Originally published September 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 16, 2007 at 9:34 PM
Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises" wins top prize at Toronto film fest
You won't have to wait to see the winner of the prestigious audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Attendees of the 10-day...
Seattle Times movie critic
You won't have to wait to see the winner of the prestigious audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Attendees of the 10-day festival, which ended Saturday, voted David Cronenberg's thriller "Eastern Promises" as the best of the fest. The film, which stars Viggo Mortensen as an ambitious driver for London's Russian mob, is already in limited release nationwide; in Seattle, you can see it downtown at the Meridian.
The audience award runner-up was Jason Reitman's sardonic teen-pregnancy comedy "Juno," followed by "Body of War," an Iraq War documentary directed by Phil Donahue (yes, that Phil Donahue) and Ellen Spiro. In past years, the TIFF audience award has been a springboard to success; recent winners have included "Tsotsi" (which won the Academy Award for best foreign film in 2006), "Hotel Rwanda," "Whale Rider" and "Amelie." (Last year's winner, the Mexican/American drama "Bella," is something of an anomaly; it still hasn't had a theatrical release in the U.S.)
Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán's "Cochochi," a story of two young brothers in northwest Mexico, won the Diesel Discovery award, voted on by the festival's accredited media. The Fipresci International critics prize was won by the Mexican drama "La Zona," directed by first-timer Rodrigo Plá.
The last days of the festival saw several major distribution deals, including one for Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle." The film, shot in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., depicts the events of the 1999 WTO riots. It was acquired for a reported $2 million by THINKFilm, the same outfit that picked up the Northwest-made "Zoo" at Sundance last year.
The festival's biggest sale was of the comedy "Bill," starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba, which went to First Look for what Variety identified as "north of $3 million."
And the festival served its traditional purpose of launching the prestige-movie season, with well-buzzed North American debuts of Joe Wright's British drama "Atonement," the Coen brothers' western "No Country for Old Men," Sean Penn's fact-based drama "Into the Wild" and Ang Lee's tale of espionage in 1940s Shanghai, "Lust, Caution" (which won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival last week, alongside its Toronto premiere). All are scheduled to open in Seattle theaters before the year's end.
Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
At a Theater Near You: At Fremont Outdoor Movies, "Pee-wee's Big Adventure"
Movie review: Well-acted 'Humpday' delivers fresh take on friendship
Movie review: "Brüno" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intolerance
Movie review: In 'The Hurt Locker,' a complicated hero addicted to the rush of war

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
What not to wear to work this summer
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sports car/coupe? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Driver killed, deputy and prisoner injured in head-on crash near Monroe
- House Democrats likely to alter intel bill
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Movie review | "Brüno" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intolerance
- Chase will no longer sponsor Lake Union fireworks
- 4 Ill. cemetery workers accused in grisly plot
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
913 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
523 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners: 07/09 game thread
243 - Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik again declines to quell Yuniesky Betancourt trade rumors
145 - World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
126 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
91 - Wednesday night notes
86 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
76 - Franklin Gutierrez bails Mariners out in a 3-1 win
75 - House Dems want to expand secret briefings
63
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- During financial crisis, the business of college sports is complicated by Title IX
- Local Smith & Hawken garden stores to close
- Green River Valley plans ahead for possible flooding
- Pay parking in West Seattle?
- Jerry Large | Issues of aging affect all





