Some of TIFF’s best films headed to the Oscars
No sooner has TIFF rolled out of town, taking all of its botoxed goodness with it, than awards show season rolls in, binding us to the couch to partake in the glorious judge-fest that is the Oscars. So maybe that’s not until February, but the boys who pick the winners (let’s face it, it’s mostly dudes) have already announced the long list of nominees for best foreign film, and TIFF 2010 favourites abound among the titles in contention.Among them is Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives from Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The surreal and often bizarre film elicited some of the most quotable reviews of the fest, including, “Best woman/fish sex scene in recent memory.”
Other TIFF favourites on the list include Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s Biutiful, French director Xavier Beauvois’ Of Gods and Men, and Dogtooth, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos of Greece.
Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies, a drama based on Wajdi Mouawad’s stage play, will represent Canada and has been touted by the Los Angeles Times as one of the top flicks on the list (watch the trailer above). There are 65 films representing as many countries, all vying for a spot among the nine films that will become actual nominees.
So here’s hoping Villeneuve makes it all the way, because nothing warms the heart more than seeing a Canadian filmmaking hero get elbowed out of the way on the red carpet by a pack of reporters trying to get to Brangelina. God bless Hollywood.
• Oscar organizers unveil foreign film contenders [CBC News]
