On any other day, lineup details for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)'s Midnight Madness, Discovery and Wavelengths programming would be newsworthy enough — but this year, one of said selections is Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe's exceptionally jacked portrayal of the beloved parody provocateur.
TIFF announced 54 titles in the three sections of programming today, including the world premiere of Eric Appel's "hyperbolic" musical biopic as the opening Midnight Madness film. Since Midnight Madness features films of unconventional genres, the "beautifully deranged" (according to curator Peter Kuplowsky) take on Yankovic's rise to notoriety goes perfectly with the other action, horror, shock and fantasy cinema films, including Ti West's X prequel Pearl, The People's Joker and V/H/S/99.
TIFF announced 54 titles in the three sections of programming today, including the world premiere of Eric Appel's "hyperbolic" musical biopic as the opening Midnight Madness film. Since Midnight Madness features films of unconventional genres, the "beautifully deranged" (according to curator Peter Kuplowsky) take on Yankovic's rise to notoriety goes perfectly with the other action, horror, shock and fantasy cinema films, including Ti West's X prequel Pearl, The People's Joker and V/H/S/99.
Meanwhile, the 24-film Discovery section will open with Elegance Bratton's debut The Inspection, which tells the director's own life story of a youth who joins the Marine Corps after experiencing housing precariousness when kicked out by his mother for being gay. It also features Canadian films Something You Said Last Night, This Place, Pussy, ROSIE, The Young Arsonists, When Morning Comes, Until Branches Bend and I Like Movies.
"For TIFF audiences in the know, the Discovery, Midnight Madness and Wavelengths programmes are where you're rewarded for taking risks and being adventurous," TIFF chief programming officer Anita Lee shared in a statement. "Whether it's the discovery of an audacious new auteur, a brilliant visionary work that reimagines storytelling or the most wicked cinematic experience you will ever have, this is where you will find it."
Everyone will be rewarded by the yassified Yankovic — but you have to be willing to risk Alpocalypse.
More TIFF programming has yet to be announced, but you can check out what's currently on the lineup (and buy tickets) via the festival website.
Earlier this year, TIFF announced its ban on all official Russian delegations, but is still welcoming independent Russian filmmakers.
