Toronto International Film Festival set to begin Sept. 5

So … we’ve been there before, right? Just maybe not the same way the Toronto International Film Festival has been operating the last four or five years, ever since the novel coronavirus pandemic stopped the world for a long time beyond 2020 and before 2023’s couple of Hollywood guild strikes still kept most celebrities away froh North America’s largest cinematic showcase.

Now in its 49th year, though, TIFF promises a return to full-length expectations, beginning Sept. 5 and ending Sept. 15, with what looks like an exceptional combo offering of 268 features, documentaries and short subjects shown at more venues than only Canada’s biggest city can accommodate.

By the way, from an accredited media standpoint, each day for much of the loaded festival includes an ongoing slew of pass-administered Press & Industry screenings, starting at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 5, with the ironically titled “An Unfinished Film.” The North American premiere from Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye documents the aforementioned COVID era and his country’s lockdown through “a hybrid documentary, web videos and fragments from his past films, spinning a powerful drama in recognition of a nation’s collective trauma.”

And if that does not necessarily sound like anyone’s particular cup of tea, critics immediately face a difficult choice — during an extremely crowded 9 a.m. hour — of possibly watching one of the latest offerings from a trio of famous directors: “The Shrouds,” with Vincent Cassell and Diane Kruger, and being called “David Cronenberg’s most personal film”; Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada,” reuniting 44 years after “American Gigolo” with Richard Gere, here as a now-ailing former draft dodger recalling events of his memorable past; or Steven Soderbergh putting Lucy Liu through some apparently scary paces with “Presence.”

(If anyone cares, yours truly plans to attend the latter screening and owns tickets to public screenings for the other two later in the festival. Just know that these kinds of appetizing choices must be made regularly during the 11-day TIFF.)

The only time all day, every day that no film plays opposite another comes at 11:59 each evening, when the festival’s outrageously popular “Midnight Madness” series unreels. The first offering (Sept. 5) comes with a very buzz-worthy Demi Moore starring as aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle in “The Substance” and constantly feuding with her younger self (Margaret Qualley). Intriguing titles such as “Ick,” “Dead Mail,” “The Shadow Strays” and “Dead Talents Society” play among the nine more deliverers of madness to follow.

Certainly, there are many other viewing/attending opportunities, too, including live post-screening Q&As, the festival’s mighty “Tribute Awards” — likely to be discussed here again when the annual event occurs — and the popular “In Conversation With…” series, which this year features the likes of Tribute winner Cate Blanchett (here for a movie called “Rumours,” as well as for Alfonso Cuaron’s “Disclaimer” miniseries, set for AppleTV+), Zoe Saldana (the Cannes-honored “Emilia Perez”) and director Soderbergh, who undoubtedly will discuss the aforementioned “Presence” and many of his other films.

Of course, TIFF also is well-known for its prestigious awards, among them the Oscar-predicting “People’s Choice” honor, which last year went to “American Fiction,” an eventual five-time Academy Award nominee that won Best Adapted Screenplay for Cord Jefferson.

TIFF 48: It’s true — ‘American Fiction’ leaps into awards contention

That “People’s” race officially begins in earnest on Opening Night, Sept. 5, with the world premiere of “Nutcrackers” from director David Gordon Green, who goes from sitting behind the camera for the last three “Halloween” films to perhaps dealing with some little monsters in his latest film. Actually, that’s because Ben Stiller stars as a workaholic businessman unexpectedly forced to take care of his four “rambunctious” nephews.

Meanwhile, TIFF’s closing-night film, on Sept. 14, comes from comic/actress-turned first-time director Rebel Wilson, who presents “The Deb,” a musical about two teenagers eager to get to a debutante ball in the Australian countryside.

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be a star-studded event with highly anticipated films that reflect the world around us with humor and empathy,” said Anita Lee, TIFF’s chief programming officer, in a summer press release. “We are excited for fans to experience these two films — and the many diverse works premiering in between.”

Like the lady says, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet. But we will. Check back here every few days for continuing coverage from TIFF49. Remember, too, that ticket information and screening schedules for any of the above titles always is available at tiff.net.

John M. Urbancich reviewed films and wrote related features and celebrity profiles at Cleveland’s Sun Newspapers from 1983 to 2018. He has been an accredited journalist at the Toronto International Film Festival for more than three decades. Look for his ratings on recent releases at JMUvies.com.