48th Toronto International Film Festival and the 2024 Telluride Film Festival

TORONTO – The best films of the year emerge every year in late August and early September for an Oscar run at the film festivals in Venice, Toronto, and Telluride, with many of them addressing current socio-political topics.

The 48th Toronto International Film Festival is set to premiere Angelina Jolie’s haunting directorial project, Without Blood. Starring Salma Hayek, the film takes a deep look at the aftermath of war, weaving an emotional narrative around trauma, resilience, and survival. Jolie’s humanitarian work, including her past collaboration with Cinema for Peace, underscores her commitment to using cinema to address important global humanitarian issues."

The Last Republican, directed by Steve Pink, follows Congressman Adam Kinzinger as he grapples with the fallout of standing against Donald Trump and the extremism he witnessed in the GOP. After voting to impeach Trump following the January 6th insurrection, Kinzinger faced backlash and threats. The film dives into the heart of a party on the verge of implosion, making it one of the festival’s most talked-about entries.

The documentary The Bibi Files chronicles the political life of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As Israel faces ongoing political challenges, the film offers an unfiltered examination of Netanyahu’s legacy and the long-term impact of his leadership. Director Alex Bloom described it as a difficult but necessary look at one of Israel’s most influential figures.

Sudan, Remember Us, by Hind Meddeb, captures a pivotal moment in Sudan's history following the overthrow of dictator Omar Al-Bashir. The film documents young activists rallying for democracy and the brutal military crackdown that followed. As Sudan remains in turmoil, Meddeb’s film ensures these activists’ bravery is remembered, even as the international community largely overlooks the ongoing crisis.

After last year’s Hollywood strikes dimmed Telluride, this year’s festival saw a resurgence of celebrities. However, it wasn't just film stars catching attention. Political figures such as Hillary Clinton, James Carville, Mary Matalin, and special prosecutor Jack Smith signaled that this year was about more than cinema; it mirrored the world’s anxieties. With global conflict and an upcoming U.S. presidential election, global issues dominated the festival’s conversations.

Hillary Clinton, alongside her daughter Chelsea, was in attendance to support their documentary Zurawski v Texas, which tackles the urgent issue of abortion access in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Clinton encouraged the audience to “get back to a time when your government is not determining what your choices for your family would be.”

Another film sparking conversation at the festival was The White House Effect, a global-warming documentary directed by Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, and Pedro Kos. The film, composed entirely of archival footage from over 14,000 sources, explores how environmental promises made during the presidency of George H.W. Bush ultimately unraveled due to political division and misinformation. 

The 2024 Venice Film Festival concluded last night with Pedro Almodóvar winning the Golden Lion for Best Film with The Room Next Door, his first English-language feature. Nicole Kidman won Best Actress for Babygirl but had to depart yesterday before the ceremony as her mother died. 

The ceremony was overshadowed by harsh comments on Israel’s 'occupation,' even though Israel left Gaza in 2005, giving it an opportunity for democracy and self-development. Already in 2000, Bill and Hillary Clinton had offered Yasser Arafat a Palestinian state, which he denied, saying: 'If I do this, they will kill me tomorrow.' Cinema for Peace will host Hillary and Bill Clinton next year in Berlin, and hopes that a new peace plan can be developed, one that ends the war, and the killings in Gaza, sets the hostages free, and defines a Palestinian state with democracy, secular rule of law, and women’s rights.

Babygirl directed by Halina Reijn

The Room Next Door directed by Pedro Almodóvar

Sudan, Remember Us, directed by Hind Meddeb