Toronto Film Festival Announces Vanguard: A New Progam Featuring Johnnie To, Finnish Martial Arts And More!

EDGY NEW VANGUARD PROGRAMME ELECTRIFIES THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Toronto - The Toronto International Film Festival launches its fearless new programme VANGUARD, hitting audiences with a raw, pulsating aesthetic that speaks to sexual, cultural and cinematic freedoms. The programme features 11 titles to date including four world and six North American premieres. VANGUARD showcases films that are stylistically bold, structurally playful and a ppeal to adventurous, risk-taking audiences. Festival Passes and Coupon Books are now on sale, including discounted pricing for students. For more information call 416-968-FILM or click, bell.ca/filmfest.

"The Festival has felt the need for some time to establish a programme for 'early adopters', says Noah Cowan, Festival Co-Director, "people who delight in movies that push the envelopes of technology, culture, sexuality and cinema itself. These films are edgy, irreverent, definitely sexy, and have a palpable, youthful zing."

MACBETH Geoffrey Wright, Australia World Premiere

From visionary director Geoffrey Wright comes this gritty and ferociously inventive contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Set against the modern underworld of Melbourne, horses and swords are replaced with guns and sportscars, but the spirit of Shakespeare's masterpiece remains as Macbeth is told by teenage witches that he will one day assume great power. Driven by their prophecy, he plots with his wife to kill Duncan, and takes the leadership of the gang for himself.

CHACUN SA NUIT Pascal Arnold/Jean-Marc Barr, France World Premiere

Pierre is much more than your average town stud. He oozes unabashed sexuality, bringing those around him to their knees in a state of sexual frenzy. But when Pierre is found beaten to death, no one can fathom who would kill this man that instills, and fulfills, such desire in their lives. Simultaneously exploring the mystery of Pierre's death and the sensuous bisexual escapades of his erotically-charged life, this very contemporary coming-of-age film follows Pierre's sister and occasional lover Lucie as she uncovers the horrible truth behind her brother's murder.

JADE WARRIOR Antti-Jussi Annila, Finland/China/Estonia World Premiere

As visually stunning as it is inventive, JADE WARRIOR sublimely combines Finnish and Chinese mythologies into one breathtaking film set both in ancient China and in present day Finland. Thousands of years ago, a love-struck sword hero fought against his destiny. Seeking another chance to be reunited with his love, he is called to battle in the cold north of modern Finland. This exhilarating, daring film combines spectacular action sequences with elements of romantic melodrama.

BUNNY CHOW John Barker, South Africa World Premiere

John Barker's first feature follows the raucous and often ridiculous journey of three stand-up comedians. Egos run high and careers are at stake as Kags, an arrogant womanizer; Joey, a devout, yet conflicted Muslim; and Dave, a somewhat innocent and naïve dishwasher with dreams of making it big, embark on a road trip to Oppikoppi: South Africa's biggest annual rock festival.

SHORTBUS John Cameron Mitchell, USA (Previously announced June 27) North American Premiere

A sexual symphony quite literally reaches an explosive climax - and all this in just the first few minutes alone. MuchMusic alumnus and current CBC radio host Sook-Yin Lee stars in the emotionally evocative second feature by filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH). Taking an intimate peek into New York City at its most vulnerable, SHORTBUS explores an array of semi-lost souls as they grasp for human connection, intimacy, and gratification.

RENAISSANCE Christian Volckman, France/UK/Luxembourg North American Premiere

METROPOLIS meets BLADE RUNNER in this one-of-a-kind motion capture anime film noir, starring Daniel Craig and Ian Holm. In 2054, Paris is a labyrinth where all movement is monitored and recorded. Casting a shadow over everything is the city's largest company, Avalon, which weaves itself into every aspect of contemporary life to sell its primary export - youth and beauty. When young scientist Ilona is brutally kidnapped, policeman Karas is assigned to her case, soon learning that his dangerous investigation is a situation of life or death for not only himself, but the good of all civilization.

ELECTION 1+2 Johnnie To, Hong Kong North American Premiere

THE GODFATHER parts one and two. Hong Kong style. Following 2004's double header of BREAKING NEWS and THROW DOWN, Johnnie To returns with the two part epic, Election. Wo Sing, the most venerable triad clan of Hong Kong, is about to elect a new chief. Lok (Simon Yam), wise and cautious, is favored for the coveted position, but the fiery and aggressive Big D (Tony Leung Kar-fai), refuses to concede. The two men engage in a bloodthirsty struggle amidst the disappearance of the ancestral symbol of the clan's power. Two years later, the election starts again and Jimmy (Louis Koo), a gangster with an MBA, using the triads to fast track financial success, is abruptly thrust into the running. Unwillingly embarking on a violent campaign, he realizes the Wo Sing hang in the balance of a far greater power.

DRAMA/MEX Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico North American Premiere

A suicidal middle-aged bureaucrat gets caught up in the emotional and sexual dramatics of some wild young adults in Naranjo's DRAMA/MEX. An inspired and bittersweet telling of one steamy night in Acapulco, the film couples the story of a 15-year-old girl turning tricks on the beach with the frantic ups and downs of three youths caught up in a complicated and sexually-charged love triangle. Capturing the devil-may-care attitude of executive producer Gael García Bernal, this film is a raw and stylish wonder.

2:37 Murali K.Thalluri, Australia North American Premiere

At precisely 2:37, a student at an Australian high school is found dead, wrists slashed, on the bathroom floor. Echoing the mood and complexity of Gus Van Sant's ELEPHANT, 2:37 shifts back to the morning of the tragedy to follow six potential victims through the crises and conflicts of their fragile lives. A different breed of whodunit - written, directed and produced by first-time feature filmmaker Thalluri at the age of 20 - this brazen work offers a refreshing and artistically bold rethinking of the issue of teen suicide.

SUBURBAN MAYHEM Paul Goldman, Australia North American Premiere

19-year old Katrina, a single mom still living at home, and a master manipulator of men, will stop at nothing to get what she wants - even murder. When her father threatens to contact social services and take away her child, Katrina sets in motion a plan to wreak suburban mayhem that will leave a community in shock, and Katrina infamous in a way even she never imagined.

SLEEPING DOGS LIE Bobcat Goldthwait, USA Canadian Premiere

Amy (Melinda Page Hamilton) is a seemingly normal young girl, adored by her parents and golden-boy fiancé. Her future looks bright until her fiancé suggests they tell each other their darkest secrets - things they have never told anyone. When Amy finally relents and reveals her secret, everything around her begins to fall apart. SLEEPING DOGS LIE is a funny and perceptive dark comedy.