It was a mostly underwhelming edition of the Toronto film festival last year, aiming for a big comeback after the strikes affected the year prior. Disappointments such as Nightbitch, Eden, The Last Showgirl, Nutcrackers, The Return and The Cut were only mildly offset by the surprising appearance of Mike Leigh with his effectively gruelling drama Hard Truths.
But after spottier Venice and Telluride festivals than usual, worryingly light on slam-dunks, all eyes return to this year’s Toronto, hopeful that it might correct course for the season.
