‘12 Years a Slave’ aims for TIFF and Oscars with first trailer

Will Perkins
·Blogger

You can usually spot a future Oscar contender a mile away, and based on the first trailer alone, director Steve McQueen’s latest film “12 Years a Slave” definitely looks like an Oscar hopeful.

Some telltale signs are things like heavy subject matter (slavery), an all-star international cast (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Brad Pitt), and, most importantly, a fall release date (Oct. 18). These facts not only make "12 Years a Slave" an early Oscar favourite, but also puts the movie squarely on course for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Adapted from the memoir of the same name, “12 Years a Slave” is the true story of Solomon Northup, a free-born African-American from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South. The film stars Ejiofor as Northup, along with a ridiculously talented cast that includes the likes of Pitt, Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodard, and Paul Giamatti.

McQueen’s previous two films – “Hunger” and “Shame” – both screened at TIFF prior to their release and were very well received by Toronto audiences. Though neither film had much luck come awards season, the movies did help establish star Fassbender as a leading man. McQueen's history with TIFF makes an appearance by "12 Years a Slave" at the 2013 fest almost a certainty, especially if the movie bows at the Venice Film Festival just a week or so before. The star power involved in the project also means the film would receive a high profile red carpet gala at the festival. TIFF may be about the movies, but the fest won't pass up an opportunity to bring Brad Pitt to the city -- particularly when the actor is playing a Canadian!

It's probably still way too early to say (given that the Toronto Film Fest has announced nothing from its 2013 film lineup), but if you had to pick an early TIFF People's Choice Award contender and potential Oscar nominated film, "12 Years a Slave" would be a smart choice.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 to 15. "12 Years a Slave" arrives in theatres on Oct. 18.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Luciano Acosta scores for 3rd consecutive game, Cincinnati beats Orlando City 1-0

    Luciano Acosta scored a goal for the third consecutive game and Roman Celentano had two saves to help FC Cincinnati beat Orlando City 1-0 on Saturday night. The 23-year-old Celentano has four shutouts this season. Cincinnati (6-2-3), has won three consecutive games following back-to-back losses to the New York Red Bulls and Montreal.

  • Stylist Icon Law Roach Listens to Critics. Just Don’t Come for Zendaya.

    Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty ImagesLaw Roach is no stranger to controversial looks. Whether the renowned celebrity stylist and image architect is showing up bulge-first to the 2023 CFDA awards or dressing his longtime client Zendaya in ostentatious tennis couture for her Challengers press tour, Roach is unafraid of risk on the red carpet. That confident conviction extends to his larger body of work, too. Last year, Roach shocked the fashion and entertainment industr

  • Ohtani gifts Roberts a toy Porsche before breaking club mark for most HRs by a Japanese-born player

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dave Roberts recently joked that Shohei Ohtani should gift Roberts a Porsche when Ohtani breaks his Dodgers' record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani obliged, just maybe not in the way Roberts imagined. Before Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers' slugger gifted Roberts a purple toy model Porsche in his office. Roberts said the car is sitting on his desk. Ohtani hit his eighth home run, and surpassed Roberts' mark, with a solo shot to right-

  • Owner of Kentucky Derby 2024 winner Mystik Dan dedicates victory to his late father

    Before Lance Gasaway saw Mystik Dan win the 2024 Kentucky Derby, he visited the grave of his father back in Arkansas.

  • Status quo for the leading four teams in Super Rugby Pacific after 11 rounds

    Super Rugby Pacific’s playoff race changed only marginally in the weekend’s 11th round as the pacemakers showed few signs of faltering and the others jostled to keep up. Behind them, the Queensland Reds moved up to fifth with a win over the defending champion Crusaders, the Melbourne Rebels dropped back to sixth after losing to the Blues, the Dunedin, New Zealand-based Highlanders are in seventh place after a win over Moana Pasifika in the first Super Rugby match played in Tonga, and the Fijian Drua hung on to remain in the top eight. Moana Pasifika is now three points behind the Drua in ninth place, the Christchurch-based Crusaders are a further point back in 10th, the New South Wales Waratahs are a full five points behind the Drua in 11th and the last-place Western Force are all but out of the race.

  • Bernardeschi scores twice to end goal drought, lift Toronto FC past FC Dallas

    TORONTO — Italian star Federico Bernardeschi ended a lengthy scoreless drought with a pair of goals and added an assist Saturday to help Toronto FC defeat FC Dallas 3-1 in MLS play, extending TFC's winning streak to four games in all competitions. Bernardeschi had been shut out in 19 games since scoring twice in a 3-2 loss to CF Montreal on Aug. 20. But the stylish attacker, who has played a variety of roles this season, has still been an influential figure for TFC. And the former Juventus man w

  • Logan Gilbert throws 8 dominant innings in Mariners' 5-0 victory over Astros

    HOUSTON (AP) — Logan Gilbert threw eight dominant innings, Luis Urías and Cal Raleigh homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-0 on Saturday night. Gilbert (3-0) allowed two hits and four walks and struck out six. He has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts The right-hander retired 16 of 17 at one point. Urías hit a solo home run to center to lead off the fifth, and Raleigh added a two-run shot to left center in the sixth. Mitch Garver had an RBI double in the f

  • Quick start sends Earthquakes to 3-1 victory over LAFC

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Rodrigues gave San Jose the lead in the 5th minute and the Earthquakes never looked back in a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC at Levi's Stadium on Saturday night. San Jose (2-8-1), which ended a five-match unbeaten run, jumped out to a 1-0 lead on defender Rodrigues' second goal of the season. Cristian Espinoza notched his sixth assist on Rodrigues' header from the center of the box to the bottom right corner of the net off a corner kick. Espinoza tallied another assis

  • 13-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Attacked by Classmate and Their Mother on a School Bus in Texas

    A middle school student in Denton says she was attacked by a classmate and her mother as she rode the bus home from school on April 23

  • White Sox vs. Cardinals Highlights

    Gavin Sheets and the White Sox take on Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals on May 4, 2024

  • Nikola Petkovic scores first MLS goal to help Charlotte beat Timbers 2-0

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nikola Petkovic scored his first MLS goal, Enzo Copetti also scored and FC Charlotte beat the Portland Timbers 2-0 Saturday night. Kristijan Kahlina stopped three shots, and had his third shutout of the season, for Charlotte (4-5-2). Charlotte went in having lost back-to-back games and won for just the second time in last six matches. Petkovic took a pass from Nathan Byrne near the corner of the penalty area, paused briefly before exploding past two defenders and scoring w

  • How does a three-horse photo in the Kentucky Derby rank? Here are the closest finishes ever.

    Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby in a three-way photo finish. It was the closest Derby finish in almost 30 years.

  • Angels vs. Guardians Highlights

    Bo Naylor and the Guardians defeat Zach Neto and the Angels, 7-1

  • Top Plays from Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

    Top Plays from Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves,05/04/2024

  • Means tosses seven shutout innings in season debut, Orioles beat Reds 2-1

    CINCINNATI (AP) — John Means pitched seven shutout innings in his season debut and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Saturday night. Means (1-0) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on April 27, 2022. He returned to make four starts last September before landing back on the IL with a left forearm strain to begin this season. Means made six rehab starts for Triple-A Norfolk before being reinstated on May 1. The Orioles have won five of their past six games. Like Cole Irv

  • Ontario Progressive Conservatives Keep Milton Riding

    The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PCPO) has maintained its hold on the Milton seat in the provincial legislature. Their candidate Zee Hamid won a by-election held on May 2 by 2,481 votes over his closest competitor Liberal Candidate Galen-Naidoo Harris. “I want to congratulate Zee,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. Hamid was named a candidate in early March. He previously served on Milton Council for three terms as both a municipal, Regional Councilor. He’s served in numerous volunte

  • Be Wary Of Frencken Group (SGX:E28) And Its Returns On Capital

    If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an...

  • Is Zimbabwe zigzagging into further currency chaos?

    Traders suffer a case of déjà-vu as any savings are wiped out with a new currency called the Zig.

  • Edwards scores 43 points, Reid erupts in 4th to help Timberwolves beat Nuggets 106-99 in Game 1

    DENVER (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored a playoff career-high 43 points, Naz Reid had 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets 106-99 in Game 1 of the second-round series Saturday night. Edwards was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 25 points, and Reid took over in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points despite dealing with foul trouble. Game 2 is Monday night in Denver. Three days after undergoing kne

  • New Claim Puts WaPo Boss Will Lewis in Crosshairs of Murdoch Scandal

    Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty ImagesActions taken in 2011 by senior executives of Rupert Murdoch’s London tabloids, following revelations about industrial-scale hacking in their newsrooms, have come back to bite them.New reporting in the British magazine Prospect, by Nick Davies, who first revealed the criminal activity in The Guardian, gives a detailed account of what he alleges was a giant cover-up, a sustained and rigorous operation to destroy evidence of wrongdoing