Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, Lady Gaga and More Highlight Toronto International Film Festival

Sandra Miska

With the summer coming to a close and movie awards season almost upon us, it’s time again for one of the most attended film festivals in the world. The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival will take place Sept. 7-17.

Special presentations at this year’s TIFF include “Suburbicon,” in which George Clooney directs an all-star cast that includes Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac. Along with Joel and Ethan Coen, Clooney penned this film about a group of people making questionable choices in a 1950s community. Jennifer Lawrence stars alongside Javier Bardem in “Mother!,” the latest from Darren Aronofsky. Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon team up to play rivals Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse in “The Current War.” Another film depicting a real-life rivalry is “Battle of the Sexes,” which features Emma Stone and Steve Carell as tennis stars Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who famously went up against each other in a 1973 match.

Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut “Molly’s Game” tells the story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), who found herself the target of an FBI investigation after a decade of running underground poker games. Also making her directorial debut is Brie Larson, whose quirky drama “Unicorn Store” tells the story of a woman, Kit (Larson), whose childhood dreams come true when she receives a special invitation. Louis C.K. returns to the director’s chair for the first time in 15 years with “I Love You, Daddy,” a comedy that stars Chloe Grace Moretz as C.K.’s daughter. John Malkovich, Edie Falco and Charlie Day co-star.

Music will also be a part of TIFF 2017, as Lady Gaga will screen her documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two.” Directed by Gaga herself, this film offers an intimate look into the private world of the superstar. The screening is to be followed by a performance by Gaga. “Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars” explores the life of the rock legend through performance clips and interviews with his family members and collaborators. “Long Time Running” follows famed Canadian rock band Tragically Hip on their emotional 2016 tour following frontman Gord Downie’s cancer diagnosis.

The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival will take place Sept. 7-17.