Director: Aitch Alberto Cast: Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, Eugenio Derbez, Eva Longoria, Veronica Falcón, Kevin Alejandro Sales agent: UTA Buzz factor: This touching story of two teenage boys in 1987 El Paso whose friendship both deepens and is challenged in surprising ways will leave audiences reaching for the tissues.
It also marks the feature debut of Alberto, an exciting new filmmaking talent, who deftly adapts Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s award-winning 2012 novel and gets two impressive performances out of up-and-comers Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales in the title roles.
Plus, no less a leading light than Lin Manuel-Miranda signed on as a producer, an important endorsement. If the reviews match the early buzz, Alberto should leave TIFF with plenty of compelling offers. Director: Vera Drew Cast: Vera Drew, Lynn Downey, Kane Distler, Nathan Faustyn, David Liebe Hart Sales agent: UTA Buzz factor: Anyone with a vague awareness of Hollywood knows that superhero movies are all the rage.
So it’s bold pitch to “People’s Joker” as “not the comic-book movie we deserve — it’s the one we desperately need.” Yet the queer coming-of-age movie about a transgender clown named Joker covers just about everything that’s often ignored in today’s comic book adventures.
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