Allison Janney, Antonio Banderas, film festivals, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Michael B. Jordan, movies, TIFF, Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival
August 20, 2019
The following is a press release from the Toronto International Film Festival:
The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival unveiled its In Conversation With… slate. Honoring five remarkable, multi-talented industry heavyweights, this year’s lineup stands out for the richness and diversity of the experiences that these accomplished artists will share with Festival goers. TIFF audiences will have the opportunity to hear about the fascinating careers — both in front of and behind the camera — of Michael B. Jordan & Jamie Foxx, Antonio Banderas, Allison Janney, and Kerry Washington during intimate onstage conversations at TIFF Bell Lightbox. “Through our In Conversation With… series, TIFF is proud to give fans and film lovers an opportunity to connect with and learn from the most talented artists working in film and television today,” said Christoph Straub, Lead Programmer, In Conversation With… and Senior Manager, Adult Learning, TIFF. “This year’s lineup includes award-winning creators who have helped shape the discourse in the entertainment industry, moving it forward and charting new territory on the big and small screens. We are incredibly honoured to have these leaders join us for a series of empowering and exciting conversations.” This year’s series will also be more accessible to all audiences, as open-captioning will be offered onscreen in real time.
The 44th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5–15, 2019. The In Conversation With… programme includes:
In Conversation With… Michael B. Jordan & Jamie Foxx
Hollywood megastars Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx are both at the top of their game. They first gained fame for roles on television: Foxx with ”In Living Color” in 1991 and later ”The Jamie Foxx Show,” and Jordan with his heartbreaking turn as Wallace in HBO’s ”The Wire.” In 2013, Jordan made his major feature-film breakthrough in Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed ”Fruitvale Station.” He has collaborated with Coogler on two more game-changers: “Creed,” their acclaimed expansion of the Rocky saga; and the mega-hit ”Black Panther.” In 2016 Jordan founded his production company, Outlier Society, in order to focus on more eclectic and diverse stories and voices. Outlier Society recently co-produced HBO Films’ Emmy-nominated adaptation of ”Fahrenheit 451,” which netted Jordan a Producers Guild Award. Foxx is renowned for powerful lead performances in ”Ray,” for which he won an Academy Award, Michael Mann’s neo-noir ”Collateral,” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.” TIFF proudly presents this conversation with two iconic artists and producers about their creative process, their desire to tell inclusive stories, and ”Just Mercy,” their highly anticipated new film premiering at the Festival.
In Conversation With… Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is a superstar of international and Hollywood cinema. An alumnus of the famed Cervantes Theatre in Málaga, Spain, Banderas burst onto the film scene with performances in Pedro Almodóvar’s “Labyrinth of Passion” and ”Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” paving his way to a series of acclaimed roles in Hollywood films directed by the likes of Jonathan Demme (”Philadelphia”), Neil Jordan (“Interview with the Vampire”), and Robert Rodriguez (”Desperado”). Deftly moving between blockbuster (“The Mask of Zorro”; the ”Shrek” franchise) and independent films (Julie Taymor’s ”Frida”), and with his recent portrayal of Picasso in the National Geographic miniseries “Genius,” Banderas has cemented his iconic status as one of the most versatile performers in film and television. TIFF is proud to welcome this award-winning actor, producer, director, and humanitarian for an inspiring conversation about his career in front of and behind the camera, his numerous philanthropic efforts, as well as his highly anticipated films at this year’s Festival: Almodóvar’s ”Pain and Glory,” for which he won Best Actor at Cannes, and Steven Soderbergh’s ”The Laundromat.”
In Conversation With… Allison Janney
Allison Janney swept the 2018 Awards season with an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe Award, Critic’s Choice Award and SAG Award for her acclaimed portrayal of Tonya Harding’s mother, LaVona Golden in “I, Tonya.” Janney will next be seen opposite Hugh Jackman in director Cory Finley’s upcoming film, ”Bad Education,” written by Mike Makowsky about the true, twist-filled conspiracy that occurred during his middle school years in Long Island in the early 2000’s. The film will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Additionally, Janney stars alongside Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and Charlize Theron in Lionsgate’s “Bombshell” film directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph about the fall of Roger Ailes at Fox News. Janney lent her voice to MGM’s animated feature film The Addams Family with Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac. She recently wrapped production for Tate Taylor’s ”Breaking News in Yuba County,” opposite Mila Kunis, Awkwafina, and Regina Hall. She has previously starred in ”The Help,” based on the best-selling novel of the same name, where the cast won ensemble awards from the Hollywood Film Awards, SAG, National Board of Review and Broadcast Film Critics and the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the Independent Spirit Awards in Todd Solondz’s film, ”Life During Wartime.” Janney also delivered outstanding performances in the Oscar nominated “Juno,” the movie version of the Tony Award winning play ”Hairspray,” “Girl on The Train,” Tim Burton’s ”Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,””The Hours”and ”American Beauty.” On television, Janney has won seven Emmy Awards for her work on CBS’ “Mom,” Showtime’s groundbreaking drama ”Masters of Sex,” and for her indelible portrayal of CJ Cregg in Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed series ”The West Wing.”
In Conversation With… Kerry Washington
Award-winning actor, producer, director, and activist Kerry Washington is always charting new territory. Following a number of guest-starring roles in network television and a breakout role in ”Save the Last Dance,” Washington starred opposite Jamie Foxx in ”Ray” (2004), and quickly added a string of notable roles in such acclaimed features as ”The Last King of Scotland,””Miracle of St. Anna,” and 2012’s ”Django Unchained.” That same year, she landed the lead role of Olivia Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ series ”Scandal,” on which Washington also went on to work as a producer and director. When ”Scandal” premiered, Washington became the first Black woman in nearly four decades to headline a network television drama. A fearless and outspoken advocate for civil rights and liberties, she served on President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and is leading by example, producing diverse and inclusive content for various platforms through her production company Simpson Street. In this in-depth conversation, Washington will speak about her remarkable career, the Festival premiere of “American Son” — in which she reprises her lauded role from the Broadway production — and her highly anticipated adaptation of Celeste Ng’s ”Little Fires Everywhere.”
For synopses, images, and more information, see tiff.net/icw
Festival tickets go on sale September 2 at 10am (TIFF Member pre-sale August 31, 10am–4pm). Buy tickets online at tiff.net, by phone at 416.599.2033 or 1.888.258.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets.
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About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit 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. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net. TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris, and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.