With the WGA and SAG strikes happening right now, there are a lot of questions about what the fall film festival circuit will look like. Will studios pull films if they can’t have stars show up at the events? Will the events be delayed if they can’t produce a quality lineup of features? Well, even though we don’t know the answers to those questions, it appears it’s business as usual over at the Toronto International Film Festival, as the event has announced the first film to make its debut— “Seven Veils” from director Atom Egoyan.
According to TIFF, Atom Egoyan is returning to the event to debut his latest film, “Seven Veils,” which stars Amanda Seyfried as a theater director attempting to create a version of the opera “Salome.” However, as her personal issues intensify, her world is thrown into a bit of chaos. Egoyan is probably best known for his Oscar-nominated film, “The Sweet Hereafter.” He is also known for “Chloe,” which also stars Seyfried in the lead role.
“Amanda is a phenomenal actress, and here she brilliantly plays a woman dealing with complex and explosive relationships in her past, present, and future,” said Egoyan. “To have the world premiere of this film at TIFF and to be partnering with the Canadian Opera Company really brings my two great passions together in such a beautiful way.”
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, added, “We are honored to premiere Atom Egoyan’s extraordinary film at this year’s Festival. Egoyan’s cinematic works are unmatched, and we’re excited to bring ‘Seven Veils’ to our TIFF audiences and to the city of Toronto, his home.”
Joining Seyfried in the cast are Rebecca Liddiard, Douglas Smith, Mark O’Brien, and Vinessa Antoine. “Seven Veils” marks the 18th film from Egoyan to premiere at TIFF.
“Seven Veils” is expected to make its debut at TIFF on September 10.
Here’s the synopsis for the film:
With Seven Veils, the Academy Award®–nominated Egoyan reunites with Seyfried (Chloe), who plays Jeanine, an earnest theatre director tasked with remounting her former mentor’s most famous work, the opera Salome. Haunted by dark and disturbing memories from her past, Jeanine allows her repressed trauma to colour the present as she re-enters the opera world after so many years away.