Hotel Mumbai, about the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, specifically the seige of Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival that kicks off on September 6. The American-Australian production, directed by newbie Anthony Maras, stars Dev Patel and Anupam Kher in major roles; Patel also happens to be one of its producers. The film also stars Armie “Winklevoss twins” Hammer of The Social Network fame and the British Iranian actress from Homeland , Nazanin Boniadi.
Based on Victoria Midwinter Pitt’s 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai in which the survivors recount their ordeals in detail, the film has been partially filmed in Adelaide and was shot in Mumbai in October 2016 and in January-February 2017. It has participation of a bunch of local backroom talent from Bollywood specially as assistants in the art, sound, direction, production coordination and line production departments.
Dev Patel also features in The Wedding Guest by the prolific British director Michael Winterbottom. He plays a young British Muslim on a journey across India and Pakistan.
Mia Hansen-Love's Maya is another international film with an India connect. About a French war correspondent who heads to India after months of being held hostage in Syria it has a new name, Aarshi Banerjee, debuting as Maya.
There are two Indian films that have made it to the first list of gala and special presentation titles unveiled by TIFF on Tuesday. Anurag Kashyap’s set-in-Punjab love triangle Manmarziyan (English title Husband Material) starring Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal and Taapsee Pannu will have its world premiere, while Cannes-returned Nandita Das’ Manto will have its North American premiere.
In keeping with TIFF’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity and gender, the selection announced today includes 13 features directed by women including the Special Presentations opening film by Patricia Rozema, Mouthpiece, described as a “powerful and amusing look into the female psyche”. “We are thrilled to be opening the Special Presentations programme with Patricia Rozema, an iconic Canadian filmmaker,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF, adding, “Based on the play of the same name, Mouthpiece is one of Rozema’s most vibrant films, an honest and heart-wrenching portrayal of a young woman finding her voice after the passing of her mother.”
“That this movie was written, directed, shot, designed, edited, produced, and costume designed by women shouldn’t feel special, but it is — and makes it all the more sweet,” said Rozema.
Unlike Cannes, TIFF has had no issues with the media giant Netflix which has made it grab a coveted title like Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma. Known to be a platform premiering future Oscar contenders and winners TIFF’s lineup this year includes Bradley Cooper’s remake of A Star is Born with Lady Gaga, First Man by Damien Chazelle, Steve McQueen’s Widows , High Life by Claire Denis, If Beale Street Could Talk by Barry Jenkins, Non-Fiction by Olivier Assayas, The Sisters Brothers by Jacques Audiard, Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell , Where Hands Touch by Amma Asante, What They Had by Elizabeth Chomko, The Front Runner by Jason Reitman, The Hate U Give by George Tillman, Jr, Hidden Man by Jiang Wen, Giant Little Ones by Keith Behrman, Peter Hedges’ Ben Is Back starring Julia Roberts and Shadow by Zhang Yimou.
The lineup was announced through a press release instead of a press conference on Tuesday out of respect for those affected by Sunday night’s shooting in Toronto.
