The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the selections in the Gala and Special Presentations programs for the 47th edition, taking place September 8-18.
“We’re excited to welcome some of the most celebrated figures in movies back to Toronto to present their Gala and Special Presentation films,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “With stories that span six continents and feature performances you just have to see, this lineup delivers the rich experiences we wait all year for. Cinema is alive. Red carpets are back. And the best audience in the world awaits them in Toronto.”
Notably, Henry Selick’s highly anticipated return Wendell & Wild will make its World Premiere in the Special Presentations section, the long animated feature in the lineup alongside films by the likes of Steven Spielberg (The Fablemans), Darren Aronofsky (The Whale), Lena Dunham (Catherina Called Birdy), Rian Johnson (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) and Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave). Selick is Oscar-nominated director of stop-motion classics Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.
Synopsis: Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell and Wild, who enlist the aid of 13-year-old Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death.
Due to launch on Netflix in October, the stop-motion flick features an all-star cast led by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key as Wendell and Wild, including Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, James Hong and Lyric Ross as the human protagonist, Kat. The pic is produced with The Gotham Group and Peele’s Monkeypaw shingle, and will feature original musisc by Oscar-nominated composer Bruno Coulais.
The full list of films from the 2022 TIFF Official Selection features 18 Galas and 45 Special Presentations. Check out the programs here.
