Several big names including Angelina Jolie will highlight TIFF's 50th anniversary this year

Dear Gossips,

The Toronto International Film Festival is marking its 50th anniversary this year and they’ve been rolling out the lineup. It was confirmed a few days ago that Rian Johnson is going three-for-three at TIFF with the world premiere of his third film in the Benoit Blanc Universe, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, just like its two predecessors. And most likely it’ll be at the Princess of Wales theatre. I wonder I’ll be covering it and go three-for-three myself because I was assigned to both Knives Out and Glass Onion for ETALK, but this isn’t about my work schedule, sorry.

TIFF’s most recent press release came yesterday and this year’s lineup is looking very strong. One of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, period, is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, and filmed in Toronto, where it will have its North American premiere. For the gossips, though, here are some more notables who are on their way to Canada in September.

There was a lot of talk about Sydney Sweeney’s body transformation to play Christy Martin in David Michôd’s Christy. This is a TIFF world premiere, it’ll for sure be a high profile carpet – and, depending on how it plays, it could very well kick off an award season campaign for her. Will Sydney Sweeney be an Oscar contender this year?

And then there’s the Canadian content. TIFF opening night film is the documentary John Candy: I Like Me, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds. Also Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, directed by Ally Pankiw and produced by Dan Levy, a documentary about the music festival spearheaded by Sarah McLachlan in 1997 in response to the industry’s reluctance to have female artists booked in concert together. And Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, the documentary by Lisa Rideout starring Drake as he reflects on his Jimmy Brooks experience.

Plus, Keanu Reeves is starring in Aziz Ansari’s comedy Good Fortune, world premiering at TIFF, setting up a possible Bill & Ted reunion because Alex Winter directed a film called Adulthood starring Kaya Scodelario and Josh Gad and, if the schedule allows, it’ll be so great if Keanu shows up to support his friend.

And… Angelina Jolie is returning to TIFF for the second year in a row. She was here as a director in 2024 for Without Blood with Salma Hayek. This time she’s featured as an actor for the world premiere of Alice Winocour’s Couture that takes place during Paris Fashion Week.

Speaking of Angelina and Salma, though, they went viral this week when they were seen flying commercial in Mexico. Check them out just waiting to board on the bridge like everyone else even though, as we know, and especially Salma, both have access to private jets.

@vanessatresjolie
Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek at the airport togheter Mexico veracruz new #angelinajolie #salmahayek
♬ Morning Happy Background Music - Wavepaper ID

Here she is walking through the terminal and being asked about why she was there – seems like it was just a girls’ trip.

https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessatresjolie/video/7528799363095629078?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7477949071271233029

Apparently Marianne Pearl was also on the trip because at one point there was a more exclusive mode of transportation and Marianne was one of the people on the helicopter.