Open this photo in gallery: Terrence Malick, is in the program this year for the first time with the Second World War-era drama A Hidden Life. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
The headlines spilling out of the Toronto International Film Festival this week will be concentrated on three subjects: celebrities, the Oscars, and streetcar delays. But there is another layer to TIFF that often gets lost in the quick-hit discourse: the prolific international auteurs who make up the festival’s Masters program.
In previous years, this oversight was slightly easier to justify, given Masters’ reliance on very familiar (re: old, white, male) names. But now under programmer Brad Deane, Masters feels fresher, and worth whatever headlines can be spared its way.
TIFF 2019: Updated – The Globe’s latest ratings and reviews of movies screening at the festival
With the larger and flashier TIFF films having now premiered over the festival’s first weekend, The Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz caught up with Deane to talk about the ever-changing canon.
You’ve assumed lead programming duties for Masters this year – the same year you’ve also joined the Platform programming team, in addition to your role as director of TIFF Cinematheque in the Lightbox year-round. How do you balance the responsibilities, and the sensibilities?
I’m asking myself that same question. Talking with [artistic director Cameron Bailey and senior director of film Diana Sanchez] this year, it’s all about creating better synergies between year-round programming at the Lightbox and the festival. And you start seeing the overlap in the sections, too. We’re trying to pay attention to those connections, especially since Cameron has taken over [as co-head].
For Masters, Piers Handling was the lead programmer for that, before he retired last year. How do your approaches differ?
I’m probably looking to bring new people into Masters. When I looked back at the program, a lot of the directors had been in there for a long time – it was a lot of the same people over and over again. I wanted to ask, what is a master? It doesn’t mean that every film you make in your career fits in there – it’s fluid. Some of the directors in there this year, Piers has programmed for a long time, like Marco Bellocchio and Roy Andersson. But I was also excited about thinking about the canon, and what’s in there and what should be. It’s my first year, too. It will keep evolving. And when I look at the other sections this year, there are other filmmakers who I think could be in Masters, too.
Open this photo in gallery: I Was at Home, But... [Ich war zuhause, aber...], the new feature from German auteur Angela Schanelec, hinges on the mysterious disappearance (and reappearance) of a 13-year-old boy. This sets in motion a cubist narrative that oscillates between precision and enigma, headiness and sensuality. Courtesy of TIFF
To that end, there are five first-timers in Masters this year. And last year’s Masters featured zero female filmmakers. This year, you have two: Germany’s Angela Schanelec and Canada’s Alanis Obomsawin.
Which is still not enough. Hopefully we’ll have more and more every year. And it’s the system, too – the funding of films, who’s getting to make films. But I think that there’s no reason there should ever be zero. It’s the same with the Cinematheque at the Lightbox year-round, where it’s even more difficult because you’re going further back in history. It’s something that we’ve been contending with, so if there aren’t enough films to show from female filmmakers, then we’ll bring in women to introduce films, to change the perspective. Like culture, the canon is always moving, too. We have to keep paying attention, and moving with it.
A filmmaker many would regard as a master, Terrence Malick, is in the program this year for the first time with the Second World War-era drama A Hidden Life . What is it about his new film that fit Masters?
Well, it’s his best since The Tree of Life , and it’s great seeing him work the source material that he has. People who love Malick are going to love this film, and its themes are pretty relevant today.
Is there any filmmaker in this year’s program who you think runs the risk of being overlooked?
France's Bertrand Bonello, because of the types of films he makes, I'm not sure the past people would've considered him a "master." But he is so in control of the form, is a great stylist, and has fascinating political angles to all his work. He's someone who, every single step of the way, is aware of that.
Open this photo in gallery: Last year’s Masters featured zero female filmmakers. This year, there are two: Germany’s Angela Schanelec and Canada’s Alanis Obomsawin. Courtesy of TIFF
Pilar Savone, left, Jeremy Jordan, Kerry Washington and Kenny Leon attend the American Son premiere on Sept. 12, 2019. ANDREW KELLY/Getty Images
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Jessica Barden attends the Jungleland photo call on Sept. 12, 2019. Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
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Charlie Hunnam arrives at the world premiere of Jungleland on Sept. 12, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Director Max Winkler arrives for the world premiere of Jungleland on Sept. 12, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Sarah Gadon attends the American Woman premiere on Sept. 12, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/Getty Images
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Willem Dafoe at a news conference for Motherless Brooklyn on Sept. 11, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Kelly MacDonald poses at the premiere of Dirt Music on Sept. 11, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Julia Stone poses at the premiere of Dirt Music on Sept. 11, 2019. Mark Blinch/Reuters
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Cast member Pearl Amanda Dickson arrives at the world premiere of Lucy in the Sky on Sept. 11. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Atom Egoyan, left, and Arsinée Khanjian attend the Guest Of Honour premiere on Sept. 10. Tommaso Boddi
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Laysla De Oliveira attends the Guest Of Honour premiere on Sept. 10. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
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Director Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Willem Dafoe and Josh Pais attend the Motherless Brooklyn premiere on Sept. 10, 2019. Tommaso Boddi
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Jennifer Nettles arrives at the international premiere of the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Actors Vondie Curtis-Hall, right, and Henry Hunter Hall pose on the red carpet for the gala premiere of the film Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Liev Schreiber arrives for the gala of the film Human Capital on Sept. 10, 2019. Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press
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Actress Renee Zellweger attends the premiere for Judy on Sept. 10, 2019. Arthur Mola/The Associated Press
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Cynthia Erivo arrives at the international premiere of the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Actor Leslie Odom Jr. arrives on the red carpet for the gala premiere of the film Harriet on Sept. 10, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Christian Bale attends a press conference of the film Ford vs Ferrari on Sept. 10, 2019. Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press
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Left to right: Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix attend the premiere for Joker on Sept. 9, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Rooney Mara attends the Joker premiere on Sept. 9, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Matt Damon poses with a fan after at the gala premiere of the film Ford vs. Ferrari on Sept. 9, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Christian Bale signs autographs at the gala premiere of the film Ford vs. Ferrari on Sept. 9, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Shamier Anderson presents the TIFF Tribute Actor Award to Meryl Streep during TIFF Tribute Gala on Sept. 9, 2019. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Cameron Bailey, Joana Vicente and recipient of the TIFF Tribute Actor Award Joaquin Phoenix at the Tribute Gala on Sept. 9, 2019. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Isabelle Huppert, left, and Mati Diop attend the TIFF Tribute Gala at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Sept. 9, 2019. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Meryl Streep arrives for the premiere of The Laundromat on Sept. 9, 2019. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Antonio Banderas poses with a fan dressed as his character Zorro as he attends The Laundromat premiere on Sept. 9, 2019. Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press
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Director Drake Doremus, Sebastian Stan and Jamie Dornan attend Hugo Boss presents Endings, Beginnings, on Sept. 8, 2019. Getty Images
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Shamier Anderson and Shailene Woodley attend Hugo Boss presents Endings, Beginnings, on Sept. 8, 2019. The Globe and Mail
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Actors Ray Romano and Allison Janney attend the Bad Education cocktail party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Allison Janney and Catherine Curtin attend the Bad Education cocktail party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Misha Handley and Danny DeVito attend The Song of Names cocktail party on Sept. 8, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Directors Francois Girard and Robert Lantos at The Song of Names cocktail Party at RBC House on Sept. 8, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/AFP/Getty Images
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Actress Sarah Paulson takes selfies with fans on her way to The Goldfinch premiere at on Sept. 8, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Luke Wilson attends the Audi Canada post-screening event for The Goldfinch at Don Alfonso 1890 on Sept. 8, 2019. The Globe and Mail
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Fiona Weir and John Crowley attend the Audi Canada post-screening event for The Goldfinch at Don Alfonso 1890 on Sept. 8, 2019. The Globe and Mail
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Actress Scarlett Johansson at the Marriage Story premiere on Sept 8, 2019. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Actor Adam Driver signs autographs before stepping on the red carpet for Marriage Story on Sept. 8, 2019. Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press
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Ray Romano arrives for the gala premiere of Bad Education on Sept. 8, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Welsh actor Aneurin Barnard attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Nicole Kidman attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard attends The Goldfinch premiere on Sept. 8, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Leonardo DiCaprio attends the premiere for And We Go Green on Sept. 8, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Jennifer Lopez arrives for the gala premiere of Hustlers on Sept. 7, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Jennifer Lopez and David Foster arrive for The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Actress Julia Stiles speaks to reporters at the premiere of Hustlers on Sept. 7, 2019. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
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Nicole Kidman attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Actress Kerry Washington arrives for the Hollywood Reporter and the Hollywood Foreign Press Associations TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Sarah Paulson and Dakota Johnson attend The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
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Bryce Dallas Howard, left, and Felicity Jones attend The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Isabelle Huppert attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Imogen Poots attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter's TIFF party at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 7, 2019. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Icon Award Presentation with Dame Anna Wintour, left, and Joana Vicente, executive director and co-head TIFF, at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sept. 6, 2019. Ryan Emberley/Handout
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Actress Dakota Johnson poses with fans at the premiere of The Friend on Sept. 6, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Jason Segel takes photos with fans at the premiere for The Friend on Sept. 6, 2019. Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
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Dakota Johnson arrives at The Friend world premiere party hosted by World Class at Kost on Sept. 6, 2019. Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
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Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx attend the AT&T and Audi Canada post-screening event for Just Mercy at Fermenting Cellar on Sept. 6, 2019. GP Images/Handout
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Brie Larson arrives for the gala premiere of the film Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Rob Morgan takes to the air as he arrives for the gala premiere of the film Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Jamie Foxx arrives for the gala premiere of Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Michael B. Jordan arrives for the gala premiere of Just Mercy on Sept. 6, 2019. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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Antonio Banderas attends the Pain And Glory premiere at Ryerson Theatre on Sept. 6, 2019. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Dean, left, and Dan Caten attend eOne Best of the Fest TIFF 2019 Celebration at Arcane on Sept. 6, 2019. Brian de Rivera Simon/Getty Images
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Susan Sarandon arrives for a gala presentation of Blackbird on Sept. 6, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Sam Neill, Susan Sarandon and Rainn Wilson arrive for a gala presentation of Blackbird on Sept. 6, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Actress Susan Sarandon attends the cocktail reception for the world premiere of Blackbird at the Nordstrom Supper Suite on Sept. 6, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Olivia Cooke, left, and Riz Ahmed attend the Sound Of Metal premiere on Sept. 6, 2019. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
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Sophie Nélisse, left, Katie Bird Nolan, Aisling Chin-Yee, Heather Graham, Lindsay Tapscott and Jodi Balfour attend The Rest Of Us premiere on Sept. 6, 2019. Robin Marchant/Getty Images
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Neve Campbell attends the Castle In The Ground premiere on Sept. 5, 2019. Robin Marchant/Getty Images
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William Woods, left, Joey Klein, Michael Solomon and Keir Gilchrist arrive at the Castle in the Ground world premiere party at Weslodge on Sept. 5, 2019. ERNESTO DiSTEFANO/Getty Images
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Dev Patel arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Rosalind Eleazar arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019. Mark Blinch/Reuters
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Aimee Kelly arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Hugh Laurie arrives for a special presentation of The Personal History of David Copperfield on Sept. 5, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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Musician Robbie Robertson, centre, arrives for the gala presentation of his biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on opening night on Sept. 5, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Ronnie Hawkins, centre, arrives on the red carpet for the new movie Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band on Sept. 5, 2019. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Director Ron Howard arrives for the opening night gala presentation of Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on Sept. 5, 2019. VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
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Producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer arrive for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on TIFF opening night on Sept. 5, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Martin Scorsese arrives for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on Sept. 5, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Director Daniel Roher and Kari Teicher arrive for the gala presentation of the Robbie Robertson biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on TIFF opening night on Sept. 5, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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Albina Kirenga, left, Amanda Mugabekazi, Belinda Rubango, and Clariella Bizimana, right, attend the Our Lady Of The Nile premiere on Sept. 5, 2019. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
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Actor Matthew Cardarople reacts as he arrives to a special presentation of the biopic about singer Helen Reddy, I Am Woman, on Sept. 5, 2019. MARK BLINCH/Reuters
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TIFF Rising Star Kacey Rohl arrives for the gala presentation of the Robbie Roberston biopic Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band on the opening night on Sept. 5, 2019. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
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TIFF Rising Stars Kacey Rohl and Shamier Anderson attend the opening night party at Shangri-La Hotel on Sept. 5, 2019. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Gabe Polsky, left, and Justine Polsky attend the Red Penguins premiere on Sept. 5, 2019. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
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This interview has been condensed and edited.
The 44th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival runs through Sept. 15 ( tiff.net ).
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