‘Sly’: Netflix’s Sylvester Stallone Doc Is The Closing Night Film At TIFF 2023

With the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) just a month away, the full lineup is beginning to take shape. Sure, we already know the majority of the films, but it appears the folks at the event still have one more surprise up their sleeves, as we get the announcement that “Sly” will be closing the festival.

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According to TIFF, “Sly” has been revealed as the Closing Night film. As the title implies, “Sly” is a documentary about the life and career of the iconic actor, Sylvester Stallone. A legend, not only in front of the camera but behind as well, Stallone has consistently been one of the biggest names in Hollywood since the ‘70s. Now, with “Sly,” which is produced by Netflix, fans will get the chance to dive deep into the actor’s journey. 

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“Stallone’s story is one of perseverance, triumph, and his indelible mark left on the world of film, and we couldn’t be more honored to share it with our audiences as our Closing Night film,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Celebrating the legacy of a true icon, ‘Sly’ takes audiences on an intimate journey through the life of Stallone, a cultural touchstone whose impact on cinema spans nearly half a century. ‘Sly’ offers an unexpected and heartfelt exploration of the man behind the action megastar.”

“Sly” is directed by Thom Zimny. The filmmaker previously worked on projects such as “Springsteen on Broadway” and “Elvis Presley: The Searcher.”

As mentioned, “Sly” is now the Closing Night film at TIFF and will have its world premiere on September 16.

Here’s the synopsis for the film:

Sly shows Stallone’s rough beginnings in New York City as a troubled kid who’d escape his angry household to watch movies all day and then come home to write scripts himself. Zimny leads Stallone through his rollercoaster career, which exploded when Rocky — a role he had to fight to play, despite having written the now iconic movie — catapulted him to a level of stardom for which he was entirely unprepared. The documentary takes this storied filmography and juxtaposes it with Stallone’s personal journey, exploring how his inspirational underdog story informed both the indelible characters he has brought to life and the man he has become. There are highs and there are lows. There are regrets and there are triumphs. But Stallone has kept punching.