Toronto Film Festival Dailies

TORONTO — Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, Co-Heads of TIFF, today announced the new documentary David Foster: Off the Record will have its World Premiere at TIFF. The film’s premiere will be followed with a special tribute to David Foster at the TIFF Tribute Gala. 

With his latest film, award-winning Canadian director Barry Avrich (The Last Mogul, Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz) mixes rare archival footage, interviews, and unprecedented access to the Victoria, BC–born musician, producer, songwriter, and composer, charting Foster’s career to date and sharing what is next. Foster has helped sell more than a half-billion records. He has collaborated with such artists as Chicago, Barbra Streisand, and Andrea Bocelli and been credited with discovering and working with Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, and Josh Groban.

“A global musical genius, David Foster has left his mark on some of the most timeless songs of today while discovering and launching the careers of the industry’s most talented artists, defining what it means to be a multi-hyphenate musician,” said Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head, TIFF. “We are proud to celebrate his creations and collaborations with the World Premiere of David Foster: Off the Record at TIFF, honouring Foster in his native country.”

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate and honour David than by premiering David Foster: Off the Record at TIFF,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “Through Bell Media Studios’ partnership with Melbar Entertainment, we are thrilled to bring this inspiring documentary of the legendary music icon to life and showcase David’s remarkable story on the world stage before bringing the film to CTV and Crave.”

In addition to Streisand, Bublé, Dion, and Groban, the film features Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Clive Davis, Kristin Chenoweth, Peter Cetera, Diane Warren, Carole Bayer Sager, wife Katharine McPhee, and daughters Erin and Sara Foster. The film is produced by Lennox, Caitlin Cheddie, and Avrich, with Lennox, Avrich, Jeffrey Latimer, and Marc Johnston as executive producers.

“David Foster fills a frame with his greatest-showman-on-Earth style,” said Avrich. “He is a world-class combination of rule-breaker, game-changer, and complex genius.” 

Throughout his career, Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards — including three for Producer of the Year — an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe, and has been nominated for three Oscars for Best Original Song. His resume includes soundtracks for films such as Urban Cowboy (1980), St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), and The Bodyguard (1992). He is also avidly involved in charitable work; he started the David Foster Foundation in 1986 to provide financial support to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

TIFF previously announced that three-time Academy Award–winning actor Meryl Streep will receive the TIFF Tribute Actor Award and Participant Media will receive the TIFF Impact Award at the Gala, the latter being accepted by Founder and Chairman Jeff Skoll and CEO David Linde. In addition, the inaugural Mary Pickford Award, in celebration of United Artists’ 100th anniversary and honouring a female emerging talent in the industry, will be given to a recipient to be announced. Additional honourees for the TIFF Tribute Gala will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 44th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5–15, 2019. 

For information on purchasing a table for the TIFF Tribute Gala, please contact development@tiff.net.

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For more information, contact Emma Kelly at ekelly@tiff.net or the Communications Department at 416.934.3200, or email proffice@tiff.net.

Film assets, Official TIFF logos, TIFF Festival creative, and Festival photography available at tiff.net/press.

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 program 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 Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, 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.

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