Film Visionaries Shape and Influence Cinematic Landscape with 2017 TIFF Masters Programme

The Toronto International Film Festival® has earned global recognition for its breadth of diversity and innovation in programming, and the lineup for the Masters programme is no exception. 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.

“These are some of the greatest and most respected filmmakers working today, and we are excited to bring their latest films to TIFF audiences,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “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 filmmaking 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 runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

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 *Previously announced with the Canadian feature lineup

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

The Third Murder (Sandome no Satsujin) Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan - North American Premiere

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

For film synopses, cast lists, images and more information see tiff.net/masters.

Festival tickets go on sale September 4 at 10am (with TIFF Member pre-sale on September 2 from 10am to 4pm). Buy tickets online at tiff.net, by phone at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets.

About TIFF

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. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

The Toronto International Film Festival is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada and the City of Toronto.