Every Actor Is a Director Now at TIFF. They’re Just Not Good at It.
“It’s crazy the way it feels to be a director and [at] your first premiere,” said Patricia Arquette, introducing the world premiere of her directorial debut Gonzo Girl on the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Academy Award winner was just one of several noteworthy actors who brought their first film to this year’s TIFF. Joining her in those ranks are Chris Pine (Poolman), Anna Kendrick (Woman of the Hour), Kristin Scott Thomas (North Star), and Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk (Hell of a Summer). The results so far have been a mixed bag.
With the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes preventing the kind of Hollywood presence that TIFF audiences are used to, these films directed by actors seem like a shrewd attempt to bring name-recognizable stars to draw in festival goers. Along with the debuts, the festival also delivered the first look at directorial efforts from actors who have previously made other films, like Viggo Mortensen and Michael Keaton (yes, both have previously directed films you have likely never heard of), as well as Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn (justice for his debut A Walk on the Moon).