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Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson star Just Mercy, the true story of Harvard-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who goes to Alabama to defend the disenfranchised and wrongly condemned.Courtesy of TIFF
Ahead of the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, self-proclaimed Academy Awards prognosticators (guilty) were certain that either Damien Chazelle’s First Man, Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born, Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma or maybe even Steve McQueen’s Widows would swoop into Toronto, nab the coveted Oscars bellwether known as the People’s Choice Award and go on to claim Best Picture glory at the Oscars five months later. No one, with possibly the exception of Viggo Mortensen’s agent, was betting on the road-trip dramedy Green Book doing everything described above.
But such narrative hiccups are all part of the fun – the maddening, exhausting, nonsensical fun – that is TIFF and the lucrative awards race that the festival has become synonymous with. Everyone is an Oscars expert, until they’re not.
To that end, this year’s TIFF offers more potential Oscars wild cards than in recent memory. Some, such as the Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx legal drama Just Mercy and the Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers drama A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, will be making their world premieres in Toronto. Others, such as the Matt Damon and Christian Bale racing drama Ford v Ferrari or the Noah Baumbach divorce drama Marriage Story, will be riding high on the rhapsodic reactions they’ve already garnered at the Venice or Telluride festivals just days prior. All are hoping to get a huge marketing boost from Toronto’s historically extra-friendly audiences (I’ve yet to attend a TIFF screening where anybody dared boo; mostly, we’re just happy to be out of the house).
Tom Hanks stars as Mister Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.LACEY TERRELL/Sony Pictures
First, there are the obvious contenders – although, as last year proved, nothing is obvious: the aforementioned Ford v Ferrari, Marriage Story, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and Just Mercy. But there’s also Hustlers, a strippers-turn-to-crime drama that is garnering acclaim for co-star Jennifer Lopez, who has never been nominated for an Oscar; Taika Waititi’s “anti-hate” Second World War satire Jojo Rabbit, starring the Thor: Ragnarok director himself as Adolf Hitler; the biopic Judy, starring Renee Zellweger as the Wizard of Oz star Garland in her final days; the Nicole Kidman-led adaptation of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch; Edward Norton’s adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s crime thriller Motherless Brooklyn; the South Korean drama Parasite, which nabbed the Palme d’Or at this past spring’s Cannes film festival and was the talk of last week’s Telluride festival; and the grounded-astronaut drama Lucy in the Sky, which stars Natalie Portman, a performer who previously benefited from a warm TIFF reception when her biopic Jackie premiered in 2016.
On paper, Netflix has a ridiculously strong TIFF 2019 lineup, almost to the embarrassment of the streaming giant’s major-studio competitors. But as Roma’s Oscars half-victory (best director, but not best picture) proved last year, Academy voters still aren’t convinced that the streaming giant is ready to grab the industry’s top honour. Perhaps the combination of Baumbach’s Marriage Story starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, Steven Soderbergh’s Panama Papers comedy The Laundromat starring Meryl Streep, Dolemite Is My Name starring a come-back-ready Eddie Murphy and The Two Popes starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce will sway traditional thinking.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the titular villain in Joker, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.Warner Bros. via AP
And if all those films aren’t enough to fuel the Oscars conversation at TIFF, then we can all spend the rest of the festival talking about the Joaquin Phoenix-starring Joker, which premiered in Venice this past weekend and will be arriving in Toronto on Monday night with an entire internet’s worth of discourse at its back.
As every year, there are a handful of prestige titles bypassing TIFF, including James Gray’s outer-space drama Ad Astra, Greta Gerwig’s update of Little Women and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, the latter being Netflix’s biggest attempt to crash the Oscars yet, given its directorial pedigree and massive US$159-million price tag (it will be premiering at the director’s hometown New York Film Festival).
Yet nearly every other major (and minor) Oscars contender is otherwise represented in Toronto. Smart money says to keep an eye on Just Mercy and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. But there’s also likely another Green Book squirrelled away in there somewhere among TIFF’s 245 feature films. Best of luck to all those chasing the buzz this TIFF – but beware the sting of defeat.
Pilar Savone, left, Jeremy Jordan, Kerry Washington and Kenny Leon attend the American Son premiere on Sept. 12, 2019.ANDREW KELLY/Getty Images
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Jessica Barden attends the Jungleland photo call on Sept. 12, 2019.Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
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Charlie Hunnam arrives at the world premiere of Jungleland on Sept. 12, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Director Max Winkler arrives for the world premiere of Jungleland on Sept. 12, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Sarah Gadon attends the American Woman premiere on Sept. 12, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/Getty Images
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Willem Dafoe at a news conference for Motherless Brooklyn on Sept. 11, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Kelly MacDonald poses at the premiere of Dirt Music on Sept. 11, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Julia Stone poses at the premiere of Dirt Music on Sept. 11, 2019.Mark Blinch/Reuters
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Cast member Pearl Amanda Dickson arrives at the world premiere of Lucy in the Sky on Sept. 11.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Atom Egoyan, left, and Arsinée Khanjian attend the Guest Of Honour premiere on Sept. 10.Tommaso Boddi
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Laysla De Oliveira attends the Guest Of Honour premiere on Sept. 10.Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
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Director Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Willem Dafoe and Josh Pais attend the Motherless Brooklyn premiere on Sept. 10, 2019.Tommaso Boddi
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Jennifer Nettles arrives at the international premiere of the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Actors Vondie Curtis-Hall, right, and Henry Hunter Hall pose on the red carpet for the gala premiere of the film Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Liev Schreiber arrives for the gala of the film Human Capital on Sept. 10, 2019.Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press
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Actress Renee Zellweger attends the premiere for Judy on Sept. 10, 2019.Arthur Mola/The Associated Press
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Cynthia Erivo arrives at the international premiere of the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Actor Leslie Odom Jr. arrives on the red carpet for the gala premiere of the film Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Christian Bale attends a press conference of the film Ford vs Ferrari on Sept. 10, 2019.Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press
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Left to right: Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix attend the premiere for Joker on Sept. 9, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Rooney Mara attends the Joker premiere on Sept. 9, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Matt Damon poses with a fan after at the gala premiere of the film Ford vs. Ferrari on Sept. 9, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Christian Bale signs autographs at the gala premiere of the film Ford vs. Ferrari on Sept. 9, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Shamier Anderson presents the TIFF Tribute Actor Award to Meryl Streep during TIFF Tribute Gala on Sept. 9, 2019.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Cameron Bailey, Joana Vicente and recipient of the TIFF Tribute Actor Award Joaquin Phoenix at the Tribute Gala on Sept. 9, 2019.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Isabelle Huppert, left, and Mati Diop attend the TIFF Tribute Gala at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Sept. 9, 2019.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Meryl Streep arrives for the premiere of The Laundromat on Sept. 9, 2019.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Antonio Banderas poses with a fan dressed as his character Zorro as he attends The Laundromat premiere on Sept. 9, 2019.Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press
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Director Drake Doremus, Sebastian Stan and Jamie Dornan attend Hugo Boss presents Endings, Beginnings, on Sept. 8, 2019.Getty Images
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Shamier Anderson and Shailene Woodley attend Hugo Boss presents Endings, Beginnings, on Sept. 8, 2019.The Globe and Mail
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Actors Ray Romano and Allison Janney attend the Bad Education cocktail party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Allison Janney and Catherine Curtin attend the Bad Education cocktail party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Misha Handley and Danny DeVito attend The Song of Names cocktail party on Sept. 8, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Directors Francois Girard and Robert Lantos at The Song of Names cocktail Party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Actress Sarah Paulson takes selfies with fans on her way to The Goldfinch premiere at on Sept. 8, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Luke Wilson attends the Audi Canada post-screening event for The Goldfinch at Don Alfonso 1890 on Sept. 8, 2019.The Globe and Mail
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Fiona Weir and John Crowley attend the Audi Canada post-screening event for The Goldfinch at Don Alfonso 1890 on Sept. 8, 2019.The Globe and Mail
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Actress Scarlett Johansson at the Marriage Story premiere on Sept 8, 2019.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Actor Adam Driver signs autographs before stepping on the red carpet for Marriage Story on Sept. 8, 2019.Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press
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Ray Romano arrives for the gala premiere of Bad Education on Sept. 8, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Welsh actor Aneurin Barnard attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Nicole Kidman attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Leonardo DiCaprio attends the premiere for And We Go Green on Sept. 8, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Jennifer Lopez arrives for the gala premiere of Hustlers on Sept. 7, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Jennifer Lopez and David Foster arrive for The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Actress Julia Stiles speaks to reporters at the premiere of Hustlers on Sept. 7, 2019.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Nicole Kidman attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Actress Kerry Washington arrives for the Hollywood Reporter and the Hollywood Foreign Press Associations TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Sarah Paulson and Dakota Johnson attend The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
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Bryce Dallas Howard, left, and Felicity Jones attend The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Isabelle Huppert attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Imogen Poots attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Icon Award Presentation with Dame Anna Wintour, left, and Joana Vicente, executive director and co-head TIFF, at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 6, 2019.Ryan Emberley/Handout
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Actress Dakota Johnson poses with fans at the premiere of The Friend on Sept. 6, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Jason Segel takes photos with fans at the premiere for The Friend on Sept. 6, 2019.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Dakota Johnson arrives at The Friend world premiere party hosted by World Class at Kost on Sept. 6, 2019.Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
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Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx attend the AT&T and Audi Canada post-screening event for Just Mercy at Fermenting Cellar on Sept. 6, 2019.GP Images/Handout
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Brie Larson arrives for the gala premiere of the film Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Rob Morgan takes to the air as he arrives for the gala premiere of the film Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Jamie Foxx arrives for the gala premiere of Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Michael B. Jordan arrives for the gala premiere of Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Antonio Banderas attends the Pain And Glory premiere at Ryerson Theatre on Sept. 6, 2019.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Dean, left, and Dan Caten attend eOne Best of the Fest TIFF 2019 Celebration at Arcane on Sept. 6, 2019.Brian de Rivera Simon/Getty Images
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Susan Sarandon arrives for a gala presentation of Blackbird on Sept. 6, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Sam Neill, Susan Sarandon and Rainn Wilson arrive for a gala presentation of Blackbird on Sept. 6, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Actress Susan Sarandon attends the cocktail reception for the world premiere of Blackbird at the Nordstrom Supper Suite on Sept. 6, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Olivia Cooke, left, and Riz Ahmed attend the Sound Of Metal premiere on Sept. 6, 2019.Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
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Sophie Nélisse, left, Katie Bird Nolan, Aisling Chin-Yee, Heather Graham, Lindsay Tapscott and Jodi Balfour attend The Rest Of Us premiere on Sept. 6, 2019.Robin Marchant/Getty Images
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Neve Campbell attends the Castle In The Ground premiere on Sept. 5, 2019.Robin Marchant/Getty Images
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William Woods, left, Joey Klein, Michael Solomon and Keir Gilchrist arrive at the Castle in the Ground world premiere party at Weslodge on Sept. 5, 2019.ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/Getty Images
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Dev Patel arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Rosalind Eleazar arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019.Mark Blinch/Reuters
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Aimee Kelly arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Hugh Laurie arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Musician Robbie Robertson, centre, arrives for the gala presentation of his biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on opening night on Sept. 5, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Ronnie Hawkins, centre, arrives on the red carpet for the new movie Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band on Sept. 5, 2019.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Director Ron Howard arrives for the opening night gala presentation of Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on Sept. 5, 2019.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer arrive for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on TIFF opening night on Sept. 5, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Martin Scorsese arrives for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on Sept. 5, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Director Daniel Roher and Kari Teicher arrive for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on TIFF opening night on Sept. 5, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Albina Kirenga, left, Amanda Mugabekazi, Belinda Rubango, and Clariella Bizimana, right, attend the Our Lady Of The Nile premiere on Sept. 5, 2019.Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
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Actor Matthew Cardarople reacts as he arrives to a special presentation of the biopic about singer Helen Reddy, I Am Woman, on Sept. 5, 2019.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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TIFF Rising Star Kacey Rohl arrives for the gala presentation of the Robbie Roberston biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on the opening night on Sept. 5, 2019.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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TIFF Rising Stars Kacey Rohl and Shamier Anderson attend the opening night party at Shangri-La Hotel on Sept. 5, 2019.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Gabe Polsky, left, and Justine Polsky attend the Red Penguins premiere on Sept. 5, 2019.Emma McIntyre/Getty Images