Sci-fi with Jared Leto among final titles confirmed for festival

Romantic drama from John N. Smith takes gala slot at AFF. Also on tap, a ‘featurette’ by local hero Thom Fitzgerald

Michael Caine, Chris Rock, Barry Levinson among those set to discuss latest films at festival

With Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Seth Rogen dominating the Hollywood box office, the Toronto International Film Festival has decided to embrace the Canadian comedy, eh?

Ten industry icons including Oscar winner Denys Arcand, thrill master David Cronenberg and legendary thespian Christopher Plummer are to be inducted into Playback‘s third annual Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame.

Denys Arcand says it was ‘sheer serendipity’ that brought him to filmmaking.

Lifetime achievement awards and hall of fame inductions often go to individuals who are slowing down and can sit back and reflect on their illustrious careers.

Patrick Watson is always looking for new experiences. The renowned broadcaster, journalist, filmmaker, actor and author – who becomes an octogenarian this year – has been working on poetry.

It is no easy feat to sum up Maria Topalovich, but her friend, colleague and Hall of Fame alum, Trina McQueen, does it best.

It’s May 2005, and a who’s who of foreign distributors and financiers party at Cannes on Martinez Beach – French producer Philippe Bober and Venice festival artistic director Marco Mueller sip champagne, while Irish Film Board chief Mark Woods and Independent Film and Television Alliance head Jean Prewitt pick from a sumptuous buffet as a Brazilian band plays against a setting sun.

Christopher Plummer’s acting career flourished on foreign soil as, like Charlie Chaplin, he initially went to America to make his name. But his native Canada permeates Plummer’s life story.

Vision, hard work and attention to The Deal sums up the late Ted Rogers and his life-long quest to build a Canadian media empire.