The Sapphires and Lore make Toronto Film Festival
The Sapphires
Two Australian films have been announced in the first round of one of the premiere festivals in the world – the Toronto International Film Festival.
Announced overnight, The Sapphires and Lore will screen in the Special Presentations program of the festival.
Wayne Blair’s The Sapphires, about an Indigenous all-girl singing group who travels to Vietman to entertain the troops, had its world premiere at Cannes this year, receiving a standing ovation before being snapped up by influential US studio The Weinstein Company. The Sapphires will also open the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Cate Shortland’s Lore, about five children who embark on a journey after the German resistance collapses, had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June of this year.
Australian films have had reasonable success at the festival. In 2010, Australian-British co-production The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, won the festival’s major prize, The People’s Choice Award. In 1996 the prize was won by Scott Hick’s Shine, and in 1992 Baz Luhrmann won for Strictly Ballroom.
The Toronto International Film Festival is held from 6-16 September.
