TIFF announced its first slate of films for this year’s festival September 4-14. It’s a big ass deal, not only because I live in Toronto and I work for etalk and we cover it top to bottom but because TIFF is where people come to kick off their campaigns. We’ve seen this, year after year after year.

Here are some quick observations – starting at the very end…

Because we conclude TIFF 2014 with a film called A Little Chaos, directed by, my “always”, Alan Rickman. I have already started begging to be assigned to this carpet, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to get it as no one wants to work the final night of the festival. But for him? He’s worth it.

I’ll probably be begging to cover The Judge too. Robert Downey Jr. RDJ is coming to TIFF. It’s a World Premiere.

But what if it came down to a choice between RDJ and Jon Stewart? Who would you pick? Stewart took a couple of months off last summer to direct Rosewater and I hope he comes to present it.

Oh! And This Is Where I Leave You, based on Jonathan Tropper’s wonderful book and starring Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, and more – hopefully Duana and I can go together.

As I mentioned last week, as expected, both of Reese Witherspoon’s films will be coming to Toronto: Wild and The Good Lie will screen here and then Reese will set off… hoping for her second Oscar.

While Jennifer Aniston hopes for her first. They put scars on her face for Cake. Get ugly, get Oscar? Cake is a TIFF World Premiere. She’ll come for sure.

It’s always good gossip when Aniston is around? It’s always good gossip when Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are mentioned at the same event. Stewart’s Still Alice is also a TIFF World Premiere. That increases the chances she’ll attend. Pattinson is in David Cronenberg’s Maps To The Stars. Toronto is home for Cronenberg. Not sure though if his new muse will support his home screening. 

Other notables:

The Captain America directed Before We Go has been accepted at TIFF. I can’t imagine Chris Evans wouldn’t show up for that.

Nightcrawler is the movie for which Jake Gyllenhaal lost all that weight. It’s a TIFF World Premiere.

Sarah wrote about Benedict Cumberbatch’s Oscar chances for The Imitation Game yesterday. It’ll be featured at TIFF. And it’s a good place to build momentum.

People are also saying Channing Tatum might have a shot at a nomination in Foxcatcher and it’s also a Gala at TIFF. FINE, but why aren’t we talking about Mark Ruffalo? That’s why I’d want that carpet.

TIFF always attracts. And this year, it’s an attractive lineup, for sure. Denzel! Pacino! So many more! Click here to see the full list.

And I’ll leave you with this:

Tom Hardy. And the puppy? You remember the puppy? The film is called The Drop, also starring James Gandolfini, his last. The Drop will be a TIFF World Premiere.