2015 Toronto Film Festival heralds a new golden age of Arab cinema

The traditional gift for a 40th anniversary is a ruby, but gold might be more appropriate for the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, the 40th edition, which runs from September 10 to 20.

Tiff, which began in 1976 with 127 films from 30 countries, this year boasts 399 from 71, including the world premières of potential Oscar contenders including Demolition (starring Jake Gyllenhaal), The Martian (with Matt Damon) and The Program (starring Ben Foster as cyclist Lance Armstrong). Last year’s best actor and actress Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore will also be in town.

But while the 40th edition of the festival will feature lots of glitz and glitter, the 13 films from the Middle East and Africa might shine the brightest.

“I think we could be witnessing a new golden age in Arab cinema,” says programmer Rasha Salti. “I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years. I’ve seen a lot of films and I sit on several commissions to read scripts. It’s not easy for somebody like me to be completely surprised, and I was. A few films floored me.”

Original article by Craig Courtice

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2015 Toronto Film Festival heralds a new golden age of Arab cinema