HYENA: Premieres Tonight!

Two new Vanguard films premiere make their TIFF debuts tonight, and the first is Hyena, directed by Gerard Johnson. The premiere will take place at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 6:45 PM. Head over to our previous posts to see the poster and clip, profile of director Gerard Johnson, profiles of the actors and a look at Gerard Johnson’s previous film, Tony.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net's Ticket Product List Page
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. West

Further information about Hyena can be found on the Festival website.

HYENA screening times:

Sun., Sept. 7th, 6:45 PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

Tues., Sept. 9th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Fri., Sept. 12th, 12:00 PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

LUNA Premieres Tonight!

It's day three of the festival, and three new Vanguards to make their premieres! First up is Luna from art world legend Dave McKean premiering tonight at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 6:30 PM. Head over to our previous posts to see the poster and trailer, and an interview and a profile of director Dave McKean.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net's Ticket Product List Page
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. West

Further information about Luna can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the film's official website, Facebook page and Twitter account. You can also find director Dave McKean on Twitter.

LUNA screening times:
Sat., Sept 6th, 6:30 PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Mon., Sept 8th 9:00 AM, AGO JACKMAN HALL
Sun., Sept 14th, 8:45 PM, SCOTIABANK 9

LUNA: Who is Dave McKean?

Director Dave McKean is best known for his collaborations with comic world superstar Neil Gaiman. The two met in 1986 after hearing about a publisher interested in publishing an anthology created by unknowns. While the anthology never came to be, they later met with Paul Gravett, co-editor of Escape Magazine, who offered to print a short graphic novel about childhood perception and disturbing memories called Violent Cases.

Violent Cases

After Violent Cases, the pair attended a meeting with DC Comics representatives who were visiting England on a talent scouting expedition. Though McKean said “[they] don’t really want us to do stuff for them, they were probably just being polite”, DC Comics offered them the Black Orchid miniseries, kick starting their long relationship with DC Comics.

Black Orchid

From there, McKean provided the artwork for Grant Morrison’s Batman graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, which quickly became one of the best-selling American superhero comics.

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

McKean is best known for creating the covers for Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Using a variety of techniques such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and computer manipulation, McKean was able to convince DC editor Karen Berger that the protagonist did not need to appear on every cover.

Creating the cover for The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes

Sandman #10: The Wake

Sandman #11: Vertigo

Luna is not Dave McKean’s first foray into film. His feature film debut was 2005’s MirrorMask, written by Neil Gaiman and produced by Jim Henson Studios. Dave McKean also provided the illustrations for Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, which was later adapted into a stop motion film by Henry Selick and Laika Studios.

Coraline's The Other Mother

With Luna, McKean’s disturbingly gorgeous illustrations will come to life in a blend of live action and animation that is sure to be memorable.

Further information about Luna can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the film's official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

LUNA Screening Times:

Sat., Sept. 6, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:30 PM
Mon., Sept. 8, AGO Jackman Hall 9:00 AM
Sun., Sept. 14, Scotiabank 9 8:45 PM

HYENA: Poster and Clip

Writer and director Gerard Johnson follows up his 2009 serial killer comedy-drama Tony with Hyena, a British crime thriller about an undercover cop, Michael (Peter Ferdinando), who skims profits from the drug traffickers he's been sworn to take down. Michael's life begins to quickly change as his side gig is threatened of becoming exposed by an internal investigation and the arrival of two Albanian thugs shake up his crime world alliances.

Below are the poster and a short clip for Hyena, which plays this year's Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Hyena can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the film's IMDB page and director Gerard Johnson's Twitter account.

HYENA's screening times:

Sun., Sept. 7, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:45 PM
Tue., Sept. 9, Scotiabank 12 9:00 PM
Fri., Sept. 12, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 12:00 PM

LUNA First Look: Trailer and Poster

Dave McKean, best known for his collaborations with Neil Gaiman on Sandman, Hellblazer, and Arkham Asylum, follows up his 2005 fantasy film MirrorMask with Luna. Struggling after a major death in the family, Grant (Ben Daniels) and Christine (Dervla Kirwan) visit an old friend Dean (Michael Maloney) and his new girlfriend Freya (Stephanie Leonidas) at their cottage by the sea. Over the course of a long weekend, the four experience a series of hallucinatory dreams and visions, gorgeously envisioned and brought to life by McKean.

Below are the trailer and posters for Luna, which plays this year's Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Luna can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the film's official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

LUNA's screening times:

Sat., Sept. 6, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:30 PM
Mon., Sept. 8, AGO Jackman Hall 9:00 AM
Sun., Sept. 14, Scotiabank 9 8:45 PM

SIGHTSEERS Premieres Tonight!

Ben Wheatley's Sightseers premieres tonight at the Ryerson Theatre at 9:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Ryerson Theatre Box Office; 350 Victoria Street

Further information about Ben Wheatley's Sightseers can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Sightseers website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

SIGHTSEERS screening times:

• Tues., Sept. 11, Ryerson Theatre 9:00 PM 
• Thurs., Sept. 13, Ryerson Theatre 12:00 PM 
• Sun., Sept. 16, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 7:00 PM

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO Premieres Tonight!

Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio premieres tonight at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 6:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office; 506 Bloor Street West

Further information about Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Berberian Sound Studio Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO screening times:

• Mon., Sept. 10, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 3 2:45 PM

ILL MANORS Premieres Tonight!

Ben Drew's Ill Manors premieres tonight at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 9:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office; 506 Bloor Street West

Further information about Ben Drew's Ill Manors can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Ill Manors Website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Scotiabank 4 4:15 PM
• Sat., Sept. 15, Scotiabank 4 9:30 PM

PUSHER Premieres Tonight!

Luis Prieto's Pusher premieres tonight at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 9:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office; 506 Bloor Street West

Further information about Luis Prieto's Pusher can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Pusher Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

PUSHER screening times:

• Fri., Sept. 7, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM 
• Sun., Sept. 9, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 10 12:00 PM

Alternative Posters for BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO

Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio, playing the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme, has released a collection of alternative posters by Julian House through their Facebook page. 

Further information about Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Berberian Sound Studio Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO screening times:

• Mon., Sept. 10, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 3 2:45 PM

iLL MANORS Director Profile: Ben Drew

Ben Drew, better known as English rapper and singer-songwriter Plan B, began his career in film as an actor in Noel Clarke's 2008 film Adulthood. In 2009, he joined Michael Caine in Daniel Barber's thriller Harry Brown, which had its World Premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. With iLL Manors, Ben Drew will mark his feature directorial debut.

Production on iLL Manors began in September 2010, but did not always go smoothly. The film is a gritty portrayal of violent crime in the Forest Gate area of London, so it is unsurprising that conflicts arose. After filming was completed, Ben told UK newspaper The Sun that "we’ve had bolts and screws thrown at us from the top of fucking council estate towers. We’ve been to crack houses where there are dirty needles lying around. And a gang were about 30 seconds away from smashing my face in." At the film's London premiere, Ben told MTV News that "crack heads robbed the laptop with the days rushes on it and me and one of the other guys in the crew chased him down and caught the mother-fucker and got the rushes back."

The film, which has received largely positive reviews utilizes six original Plan B songs to guide the film's interwoven narration. The film's lead single, also titled iLL Manors, was written as a reaction to the 2011 England riots and "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The soundtrack for the film was the number one album the week of August 4th, 2012 in the UK.



ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9th, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
• Tues., Sept. 11th, 4:15 PM, SCOTIABANK 4
• Sat., Sept. 15th, 9:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 4

ILL MANORS Poster and Trailer

British rapper Ben Drew, also known as Plan B, writes and directs Ill Manors, a London crime drama Hollywood Reporter calls a "powerful and timely debut."

Below are the poster and trailer for Ill Manors, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Ben Drew's Ill Manors can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Ill Manors Website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Scotiabank 4 4:15 PM
• Sat., Sept. 15, Scotiabank 4 9:30 PM

PUSHER Poster and Trailer

Nicolas Winding Refn, director of the 2011 Festival selection Drive, serves as executive producer on this English-language remake of his 1996 cult classic. Director Luis Prieto's Pusher follows Frank (Richard Coyle), a mid-level London drug dealer who botches a job and scrambles when his life quickly spins out of control.

Below are the poster and trailer for Pusher, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Luis Prieto's Pusher can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Pusher Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

PUSHER screening times:

• Fri., Sept. 7, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM 
• Sun., Sept. 9, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 10 12:00 PM

SIGHTSEERS Poster and Trailer

Following up on the 2011 Midnight Madness favourite Kill List, director Ben Wheatley takes the sad-sack lovers of his new film -- Sightseers -- on a homicidal holiday. Yes, Tina and Chris' caravan vacation gets more than a little bloody. The Hollywood Reporter declares Sightseers as "the most consistently hilarious Brit-com for a good half-decade -- probably since Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz," who also serves as Executive Producer on Wheatley's film.

Below are the poster and trailer for Sightseers, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Ben Wheatley's Sightseers can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Sightseers website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

SIGHTSEERS screening times:

• Tues., Sept. 11, Ryerson Theatre 9:00 PM 
• Thurs., Sept. 13, Ryerson Theatre 12:00 PM 
• Sun., Sept. 16, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 7:00 PM

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO Poster and Trailer

Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio is a tense psychological thriller behind the scenes of 1970s Italian horror cinema, boasting a performance by renowned character actor Toby Jones that Empire Magazine calls "masterful."

Below are the poster and trailer for Berberian Sound Studio, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Berberian Sound Studio Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO screening times:

• Mon., Sept. 10, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 3 2:45 PM