These female-led projects premiering at Toronto International Film Festival 2023 have us excited for the future of cinema
Toronto International Film Festival 2023 has one of the most stellar line-ups of films we have ever seen at any movie festival in recent times. I mean, there are so many projects that have caught our attention due to the female line-up, whether it be the talented cast or the equally gifted directors bringing much-needed stories to life.
Of course, with the SAG-AFTRA writer's strike in Hollywood in full swing, actors cannot promote their upcoming projects, which will undoubtedly affect the A-list turnout and key industry events at this year's TIFF.
However, it's important to note these artists' hard work, culminating in the coveted film projects that made it to the world stage at TIFF this year.
At least 20 queer projects are interrupted, delayed, or paused while the unions advocate for better labor conditions.
From British talents such as Jodie Comer and Phoebe Dynevor to bonafide stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Amanda Seyfried making their mark and to well-known names making their directorial debut, such as Anna Kendrick and Patricia Arquette, these are the best female-led-projects to keep a look out for at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023.
© 2023 MRC II Distribution Company, L.P.Fair Play
For one of TIFF's most relevant films in terms of gender inequality and expectations in society and workplaces today, Fair Play, an erotic thriller directed by Chloe Domont in her feature debut, will prove to be a must-watch. The movie centres on two lovebirds who meet at a fast-paced, cutthroat financial firm. However, soon after the pair become engaged, a promotion arises at their job, and what ensues is a bitter, toxic and challenging battle, which has them both pulling out all the stops to reign supreme in their careers at the expense of their relationship.
Kerry BrownNorth Star
Serving as Kristin Scott Thomas' directorial debut, the family drama North Star boasts a cast of Scarlett Johansson, Freida Pinto, Sienna Miller and Emily Beecham. The movie sees three sisters return home to attend the wedding of their twice-widowed mother, Diana. The relationships between the sisters are explored, with all three being significantly different: Georgina is a palliative nurse, Victoria is an actress, and Katherine is a captain in the Royal Navy.
Kimberly FrenchLee
We can already predict Oscar recognition for Kate Winslet, who stars as the title war journalist Lee Miller in this upcoming biographical film. Directed by Ellen Kuras, the true-life-inspired movie is set to chronicle the fascinating life of the hugely famous American photojournalist Lee Miller, whose talents gave us some of the most memorable images in the 20th century. Lee's journey from her early days in 1930's Paris, where she worked as a model and muse to avant-garde photographer Man Ray to her time at British Vogue and to her work bringing some of the most horrific images to the general public is chronicled in this movie.
© 2023 Netflix, Inc.Pain Hustlers
Based on the non-fiction book, The Hard Sell — Pain Hustlers by Evan Hughes, Emily Blunt stars as a woman who takes a job at a failing pharmaceutical startup after struggling to raise her daughter when let go from a previous employer. However, while hoping to start fresh, she doesn't anticipate suddenly being entered into a dangerous racketeering scheme that turns her life upside down. Catherine O'Hara and Chris Evans also star in this movie which will hit Netflix later this year.
Sony PicturesDumb Money
Sure, Dumb Money stars Paul Dano and Seth Rogen in its lead roles, but it would not have come to be without its mega-talented supporting female cast of America Ferrera and Shailene Woodley. Based on Ben Mezrich's 2021 book, The Antisocial Network: The GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees, the movie is set to explore how a set of average everyday folks flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning the videogame store GameStop in the most sought-after company.
Frazer HarrisonGonzo Girl
As Patricia Arquette's nail-biting directorial debut, Gonzo Girl is based on Cheryl Della Pietra's semi-autobiographical 2015 novel, which chronicled her time as Hunter S. Thompson's personal assistant. During her account, Cheryl said she survived a "three-day trial period involving a .44 magnum, purple-pyramid acid, violent verbal outbursts, brushes with fame and the law, a bevy of peacocks, and a whole lot of cocaine".
Camila Morrone takes on the role of an aspiring writer Alley Russo who is hired as the new assistant of brash and outspoken Walker Reade (Willem Dafoe). Alley quickly finds out that Willem is under extreme pressure to produce a new book after a fifteen-year hiatus while he also navigates his relationship with his long-term manager Claudia (played by Arquette herself!) and his young new love interest Devaney (You's Elizabeth Lail). As Alley struggles, she soon starts unleashing her inner thoughts by writing her own story...
Anika MolnarThe End We Start From
It'll be incredible to see Jodie Comer in another light than her Villanelle alter-ego. In this British survival film, directed by Mahalia Belo, Jodie stars as a new mother who is torn apart from her family as she is forced to abandon her home in London and flee north following an environmental crisis along with her newborn. Katherine Waterston, Joel Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch also star in this apocalyptic drama.
Leah GalloWoman of the Hour
Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut in Woman of the Hour, which is based on serial killer Rodney Alcala who took part in and won a dating show in the midst of his evil killing spree. The movie will revolve around the events of the dating show, and Anna herself will star as Cheryl Bradshaw, the main contestant, during the day of Rodney's appearance.
Amanda MatlovichSeven Veils
In Seven Veils, Amanda Seyfried takes on the role of an earnest theatre director named Jeanine, whose responsibilities include remounting her ex-mentor's most famous work, the Salome, the opera. However, the job leaves her "haunted by dark and disturbing memories from her past, allowing her repressed trauma to colour the present as she re-enters the opera world after so many years away." Sounds super gothic and mysterious!
