Recession leaves TIFF films lingering in the open market

September 12, 12:48 PMHollywood Events ExaminerI.J. Ross

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Actor Jeff Bridges arrive to the red carpet for the gala screening of 'The
Men Who Stare At Goats' during the Toronto International Film Festival at
Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Ontario Friday Sept. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/
The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatick)

The ongoing recession's effect on the Toronto International Film Festival remains to be seen, but a whole slew of movies, including those featuring Hollywood stars and from premier directors such as Neil Jordan and Atom Egoyan, are still up for grabs.

This year’s festival, being held from Sept. 10th - 19th, is featuring dozens of films that have yet to secure distribution deals. There have been exceptions, such as the film “Chloe," a sexual thriller directed by Toronto's Egoyan and starring Hollywood stalwarts Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. E1 Entertainment Canada announced a few weeks ago that it had acquired the Canadian distribution rights to the film, which will have its world premiere tonight.

But most are still available for acquisition (at least officially), such as the mermaid fairy tale Ondine, directed by Oscar-winner Jordan, with A-lister Colin Farrell playing a fisherman. The Charles Darwin biopic Creation, which opened the festival, is also seeking distribution. So is Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, starring Natalie Portman, who plays a newlywed grieving the loss of her newborn. Buyers in town can also still bid on The Joneses, in which Demi Moore and David Duchovny portray a seemingly perfect couple hiding a secret. Then there's the documentary Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel from Brigitte Berman, as well as Dorian Gray, starring Colin Firth and based on the Oscar Wilde novel. 

Over 3,000 industry professionals are attending attending the festival, which has a designated sales and industry office to facilitate movie purchases and foster relationships between buyers, agents and moviemakers.

The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke and featured at last year’s TIFF, went on to nab a whole host of film awards and two Oscar nominations after being picked up by News Corp.‘s Fox Searchlight.