Toronto Film Festival Dailies

Director Joe Dante 

by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced four presentations in Dialogues: Talking with Pictures, the Festival’s critically acclaimed film series curated by renowned directors or film artists. This year, Ted Kotcheff, Neil Jordan, Joe Dante and Sook- Yin Lee will present films that have inspired them or have marked a significant period in their careers.

Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Fright (a.k.a. Outback) developed a reputation as Australia’s lost masterpiece. After an extensive search that lasted years, the original film materials were finally located in a Pittsburgh vault in 2002, one week before their incineration. Following its screening in the retrospective programme at the Cannes Film Festival this past May, the North American premiere of the fully digitally restored film will be presented at the Festival.

Neil Jordan’s first two films, Angel and The Company of Wolves, made a stunning impact and carved his way to become one of Ireland's most celebrated directors. The Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and novelist returns to the Festival with the world premiere of his latest film, Ondine, and to present The White Sheik, Federico Fellini’s solo directorial debut.

Veteran American director Joe Dante gained acclaim with Piranha (1978), whose executive producer was the legendary Roger Corman, and with The Howling (1981). Both films were scripted by John Sayles. Later on, Dante’s Gremlins (1984), a dark comedic horror film produced by Steven Spielberg, delighted and thrilled audiences of all ages. Dante’s in-joke movie references pervade his extensive film career, which includes Innerspace, Matinee, Small Soldiers and his latest film, in 3-D, The Hole, which makes its North American premiere at the Festival this year.

Gifted Canadian musician, actress, filmmaker, television host and producer, Sook-Yin Lee has the world premiere of her debut feature, Year of the Carnivore, at this year’s Festival. For Dialogues, Lee will present a screening of Jane Campion’s first theatrical feature, Sweetie, a strikingly original and darkly comic work that centres on a dysfunctional pair of contrasting sisters.