10 faves from a year not among film's best

In a movie year mostly filled with mediocrity and a struggling domestic box office to prove it, a few films stood head and shoulders above the rest. Here they are, in one man's humble opinion and order of preference, with his annual list of personal favorites.

"The Artist" -- Silence is golden in black and white and glorious old Hollywood.

"The Descendants" -- Co-writer and director Alexander Payne and unquestionable star George Clooney (right), in perhaps the year's best performance, touch all the right emotional chords with this simply grand dramedy.

"Take Shelter" -- Just because this big little film was shot mostly in northeastern Ohio doesn't put it on this list. The disturbingly powerful study of one man's fears in our troubled times so rife with uncertainty makes it as deserving as it is.

"The Tree of Life" -- Moving, memorable and perhaps filled with images never before seen in a studio film. At its core, though, is a family story very unconventionally told, as always, by the ever-perplexing Terrence Malick.

"Drive" -- With violence to the compelling max, courtesy of Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn and an unnamed hero nicely played by Ryan Gosling, it also offers up mood, style and terrific pacing.

"Moneyball" -- Somehow they made a movie about my favorite sport (baseball) without dumbing it down (even if they didn't mention that the best starting pitching staff at the time was mostly responsible for Oakland GM Billy Beane's diamond success).

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" -- The end of the most successful franchise in cinematic history came with a bang and one very special finale. If there's any justice, it will at least get some well-deserved notice among Mr. Oscar's Best Picture nominees.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" -- David Fincher gets back to unsettling territory with an intense and thrilling adaptation of Stieg Larsson's original best seller. Oh, yeah, Rooney Mara (left) gives a star-making performance, too.

"Midnight in Paris" -- You won't usually see either Woody Allen or Owen Wilson on any best list here, but the latter is superb as a kind of Allen clone mingling with a literate ol' crowd in a sparkling and funny tribute to the City of Lights.

"Win Win" -- Another indie-like gem from Thomas McCarthy and a smart ensemble cast that makes his small, yet complex story feel so incredibly human.

For more on the best and worst of 2011 movies, visit Sun News this weekend.

'The Artist,' 'Hugo' top CCMAs with 11 nods

Here are nominees for the 17th annual Critics Choice Movie Awards. Winners will be announced during a VH1 cable telecast, beginning at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 from the famed Hollywood Palladium

BEST PICTURE

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney – “The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio – “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist”
Michael Fassbender – “Shame”
Ryan Gosling – “Drive”
Brad Pitt – “Moneyball”

BEST ACTRESS
Viola Davis – “The Help”
Elizabeth Olsen – “Martha Marcy May Marlene”
Meryl Streep – “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Charlize Theron – “Young Adult”
Michelle Williams – “My Week With Marilyn”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Kenneth Branagh – “My Week With Marilyn”
Albert Brooks – “Drive”
Nick Nolte – “Warrior”
Patton Oswalt – “Young Adult”
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners”
Andrew Serkis – “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo – “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy – “Bridesmaids”
Carey Mulligan – “Shame”
Octavia Spencer – “The Help”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Asa Butterfield – “Hugo”
Elle Fanning – “Super 8”
Thomas Horn – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Ezra Miller – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”
Saoirse Ronan – “Hanna”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March

BEST DIRECTOR
Stephen Daldry – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Michel Hazanavicius – “The Artist”
Alexander Payne – “The Descendants”
Nicolas Winding Refn – “Drive”
Martin Scorsese – “Hugo”
Steven Spielberg – “War Horse”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius
“50/50” – Will Reiser
“Midnight in Paris” – Woody Allen
“Win Win” – Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
“Young Adult” – Diablo Cody

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” – Eric Roth
“The Help” – Tate Taylor
“Hugo” – John Logan
“Moneyball” – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Artist” – Guillaume Schiffman
“Drive” – Newton Thomas Sigel
“Hugo” – Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” – Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” – Janusz Kaminski

BEST ART DIRECTION
“The Artist” – Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” – Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” – Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“The Tree of Life” – Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank
“War Horse” – Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales

BEST EDITING
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
“Drive” – Matthew Newman
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wal
“Hugo” – Thelma Schoonmaker
“War Horse” – Michael Kahn

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“The Artist” – Mark Bridges
“The Help” – Sharen Davis
“Hugo” – Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” – Michael O’Connor
“My Week With Marilyn” – Jill Taylor

BEST MAKEUP
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
J. Edgar
My Week With Marilyn

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
The Tree of Life

BEST SOUND

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Super 8
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Drive
Fast Five
Hanna
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

BEST COMEDY

Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Horrible Bosses
Midnight in Paris
The Muppets

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

In Darkness
Le Havre
A Separation
The Skin I Live In
Where Do We Go Now

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Buck
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Page One: Inside the New York Times
Project Nim
Undefeated

BEST SONG
“Hello Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Gnomeo & Juliet
“Life’s a Happy Song” – performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“The Living Proof” – performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. – The Help
“Man or Muppet” – performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“Pictures in My Head” – performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman – The Muppets

BEST SCORE

“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
“Drive” – Cliff Martinez
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Hugo” – Howard Shore
“War Horse” – John Williams

Martin Scorsese could have a very big night at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. In addition to the 11 nominations for his film “Hugo,” he directed the Best Documentary Feature nominee “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.” Last week it was announced that Scorsese also will be honored with the Critics’ Choice Music+Film Award at this year’s show.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 250 television, radio and online critics. BFCA members are the primary source of information for today’s film going public. The very first opinion a moviegoer hears about new releases at the multiplex or the art house usually comes from one of its members.

TIFF Cadillac rides with Lebanese film

TORONTO – The 36th Toronto International Film Festival announced its award recipients at a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel today.
The Cadillac People's Choice Award, voted on by Festival audiences, goes to Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now?
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn country, it tells the heartwarming tale of a group of women’s determination to protect their isolated, mine-encircled community from the pervasive and divisive outside forces that threaten to destroy it from within. The award offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by Cadillac. First runner-up is Asghar Farhadi’s "A Separation," and second runner-up is Ken Scott’s "Starbuck."
The Cadillac People’s Choice Documentary Award goes to Jon Shenk for The Island President. In this whirlwind political documentary, Mohamed Nasheed wins the presidency after a 20-year battle for democracy in the Maldives, only to face an unfathomable challenge: to save his island nation from rising seas. "The Island President" follows Nasheed as he takes the climate fight to backroom chambers of power in New York, London, Delhi, and finally into the fierce realpolitik of the Copenhagen Climate Conference. First runner-up is Bess Kargman’s "First Position," and second runner-up is Cameron Crowe’s "Pearl Jam Twenty."
The Cadillac People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award goes to Gareth Evans for The Raid. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais, the film follows a SWAT team that is trapped in a rundown Jakarta apartment block filled with heavily armed drug dealers and killers. First runner-up is Adam Wingard’s "You’re Next," and second runner-up is Bobcat Goldthwait’s "God Bless America."
The SKYY Vodka Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film goes to Nathan Morlando for Edwin Boyd. The jury remarked: "The SKYY Vodka Award for Best First Canadian Feature goes to a film that sets a tone, stays with it, and shows you what it is to be a soldier returning from war only to find that the world has no place for you. This is a film that puts a human face on a Canadian myth." Supported by SKYY Vodka, the award carries a cash prize of $15,000.
The jury gave a special citation to Anne Émond’s Nuit #1: "Anne Emond’s Nuit #1 was simple and raw. It reminded us of the power of two actors with incredible chemistry, a courageous filmmaker, and a dingy apartment. We can’t wait for Nuit #2."
The City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Philippe Falardeau for Monsieur Lazhar. The jury remarked: "Very rarely does a film come along that does everything perfectly. At the end of this movie, my jury members looked at each other, with tears in our eyes. We came to a unanimous decision: the City Of Toronto Award for Best Canadian Feature goes to a film that explores loss, exile, and the truths we tell our children." The award carries a cash prize of $30,000.
The award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Ian Harnarine for Doubles With Slight Pepper. The jury remarked: "Through the humble but moving story of a family in crisis, this film expresses truths that resonate in Canada and around the world. It is the debut of an exciting new voice from whom we hope to see a great deal more." The award offers a $10,000 cash prize. Honourable mentions go to Mathieu Tremblay’s "Of Events" (D'aléas), and Ryan Flowers and Lisa Pham’s "No Words Came Down."
All three Canadian awards were selected by a jury of film professionals. The feature film jury consists of actor Liane Balaban ("One Week," "Up In Cottage Country"); director Sturla Gunnarsson ("Force of Nature"); journalist/producer Denis Séguin ("How to Start Your Own Country"); and producer Gabriella Martinelli (Capri Films). The short film jury members are Sundance programmer Jon Korn; filmmaker and artist Srinivas Krishna ("My Name is Raj"); and Hot Docs Programming Manager Karina Rotenstein.
The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for the Discovery programme is awarded to Axel Petersén for Avalon (Sweden). The jury remarked: "An assured, darkly humorous portrait of an affluent class in hedonistic self-denial, 'Avalon' marks the arrival of a promising new voice in Swedish filmmaking."
The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations is awarded to Gianni Amelio for The First Man (Le Premier Homme, France, Algeria, Italy). The jury remarked: "Gianni Amelio’s realization of an unfinished Albert Camus novel explores the legacy of colonialism with the tenderness of a memoir and the unflinching gaze of a war reporter."
The Festival welcomed an international FIPRESCI jury for the 20th consecutive year. The jury members consist of jury president Diego Batlle (Argentina), Carmen Gray (United Kingdom), Freddie Wong Kwok-Shiu (Hong Kong), Sam Adams (United States), Pascal Grenier (Canada) and John Semley (Canada).
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.

You betcha, Paul Williams Is 'Still Alive'

Paul Williams, the ever-talented if tiny actor/singer/composer, is most popular with fans in Paris and Winnipeg (well, at least his key role in Brian De Palma's cultish "Phantom of the Paradise" certainly is.)
The prolific writer of such memorable songs as "Out in the Country," "The Rainbow Connection" (for his Muppet buddies, at left), "Rainy Days and Mondays" and his Oscar-winning "Evergreen" (co-written with Barbra Streisand for "A Star is Born"), to name only a very select few, originally penned "We've Only Just Begun" for a bank commercial before it was made an immensely famous No. 1 tune by The Carpenters.
These lively tidbits and scores of other fascinating information can be found in the wonderfully compelling "Paul Williams Still Alive," perhaps the most purely entertaining film I viewed during the crowded opening weekend of the 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival.
I mean, where else can you see clips of a man who was a mega-celebrity just about flameout before your eyes, as he did when he guest-hosted "The Merv Grifin Show" or, more hilariously, in co-hosting "The Mike Douglas Show" during the same era?
On the latter, Williams was able to help pick his own guests. Such largesse from nice-guy Douglas, whose syndicated Philadelphia talk show was daytime's highest-rated program at the time, thus allowed Williams to bring in actor and Kennedy clan brother-in-law Peter Lawford, who was just dying to visit Philly to try some of the city's allegedly legendary cocaine. Naturally, he shared the drug with pal Paul, and director Stephen Kessler's grand documentary shows a brief clip of their buzz-eyed pairing.
Obviously, there's much more, too, including what the personable Williams is doing now. One impressive answer is that he's been sober for 21 years and extremely happy, though the little guy was appropriately teary-eyed when Kessler introduced him to a standing ovation after last night's TIFF world premiere.
"Steve went from stalker to a brother," Williams said about Kessler, whose efforts to get Williams to go along with the doc were not exactly met with open arms by its star. "Now I love and trust him with my whole heart."

For more on the Williams film and the rest of my 19th straight festival visit, check out Sun News in a few days.

Too many Toronto films keep us buzzing

One of the many fun things about the annual Toronto International Film Festival is trying to match a movie's actual worth with its pre-screening buzz. Naturally, it becomes a guessing game of immense proportions, and the upcoming TIFF No. 36 certainly shows no signs of anything different.

For now, let's consider Day One (Sept 8) of this year's movie excursion and the plight of a poor visiting journalist who again will be forced to choose from among a wealth of early riches.

In the category of press and industry screenings, which can be attended only by accredited media and seriously connected movie types, viewing will begin at 9 a.m. by having to dismiss respective South African and Indian films called Beauty and Azhagarsamy's Horse for a same-time showing of Lars von Trier's Melancholia.

Of course, the dark master of Dogma offers his usual A-list cast, including Kirsten Dunst (left), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling and the father-son pairing of Stellan and Alexander Skarsgård.

And lest anyone think that sitting through 135 minutes of von Trier is any easy day at the beach, then they really "ain't see nothin' yet."

The noon hour calls for some much more mainstream decision-making. I mean, what would you choose to see? Perhaps Brad Pitt in the reportedly smart baseball movie, Moneyball;

Sundance darling Like Crazy (with Felicity Jones, right); maybe Wim Wenders' 3D dancing doc about a woman named Pina? Or how 'bout none of the above and instead opting to leave the controversial von Trier early for the 11:30 start of the widely discussed We Need to Talk About Kevin (starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly, below left)?

If lunch is not essential -- and for these 10 days in September neither are breakfast or dinner -- many likely will walk right into another selected screening avalanche from 2-3 p.m. That's when the likes of the supposedly startling This is Not a Film; the French and Lebanese Where Do We Go Now?; Japan's Cut, and (at bottom right) Ralph Fiennes' Coriolanus (with a little help from some guy named Shakespeare) will be among a slew of choices screened.

All are followed (or in some cases interrupted) at 4 p.m. by director George Clooney's Ides of March and a few distinguished foreigners, like Austria's Breathing and China's Mr. Tree, taking their bows for the visiting hordes of press and buyers.

On and on it goes, at which theater any particular critic might stop, nobody knows.

Now, I won't even get into the topic of that night's actual festival screenings, which media can attend only by coaxing a favor from a publicist or a perhaps festival-related friend or -- gasp! -- by actually spending some Canadian money on a ticket.

Most journos can get comped for Thursday's official "opening night film," and this year it's Davis

Guggenheim's U2 rock doc, From the Sky Down. Please know, however, that movies such as Werner Herzog's Into the Abyss, Gus Van Sant's Restless, Aki Kaurismäki's Le Havre, and Tunisia's intriguingly named Always Brando will play simultaneously at other venues.

I know, I know, it really is a tough job we festival regulars have. So, hopefully, by the time I offer up my next post -- from the war zone that will be Toronto -- I'll still be in one piece to write about a few films I've actually dared to digest fully. Just please pray that all of the incessant buzz won't get me first.

Celeb guests galore at 36th TIFF gathering

Toronto – The 36th Toronto International Film Festival welcomes hundreds of guests from Sept. 8-18. Filmmakers expected to present their world premieres here include: Davis Guggenheim, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Agnieszka Holland, Guy Maddin, Luc Besson, Bill Duke, Oren Moverman, Malgoska Szumowska, Bennett Miller, Darrell Roodt, Sarah Polley, Jessica Yu, Michael Winterbottom and Werner Herzog.

Actors expected to attend include Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, George Clooney, Brad Pitt (in "Moneyball" right) Clive Owen, Gerard Butler (in "Machine Gun Preacher" below left), Jeon Do-Yeon, Jon Hamm, Shahid Kapoor, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Glenn Close, Matthew Goode, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Ryan Gosling, Salma Hayek, Viggo Mortensen and Woody Harrelson.

Musicians include: U2, Pearl Jam and Neil Young. The Festival also welcomes thousands of

producers and other industry professionals bringing films north.

The following filmmakers are expected to attend: Adam Shaheen, Adam Wingard, Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr., Agnieszka Holland, Akin Omotoso, Al Maysles, Alain Fournier, Alejandro Brugués, Alejandro Landes, Alex Gibney, Alexander Gorelick, Alexander Payne, Alexandre Bustillo, Alexandre Courtes, Alina Rudnitskaya, Alison Murray, Amir Naderi, Andrea Arnold, Andrew Cividino, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Angelina Nikonova, Ann Hui, Anne Emond, Anne Fontaine, Arnaud Brisebois, Asghar Farhadi, Ashley Sabin, Atia Al Daradji, Audrey Paounov, Avie Luthra, Axel Petersen, Ayten Amin, Barbara Willis-Sweete, Béla Tarr, Ben Wheatley, Benjamin Schuetze, Bennett Miller, Bertrand Bonello, Bess Kargman, Bibo Bergeron, Bill Duke, Blake Williams, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bradley Kaplan, Branwen Okpako, Brian Cassidy, Bruce Beresford.

Bruce McDonald, Bruno Dumont, Byran Wizemann, Calvin Thomas, Cameron Crowe, Carl Bessai, Carlos Sorin, Cedric Khan, Channsin Berry, Chantal Akerman, Chelsea McMullan, Chris Kennedy, Christian Petzold, Christian Sparkes, Christophe Honoré, Christophe Van Rompaey, Clarissa Campolina, Corinna Belz, Costa Botes, Craig Goodwill, Cristián Jiménez.

Dain Said, Dan Lindsay, Daniel Nettheim, Darrell Roodt, Darrin Klimek, David Cronenberg, David Hare, David Redmon, David Rokeby, Davis Guggenheim, Debbie Tucker Green, Dee Rees, Derick Martini, Diego Noguera, DJ Parmar, Dominik Graf, Dorota Kobiela, Douglas Aarniokoski, Drake Doremus, Duane Hopkins, Dusty Mancinelli, Dylan Akio Smith, Eduardo Menz, Eduardo Sanchez, Egil Denmerline, Elisabeth Perceval, Elle Flanders, Emanuele Crialese, Emmanuelle Millet, Enrico Colantoni, Erik Canuel, Evan Morgan, Eve Sussman, Fernando Meirelles, Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Leclerc, Frederic Jardin, Frederic Louf, Frederick Wiseman, Gareth Evans, Gary Hustwit, Gary McKendry, Geoff Lindsey, Geoffrey Fletcher, George Clooney, Gerardo Naranjo.

Ghassan Salhab, Gianni Amelio, Gina Haraszti, Goro Miyazaki, Greg Crewdson, Gus Van Sant, Guy Edoin, Guy Maddin, Han Jie, Haofeng Xu, Harold Cross, Helvecio Marins Jr, Hugh Dillon, Hugo Santiago, Huh Jong-ho, Ian Fitzgibbon, Ian Harnarinbe, Ian Lagarde, Igor Drljaca, Ingrid Veninger, Isaac Cravit, Ismael Ferroukhi, Ivan Grbovic, James Benning, James Franco, Jamie Linden, Jan Zabeil, Janine Fung, Jay Duplass, Jean-Baptiste Leonetti, Jean-Guillaume Bastien, Jean-Marc Vallée, Jeanne Leblanc, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Jeff Nichols, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jens Liens, Jesse Gouchey, Jessica Yu, Jim Field Smith, Joachim Trier, João Canijo.

Joaquim Sapinha, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, Joel Schumacher, John Mcllduff, John Price, John Scoles, Johnnie TO, Jon Shenk, Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Levine, Jonathan Sagall, Jonathan Schwartz, Jonathan Teplitzky, Jose Henrique Fonseca, Joseph Cedar, Joseph Israel Laban, Joshua Bonnetta, Joshua Marston, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Juan Minujín, Julia Leigh, Julia Loktev, Julia Murat, Julian Farino, Julien Maury, Justin Kurzel, Kaat Beels, Kamila Andini, Karim Aïnouz, Karl Markovics, Katsuhito Ishii, Ken Scott, Kevin Jerome Everson, Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Kyle Sanderson, Lasse Hallstrom, Lav Diaz, Léa Pool, Leonard Farlinger, Lou Ye, Luc Besson, Luc Dardenne, Luis Recoder, Lynn Shelton, Lynne Ramsay, Madonna, Maggie Peren, Malgoska Szumowska, Marc Forster, Marco van Geffen, Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud, Mark Cousins, Mark Duplass.

Mark Lewis, Mark Slutsky, Markus Schleinzer, Martin P. Zandvliet, Martin Šulík, Mary Harron, Mathieu Demy, Mathieu Kassovitz, Mathieu Roy, Mathieu Tremblay, Matias Meyer, Matthew Rankin, Melanie Shatzky, Mia Hanson-Love, Michael Glawogger, Michael Winterbottom, Michale Boganim, Michel Hazanavicius, Mike Clattenburg, Mike Dowse, Mike Maryniuk, Milagros Mumenthaler, Miranda de Pencier, Mohamed Al Daradji, Mohammad Asli, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Morgan Spurlock, Morten Tyldum, Mr. Brainwash, Nacho Vigalondo, Nadine Labaki, Nancy Savoca, Nanni Moretti, Nathan Morlando, Nathaniel Dorsky, Ngoc Dang Vu, Nicholas Klotz, Nicholas Pye, Nicholas Winding Refn, Nick

Broomfield & Joan Churchill, Nick Murphy, Nicolas Prividera, Nicolas Provost.

Ole Christian Madsen, Oliver Hermanus, Olivia Block, Oren Moverman, Ozcan Alper, Pablo Giorgelli, Pablo Trapero, Paddy Considine, Pankaj Kapur, Pawel Pawlikowski, Pedro Pires, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Peter Lynch, Philippe Baylaucq, Philippe Falardeau, Philippe Garrel, Raha Shirazi, Ralph Fiennes, Randall Cole, Rebecca Daly, Rémi Bezancon, Renaud Hallee, Ridha Behi, Rithy Panh, Robert Lieberman, Rodigo Moreno, Rodrigo Garcia, Roland Emmerich, Rolando Colla, Román Cardenás, Ron Fricke, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Ruslan Pak, Ryan Flowers, Lisa Pham, Ryan O Nan, Sandra Gibson, Santiago Mitre, Sarah Goodman, Sarah Polley, Sean Durkin, Sebastián Brahm, Sebastián Lelio, Sheila Pye.

Sheldon Larry, Shinya Tsukamoto, Simon Davidson, Simon Ennis, Sono Sion, Sophie Goyette, Sophie Michael, Stefano Chiantini, Stephanie Dudley, Stephen Kessler, Steve McQueen, Susan Youssef, Suseendran, T. Marie, T.J. Martin, Tamira Sawatzky, Tamae Garateguy, Tamer Ezzat, Tanya Wexler, Tawfik Abu Wael, Terence Davies, Todd Solondz, Tomáš Luňák, Toshiaki Toyoda,Ute Aurand, Victor Ginzburg, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Vincent Garenq, WANG Xiaoshuai, Wei Te-Sheng, Werner Herzog, Whit Stillman, William Friedkin, Wim Wenders, Wojciech Smarzowski, Xiaolu Guo, Xstine Cook, Yan Giroux, Yoakim Belanger, Yorgos Lanthimos, Yossi Madmony, Zaida Bergroth.

The following guests are expected to attend: Alia Shawkat, Abbie Cornish, Adam Bro

dy, Adam Scott, Adepero Oduye, Agnieszka Grochowska, Albert Brooks, Alessandra Negri

ni, Alexander Skarsgard, Aline Morais, Alison Pill, Allison Janney, Alexis Bledel, Analeigh Tipton, André Wilms, Andrea Riseborough, Andrey Fomin, Angie Cepeda, Angrzej Chyra, Anton Yelchin, Antonio Banderas, Arielle Kebbel, Ashley Bell, Akshay Kumar, Ben Foster, Bennett Miller, Benno Fürmann, Bill Nighy, Blake Lively, Brad Pitt, Brian Ladoon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Caleb Ross, Carey Mulligan, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Keener, Chace Crawford, Charlotte Rampling, Chloe Moretz, Chris Pratt, Chris Nilan, Christopher Lovick, Christopher Plummer (as "Barrymore" above right), Clive Owen, David Thewlis, Deepa Mehta, Dominic Monaghan, Do-Yeon Jeon, Durukan Ordu, Eddie Redmayne, Elena Anaya, Elias Koteas, Elizabeth Olsen, Emile Hirsch, Emily Blunt, Erin Brockovich, Ethan Hawke, Evan Rachel Wood, Evelyn Vargas, Ewan McGregor, Ezra Miller, Fabian Lojede, Fadi Ab Samra, Felicity Jones, Frances O' Connor, Freida Pinto, Gael Garcia Bernal, Gaye Gürsel, Geoffrey Rush, George Clooney, Gerard Butler, Glenn Close, Greta Gerwig, Harry Knowles, Hugh Dancy, Hugh Laurie, Husham Hlail, Iko Uwais, Isabelle Huppert, Jamel Debbouze, James Gandolfini, Jane Fonda, Jason Reitman, Jason Statham, Jay Baruchel, Jean Dujardin, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Schuetze, Jessica Chastain, Joe Taslim, Joely Richardson, John Lydon, Jon Hamm, Jonah Hill, Jonathan Schteinman, Jordon Gelber, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Maxwell.

Juliette Binoche, Juliette Lewis, Jung Jae-Young, Juno Temple, Katlyn Maclang, Keira Knightley, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Durand, Kirsten Dunst, Kyle MacLachlan, Lana Hay Yehya, Lauren Ambrose, Leighton Meester, Liana Liberato, Lily Cole, Louise Bourgoin, Lucia Siposova, Luke Kirby, Luong Manh Hai, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marc-André Grondin, Maria Isabel Laban, Maria Schrader, Maria Yokohama, Mariana Padial, Marisa Tomei, Matt Ellis, Matthew Goode, Max Mi

nghella, Maya Rudolph, Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, Michael Shannon, Michael Weston, Michelle Williams, Michelle Yeoh, Mira Sorvino, President Mohamed Nasheed, Nat Wolff, Neil Young, Nicolas Cage, Noe Hernandez, Oliver Platt, Pascale Bussières, Patrick Huard, Paul Williams, Pearl Jam, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Piet Suess, Rachel Weisz, Rebecca Frayn, Rebecca Hall, Robert Wieckiewicz, Robin Wright, Rodrigo Santoro, Rosemary DeWitt, Ryan Gosling (in "Ides of March" above left), Said Husham, Salma Hayek, Salman Rushdie, Sam Neill, Sami Bouajila, Saoirse Ronan, Sarah Bolgar, Sarah Gadon, Sarah Silverman, Scott Speedman, Seann William Scott, Selma Blair, Seth Rogen, Shahid Kapoor, Simon Ibarra, Simone-Elise Girard, Solmaz Panahi, Sonam Kapoor, Stephanie Sigman, Tahereh Saeidi Balsini, Tammy Blanchard, Terrence Howard, Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Tran Dang Khoa, Tyler Johnston, U2, Viggo Mortensen, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Willem Dafoe, Woody Harrelson, Yara Shahidi.

The Festival’s Official Film Schedule was released today. It is available at the Festival Box Office and by visiting tiff.net/festival. Thursday's Toronto Star will contain a 24-page section on the Festival and includes the full film schedule.

Purchase Festival ticket packages online at tiff.net/festival, by phone at 416-599-TIFF or 1-888-599-8433, and in person at the Festival Box Office at 225 King St. West. Single tickets are available beginning Sept. 3.

Read more about festival films here in the next week.

Harris is not blue at all about new role(s)

Five quick questions for Neil Patrick Harris, star of TV, stage, awards shows and, starting on Friday, "The Smurfs," as a harried marketing man who helps save the day for some lovable blue creatures in New York City.

If you voiced an animated Smurf instead of playing a guy who turns out to be their live-action pal, which one would you be?
I don't know. Maybe Variety Smurf? I like to juggle and do magic, see.

What would Barney (the womanizing character he plays on CBS' hit, "How I Met Your Mother") say about The Smurfs in this film?
He'd probably ask for Smurfette's number (especially since she's voice by Katy Perry) and call it a day.

What did you know about "The Smurfs" when you got this role?

I thought the whole thing was created by Hanna-Barbera in the '80s as part of that "Captain Cavemen," "Wonder Twin" powers kind of movement. So, that's all I sort of knew of them.

In the film your wife (played by Jayma Mays, shown with Harris and Smurf buddies above) is expecting. Were you (and longtime partner David Burtka) expecting your twins (from a surrogate mom) during filming, and how did that resonate for you?
When we were filming the movie we were maybe five or six months pregnant and weren't telling anybody. So, it was my little secret and it was certainly easy to play things like looking at an ultrasound photo and feeling what emotion that brings. That was nice and a little secret moment. That day actually, in Times Square, the scene where I sat and took out that card and read it, I finally went up to (director) Raja Gosnell, who, bless his heart, because both Raja and (producer) Jordan Kerner had been constantly telling me what it feels like to be a potential dad and how you're heart will skip beats when you find out that you're expecting.

I was nodding, like, "Is that right?" So, I leaned over to Raja and I said, "I've got a secret. We're expecting twins in October." He kind of melted and was a little bit embarrassed that he had been so forthcoming in trying to explain to me what that felt like, not realizing that I all ready knew. But it was nice. When the script came my way we had just started that process, and so it seemed like good timing when I looked ahead into the future.

Do you think that (now 9-month-old twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace) will be fans of "The Smurfs"?
I hope so. They're a little young. We haven't shown them any screeners at all yet, but maybe when the third movie comes around.

By the way, Harris says he is signed on for sequels to the 3D film and hoping for a blockbuster franchise. Until anything is officially greenlit, though, you can read more from him and co-stars Hank Azaria (the evil Gargamel) and Alan Cumming (voice of Gutsy Smurf) at Sun News and CriticsChoice. My review of their film should be up on Friday at both sites, along with my review of "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and some talk with stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. (See my ratings of all current movies here.)