw it so much she blurted out, “(The Artist) is most fun you’ll have at the film festival this year.”

Cameron Bailey cited Rampart starring Woody Harrelson as a very hot pick of the Festival. Bailey calls Harrelson’s performance of a dirty cop in LA one that is sure, “to get noticed by the Oscar voters this year.” Cameron’s gem and “one of the most gripping” films of the festival is Guilty. Vincent Garenq’s disturbing drama from France investigates the corrupt judicial system and false accusations of pedophilia. The TIFF co-director was quick to call Elles starring Juliette Binoche his not-to-miss of the Festival.

Piers Handling’s favorite pick was the french film Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale) – Handling called it simply, “the french Apocalypse Now.”

What’s on the Cadillac Festival Insider’s not-to-miss list? Branwen Okpako’s The Education of Auma Obama. A documentary on the U.S. President’s older half-sister. Festival programmer Rasha Salti was so happy to find this film and bring it to TIFF. Salti describes Auma as having many of the same passionate characteristics as her powerful brother.

Harvey Weinstein has a very busy TIFF’10 – Barry Avrich’s untitled documentary sells to IFC

The legend of Harvey Weinstein only grows larger after TIFF’10. Besides Harvey having a very active Toronto festival – his new company Weinsteiin Co. acquired three high-profile films, each acquisition in the seven figure range.

The name “Harvey Weinstein” made news in Toronto for another reason too. A long time in the making documentary by Barry Avrich was acquired by IFC in a deal that saw worldwide rights sold to Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project. The doc is narrated by Peter Fonda.

The Cadillac Festival Insider spotted Mr. Avrich at an August TIFF press event and we asked Barry about the status of his Weinstein documentary and whether we could maybe see a Toronto Film Festival premiere? Avrich said he didn’t have time to get it ready for Toronto but the doc was finished and would be released sometime in 2011. Guess Barry wasn’t too busy to still take in enough of TIFF this year to get his film sold.

“I believe that great stories must be told. Harvey and Bob Weinstein, without a question, redefined so many rules of Hollywood marketing, distribution and filmmaking that you simply can’t ignore their impact on history. Many of their business principles and strategies also redefined other industry practices and quite frankly, other industries. Without Hollywood’s ‘Last Bully’, there would be no Pulp Fiction, no one would have known about that English patient, Rob Marshall would still be a chorus boy and Quentin would be recommending Bruce Lee’s greatest hits in some video store. IFC Films is a great home for my film and I am thrilled that it will be receiving such a prominent release.” – BARRY AVRICH

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TIFF’10 GALA: The Town – director Ben Affleck bringing an all-star cast to Toronto

One of the most anticipated Gala premieres at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival is for director Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN. In Affleck’s sophomore directorial effort, Ben has managed to assemble a powerhouse cast. From the A-list actor-turned-director to Oscar nominees, and even a Gossip Girl star. This Roy Thomson Hall Gala is sure to be a centre of attention that night in Toronto.

Because one Cadillac Festival Insider can’t be everywhere during TIFF – there really are just TOO many events going on some evenings. We’ve enlisted some help from a few people who will share their Cadillac Festival Insider experiences.

Toronto PR girl, and The A List Blogger Alanna Glicksman will be attending THE TOWN’s Gala premiere screeening and will share her experiences later in the week. Alanna blogs today on The A List;

The star-studded TIFF gala premiere of The Town is one of this year’s hot ticket shows. With Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall set to grace the red carpet with their presence, the paparazzi will have lots of tabloid-worthy pictures to sell. Sure to dazzle is the lovely Blake, who is famous for her baring all on the red carpet, and dashing Ben, who like a fine wine only gets better with age.

The rumor mill is buzzing about possible red carpet appearances from significant others Penn Badgley and Jennifer Garner, but my money’s on a Penn appearance. The Gossip Girl couple aren’t shy about flaunting their love, while Ben and Jen tend to avoid walking the red carpet together.

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FIRST LOOK VIDEO – THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town documentary brings Bruce Springsteen to TIFF for Gala premiere and interview

When THE BOSS himself, Bruce Springsteen steps onto the red carpet for the TIFF Gala world premiere of THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town it will continue a tradition of the Toronto festival being able to attract not just the biggest movie actors in the world – but also in recent years, some huge icons from the music world too.

During the 2008 Toronto festival guitar gods Jack White, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and The Edge (U2) all came to Toronto in support of the documentary, IT MIGHT GET LOUD. Last year, we saw U2′s Bono and Edge turn up on a TIFF red carpet in support of fellow Irish director Neil Jordan’s new film.

And It won’t just be at the Roy Thomson Hall Gala on September 14th where we’ll see Springsteen. Earlier in the day, Bruce will sit down with actor / friend Ed Norton for a rare in-depth live interview at the new Bell Lightbox building.

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10 essential films at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival for red carpet celebrity spotting – get your cameras ready!

INSIDE JOB - Thursday, Sept 9th @ Ryerson 9pm. Matt Damon is narrator of this documentary and should make a surprise appearance.

STONE – Friday, Sept 10th @ Elgin 9pm. The legend himself Robert De Niro, with Milla Jovovich and Edward Norton.

SUPER – Friday, Sept 10th @ Ryerson midnight. Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Canada’s own Ellen Page. and maybe even Kevin Bacon.

NEVER LET ME GO – Saturday, Sept 11th @ Ryerson 6pm. Great chance to see A-lister Keira Knightly and two up-and-coming stars; Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, New Spiderman), and Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wallstreet 2)

THE TOWN – Saturday, Sept 11th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and director Ben Affleck (might we see Ben’s wife Jennifer Garner join him on The Town’s big night)

HEREAFTER – Sunday, Sept 12th @ Elgin 9pm. The icon Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon. Don’t be surprised if Matt’s good friend Ben Affleck shows up too.

YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER – Sunday, Sept 12th @ Elgin 6pm. The directing icon Woody Allen brings a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Freida Pinto, and possibly Antonio Banderas.

BLACK SWAN – Monday, Sept 13th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. One of the most buzzed films at TIFF brings Natalie Portman and (we think) Mila Kunis too for a red carpet pair too beautiful for words.

HENRY’S CRIME - Tuesday, Sept 14th @ Elgin 9pm. Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, James Caan. Need we say more?

THE MAKING OF DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN – Tuesday, Sept 14th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. There doesn’t get bigger superstars then Bruce Springsteen and his red carpet entrance promises a sight to be seen (and you never know what friends Bruce will surely bring to his rare film festival appearance. Count on Ed Norton for one.)

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Black Swan opens the 67th Venice Film Festival – Natalie Portman joins director Darren Aronofsky in Italy – Mila Kunis still filming in New York

The world’s oldest International Film Festival – Venice kicked off their 67th edition last night with a Gala world premiere of DARREN ARONOFSKY’S Black Swan. The eagerly awaited thriller features NATALIE PORTMAN and MILA KUNIS as dueling ballerinas and will also make a Toronto International Film Festival debut next week. Variety’s Peter Debruge called it a “wicked, sexy and ultimately devastating study of a young dancer’s all-consuming ambition.”

Portman made the trip to Italy to accompany her director and was a beautiful vision of red on the Gala opening night red carpet.

Unfortunately, Natalie’s co-star from the film, MILA KUNIS did not make the trip to Venice. Mila’s career is on fire of late and has been filming back-to-back projects for the last while. So on the same day Portman was supporting the film in Venice, Kunis was in New York shooting a romantic comedy with Justin Timberlake.

Will Mila’s busy filming schedule also keep her from TIFF’s red carpet when Black Swan has it’s Toronto premiere? This Festival Insider is betting there just might be enough space in Mila’s schedule next week for a quick Toronto visit.

“Six months ahead of the film, I went into sort of hyper-training, where five hours a day I was doing both ballet and cross-training, with swimming. A few months before was when we started getting into the choreography. It was very extreme.” – Natalie Portman, in Venice on her preparation for Black Swan

Cadillac Festival Insider chats with film critic Richard Crouse on TIFF 2010 picks – Emma Stone in Easy A, Woody Allen’s latest and THE BOSS

Bruce McDonald’s TRIGGER – starring Molly Parker, Don McKeller, and the late Tracy Wright to be first film screened at The Bell Lightbox

It was announced during August by Toronto Film Festival co-director Cameron Bailey that iconic film director Bruce McDonald’s latest feature, Trigger will be the inaugural film premiere on September 12th at the new home of TIFF – the Bell Lightbox on King st. It will certainly be a night when the best in Canadian cinema will shine.

Trigger has McDonald returning to familiar themes of musicianship and artistry explored in his earlier films. Starring Molly Parker and Tracy Wright as former music partners that are reunited years later. Sadly, Tracy Wright passed away this year and there are sure to be some special moments of remembrance when Trigger opens up the Bell Lightbox that first Saturday of TIFF’10.

Bruce McDonald first burst onto the Canadian filmmaking scene in the mid-90′s with the now cult classic, Hard Core Logo (We hear a sequel is in the works.) Quentin Tarantino is a big fan of Bruce McDonald movies especially Hard Core Logo. Tarantino actually helped McDonald distribute HCL under Tarantino’s own personal studio name to ensure the widest possible audience saw Logo. A few years ago before emerging onto the international scene with her Oscar nominated role in Juno – McDonald cast Ellen Page in The Tracey Fragments.

TIFF co-director Cameron Baily congratulates Trigger actor Don Mckeller at August press conference to announce the Bruce McDonald film as the Bell Lightbox opening night Gala.

IVAN and JASON REITMAN had a very busy TIFF 2009 with Up In The Air, Jennifer’s Body, and Chloe all having Toronto premieres

(festivalinsider.ca) There could not have been a more active father-son duo in the filmmaking business then what Ivan and Jason Reitman put on display during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Put simply, the Reitmans owned TIFF’09. Jason Reitman was in Toronto as producer on Jennifer’s Body and director on the already highly acclaimed UP IN THE AIR. After the recent film festival reviews for Up In The Air, many think the George Clooney starring vehicle will be well represented come awards time. During the press conference, Jason was sure to point out a key producer on the film, his father, Ivan Reitman proudly sitting in the first row with the assembled media. It wasn’t the only business at TIFF for Ivan – he was also there to support another Gala premiering film he produced – the Atom Egoyan directed CHLOE. From press, to red carpet premieres and receptions, there was no shortage of Reitman sightings during the 2009 TIFF week.

Duchess of York SARAH FERGUSON spent 15 years producing The Young Victoria – Toronto Film Festival’s closing night Gala film

The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson spent a few days in Toronto during TIFF week on a couple of different missions. First, The Duchess and her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York spent an evening at Ultra on Queen St. to launch the Canadian arm of the Sarah Ferguson Charitable Foundation. The next evening, The Duchess would be walking the TIFF red carpet to support a film she produced, the closing night Gala THE YOUNG VICTORIA featuring Emily Blunt in the starring role. Producing the film has been a 15-year labor of love for Ms. Ferguson as she first became fascinated with Royal life and its unique history when she spent time in Buckingham Palace after marrying Prince Andrew in 1986. The Duchess said in repeated media interviews during her week in Toronto that she related to the story of at least one character in the film, not the Queen herself, but Albert, the beloved consort who was after Queen Victoria’s heart.

“But if you’re not born into royalty, you never really belong there.” – SARAH FERGUSON

STATEMENT from director LEE DANIELS on winning the CADILLAC PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD for PRECIOUS at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

“I like to dedicate this award to Cameron Bailey. Cameron your support of me and belief in my work from the beginning of the The Woodsman, Shadowboxer and now Precious is unparalleled. For that, I give you my fullest gratitude. I wish I could be there myself to accept the award on behalf of the film but I just landed in San Sebastian, Spain and I’m on the way for the films premiere here in a few hours. I can’t begin to express my gratitude. The audience award holds such an important meaning. I made this film for every person out there who ever looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back. This is not an art film for a select few. This is a movie that everybody can relate to. This film is for all precious girls and for everyone who has a little precious on the inside. Thank you so much, I am so honoured with this award there is nothing more special then being honoured by the public, by my peers. Again, I send heartfelt thanks to Maple Pictures and Lionsgate and somebody I forgot to thank at our premiere – a friend, an ally, a mentor, our co-executive producer Simone Sheffield. Thank you everyone.” – LEE DANIELS

KEANU REEVES opens the DOOR on second chapter of acting career with Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee premiering at TIFF

(festivalinsider.ca) Keanu Reeves made a rare film festival appearance in Toronto this week with Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee which premiered at TIFF to very good reviews (especially for Reeves’ co-star in the film Robin Wright Penn.) Reeves touched upon a number of subjects during a day of press leading up to the films Gala premiere. He shared his thoughts on the recent passing of a friend Patrick Swayze, “he was a beautiful person and honest.” Keanu also talked at length about how his career is in transition from the earlier action oriented parts he had become known for. “I feel I’m starting the second chapter of my career. It’s a property of age. Certain roles and what you’ve done in the past just don’t hold the same power…” said Reeves during the press conference for the film.

“I know I’ve been very lucky, and at this point, I don’t really have to work for dough.” – Keanu Reeves

Nicolas Cage at 2009 TIFF press conference ON the importance of acting awards and where he keeps his Oscar

NICOLAS CAGE has come to Toronto this year in support of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. It was an especially reflective Cage in the press conference for the film accompanied by director Werner Herzog. “You can’t make movies thinking about awards…You make movies just coming from the heart.” – NICOLAS CAGE

MARY J. BLIGE talks about her inspiration for PRECIOUS theme song during press conference for PRECIOUS

With a packed press conference of the world’s media in attendance. Producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry brought a very buzzed about cast to Toronto for the premiere of PRECIOUS. Mary J. Blige was personally called by Oprah about creating music for the movie. Considering the subject matter of the film, Blige could relate and immediately set out to write songs.

Woody Harrelson plays the superhero at TIFF this year in DEFENDOR – Doesn’t see the point of making a CHEERS movie

Woody Harrelson is back at the Toronto Film Festival again this year with another quirky type of character part he has been playing the last few years. In DEFENDOR, Woody takes a stab at playing a superhero. The film has been playing to good buzz and since Harrelson’s performance a couple of years ago in the Oscar winning NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, he has been on a run with a string of good films. The TIFFinsider still couldn’t resist asking Woody about the prospects of a CHEERS reunion movie, or had one even ever been discussed. “Not that I had heard of.” quipped Woody. Would he do a CHEERS movie if one was offered? (thinking for second) “Probably not. I think we kind of covered everything on tv.”

Jason Reitman’s UP IN THE AIR flies into TIFF on strong reviews from Telluride Film Festival

Well, its safe to say director Jason Reitman will be having himself a very busy TIFF this year. Besides the highly anticipated George Clooney starring Up In The Air, Reitman is also in Toronto as producer on Jennifer’s Body. And if Jason can find the time, we’re sure he’ll be around to support his father Ivan Reitman’s Chloe, the Atom Egoyan directed film which Reitman Sr. produced and is also having a TIFF red carpet premiere.

Up In The Air had its first real showing at the Telluride Film Festival this past weekend. To say critics were blown away would be an understatement. The intimate showing of Up In The Air at Telluride gave a screening of the film to mostly American critics. Hailing Reitman’s latest as everything from “a triumph” to “sure-fire Oscar contender” should cement Up In The Air’s status as a TIFF must-see movie and where a much larger press pool will now have a chance to see the film.

Let the Awards campaign season officially begin!