#PantsWorthy: TIFF 2024
Ontario Place // Paul Anka // Bruce Springsteen // Nikola Tesla // Stephen King
Yo…
Welcome to the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Featuring 278 films and movies and documentaries it runs from September 5th to September 15th, 2024.
11 days of cinema. Good Gravy. That’s a lotta cinema.
Typically, I do one or two TIFF interviews every year.
For an example at last year’s TIFF I spoke to actor Jett Klyne about The Boy In The Woods. (My first MCU actor as well. Solid two-fer on that one!)
However, this is the first TIFF I’ve applied for media accreditation. Thankfully: I was accepted. So I gotta go through all of it. This year ain’t typical.
It took several cups of tea, 2 naps and 1 trip to the public library to shamefully return super overdue books. (“Sorry!”)
And now I have emerged with a list of 15 Sammy Suggestions however…because this year ain’t typical I won’t write long blurbs. Just short almost bullet points.
If you like Brad Pitt you get excited when there’s a new Brad Pitt trailer, right? You can—because we live in a world of Google—look up more information on the movie…who the director is for example. Or you can search for Pitt interviews talking about making the movie.
Or…and this might be radical you can decide Brad Pitt is enough and plunk your money down.
So trust me. Or better: trust these movies and filmmakers.
I’m even scoring this TIFF recommendations list with groovy music: Take A Chance On Me by ABBA. That’s exactly what TIFF is all about.
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Always annoys me when I see TIFF recommendations in major outlets and there’s no trailers. I get that’s the responsibility of the filmmakers etc.
Still, as the writer: I have options. What’s that stat about how many hours are uploaded to YouTube every minute?
Where a trailer or an authorized clip for a Sammy Suggestion doesn’t exist I offer Non-Trailer Context: an illuminating video that’ll provide…well context or some useful background. As most immigrant parents can attest: something is better than nothing.
I’d prefer trailers but failing that I’ll accept knowledge.
Here are 15 Sammy Suggestions for TIFF 2024.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: PAUL ANKA
Director: John Maggio
TIFF Screenings: Tue September 10 - 2:00 pm, Wed September 11 - 9:00 pm & Fri September 13 - 11:00 am
Why #PantsWorthy?
Paul Anka penned My Way for Frank Sinatra. Boom!
Non-Trailer Context: This documentary requires a cigar and a tea. From his 2005 Rock Swings (it’s all swing-jazz covers of rock songs from ‘80s and ‘90s!) here is Wonderwall since Oasis is coming back.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: YOUR TOMORROW
Director: Ali Weinstein
TIFF Screenings: Thu September 12 - 9:30 pm, Fri September 13 - 12:45 pm & Sat September 14 - 9:40 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
This documentary “captures the final year of Ontario Place.”
If you didn’t say good-bye to the Ontario Science Centre, say Smell Ya Later to the Ontario Place.
Non-Trailer Context: Ali Weinstein’s previous documentary #Blessed can be streamed on CBC Gem.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: PIECE BY PIECE
Director: Morgan Neville
TIFF Screenings: Tue September 10 - 3:00 pm, Wed September 11 - 11:45 am & Fri September 13 - 3:45 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
Not a biopic or a documentary; however Pharrell Williams’ astonishing career is told entirely through Lego.
Yes: Rump Shaker has been Lego-ed. Tell the kids.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: ROAD DIARY: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND
Director: Thom Zimny
TIFF Screenings: Sun September 8 - 9:00 pm & Tue September 10 - 1:00 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
This is an E-Street band autopsy: a deep diver into the alchemy of this notable rock band.
Staying together…all the diversity and distinct personalities: Bruce and his boys have been a legit melting pot.
Non-Trailer Context: Bruce Springsteen Sang Land of Hope and Dreams in Clarence Clemons’ final moments. This story is a punch to my heart.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: PERFUMED WITH MINT
Director: Muhammed Hamdy
TIFF Screenings: Mon September 9 - 6:10 pm, Tue September 10 - 3:45 pm & Fri September 13 - 9:40 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
Muhammed Hamdy is the Emmy-winning Egyptian cinematographer of The Square which you may have seen in 2013 at TIFF.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: SHOOK
Director: Amar Wala
TIFF Screenings: Sat September 7 - 5:15 pm & Mon September 9 - 5:15 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
Scarborough, Represent!
Look out for the beef patties at Warden station scene. Yo.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: MR. K
Director: Tallulah H. Schwab
TIFF Screenings: Sat September 7 - 2:30 pm, Sun September 8 - 8:45 pm & Sat September 14 - 9:40 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
Crispin Glover + Magic = a hotel full of unusual guests — with no way out. Oh, I like all those things. (The subtitles in the trailer are because it’s a foreign film: from Netherlands and Belgium. I’m classy like that…magic is my jam but I also provide you with a foreign film.)
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: ADDITION
Director: Marcelle Lunam
TIFF Screenings: Sun September 8 - 3:45 pm, Tue September 10 - 9:45 pm & Fri September 13 - 1:15 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
Remember Elvis in True Romance? Nikola Tesla is in this, like that Elvis manifestation. That’s…electric. Thank You Very Much.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: MATT AND MARA
Director: Kazik Radwanski
TIFF Screenings: Wed September 11 - 6:00 pm & Thu September 12 - 2:35 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
“A lot of people mistook our film as being set in New York when we screened in Germany, France, and Korea. As a Canadian, I almost take that as a compliment. But this is a Toronto film and I can’t to see what to see what a hometown TIFF audience thinks and I guess NYC too.” The director recently tweeted that observation out.
See a movie set in Toronto in…Toronto.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE LIFE OF CHUCK
Director: Mike Flanagan
TIFF Screenings: Fri September 6 - 6:00 pm & Sat September 7 - 11:30 am
Why #PantsWorthy?
Kate Siegel, Matthew Lillard, Mark Hamill, Mia Sara (the hot babe in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Karen Gillan, Tom Hiddleston and more. Oddest cast in a TIFF movie but what else can you expect from Chuck’s life, right?
Non-Trailer Context: The Life of Chuck is adapted from Stephen King’s If It Bleeds a collection of four novellas. The stories in the collection are Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (adapted for Netflix) The Life of Chuck (see below), If It Bleeds and Rat. The anthology was released on April 28, 2020.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA
Director: Samir Oliveros
TIFF Screenings: Thu September 5 - 9:00 pm, Thu September 12 - 5:45 pm & Fri September 13 - 6:30 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
The Press Your Luck scandal: contestant Michael Larson’s 1984 record-breaking win of $110,237 (equivalent to $323,296 in 2023) on the American game show Press Your Luck. Luck? Cheating? Something else?
Non-Trailer Context: In 1994 Robert Redford directed Quiz Show which dramatized the Twenty-One quiz show scandals of the 1950s. And there’s Quiz Show a British limited series about Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? contestant Charles Ingram. I enjoy this genre.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: VICE IS BROKE
Director: Eddie Huang
TIFF Screenings: Thu September 5 - 5:30 pm & Fri September 6 - 6:15 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
The Montreal indie magazine which became a media Goliath got slain by a David like bankruptcy. What happened?
Non-Trailer Context: I never liked Vice, it’s reporting was suspect and their personalities seemed more like con men than journalists. Still, I’m curious what happened. How did we get here? is one of my favourite questions.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: UNSTOPPABLE
Director: William Goldenberg
TIFF Screenings: Fri September 6 - 5:30 pm & Sat September 7 - 8:45 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
The director of Unstoppable William Goldenberg edited Air. The recent (and surprisingly dope) Michael Jordan movie.
Non-Trailer Context: This scene from Air…just…wow. So much wow.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND
Director: Raoul Peck
TIFF Screenings: Mon September 9 - 3:45 pm & Wed September 11 - 12:15 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
“Drawing upon a trove of unpublished images, this moving portrait of South African photographer Ernest Cole from director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) offers a harrowing history of Apartheid and chronicles the life of an artist in exile.”
Raoul Peck is cool so this’ll be cool.
🎥 SAMMY SUGGESTION: MOTHER MOTHER
Director: K'naan Warsame
TIFF Screenings: Thu September 5 - 5:30 pm & Fri September 6 - 6:15 pm
Why #PantsWorthy?
A Somalian drama directed by K’naan. Yes. K’naan as in Waving Flag.
Non-Trailer Context: Can K'naan direct? I don’t know much about him to be honest. Let’s find out.
A bonus fun TIFF suggestion?
Follow Heidy M. on socials; her site is Hye’s Musings. Links to whatever you follow on socials are there.
Heidy recently talked to Kelly Boutsalis (the Associate Programmer, International, Canadian Features at TIFF) and Norm Wilner, formerly a Toronto film critic and entertainment journalist.
Kelly and Norm offer up a few overlooked TIFF gems.
My list and many of the films mentioned in Heidy’s video overlook or ignore some of the buzzier TIFF noise makers: Saturday Night, Babygirl, Nightbitch and We Live in Time.
You can expect those to be trending soon as the festival kicks off. I’m sure they’re a good time, check em out.
But, TIFF works best when you take the road less travelled. Truly, that’s pop culture in general.
The joy of discovery is sweeter than the pang of FOMO.
Having Breakfast at TIFF…any’s…
Sammy Younan
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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair podcast: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.