Over the past few weeks TIFF has been rolling out their announcements of what will be screening at this year’s festival. Of the many films announced, there are still a few highly anticipated big ones we are hoping will be on the final list announced August 20th:

American Hustle

Academy award nominated director David O’Russell’s latest film, with an stellar cast, looks like a combination of every 70′s movie we have ever loved; Boggie Nights, meets Scarface, Donnie Brasco and Goodfellas. The story of infamous American con man Irving Rosenfeld, who assisted the FBI in their undercover operation to apprehend corrupt government officials. Starring Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner.

The Counselor

Author of No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy (screenplay) and Ridley Scott team up for this star studded action thriller. The Counselor is about a Lawyer who gets caught up in world of drug trafficking. Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Cannes Grand Prix winner, the film follows a folk singer over the course of one week in 1960s Greenwich Village prior to the famous music scene taking off. The Coen bros reunite with music producer T Bone Burnett (who they collaborated with on O Brother Where Art Thou). Starring Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac and John Goodman.

Knight Of Cups

Little has been released about Terrence Malick’s most recent project. Rumored to be about love, celebrity, and excess set against the backdrop of the film industry. It stars Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, and Freida Pinto.

Nymphomaniac

Envelope pushing director Lars Von Trier continues to do just that with his highly controversial pseudo porn. The film documents the sexual experiences of one woman throughout her life. Von Trier holds nothing back, reportedly using body doubles for the scenes in the film which include penetration. Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgard, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe.

http://www.nymphomaniacthemovie.com/

Oldboy

Spike Lee returns to psychological thriller genre with this remake of Korean classic from Chan-wook Park. Josh Brolin stars as a man imprisoned by a mystery captor for 20 years, when finally released he embarks on a mission for vengeance.

Snowpiercer This post-apocalyptic, sci fi, thriller has been a huge hit in home country Korea. Director Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Mother) knocks it out of the park with this dystopian class struggle taking place in a frozen future where the remainder of humanity resides on a segregated train. Starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Kang-ho Song.

The Turning

Seventeen filmmakers collaborate to bring Tim Winton’s short stories to the silver screen. Among the contributing directors are Mia Wasikowska, David Wenham, and Warwick Thornton. Some of the big name appearances in the majestic looking shorts are Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, and Hugo Weaving.

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivit

Master of charming, Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie, Micmacs) tackles the film adaptation of Reif Larsen’s novel. The delightful tale of a 12-year-old inventor who leaves his family in Montana to pursue his fortune in the great wide world. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Kyle Catlett, and Kathy Bates.

TIFF Update by Astrid Handling