The Toronto International Film Festival is officially kicking off in T-1 days, and the excitement is palpable. With this year’s TIFF bringing a bevy of A-list stars (Amy Adams, Emma Stone and Hailee Steinfeld are all rumoured to be present), the 10-day film festival is set to be the starriest yet.
But celebrity stalking aside, TIFF is also the perfect stage for up-and-coming stars to shine bright, thanks to programs like Rising Stars. For the past six years, budding young talent gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to not only meet the industry’s big wigs like directors, producers and actors at events, but they also get the full red carpet treatment, courtesy of Hudson’s Bay. Alum of the coveted program include stars like Tatiana Maslany and our former cover girl Sarah Gadon. Every year, we get to meet these enthusiastic and talented young artists, and this year’s group is one you don’t want to miss.
Flip through to get to know this year’s TIFF Rising Stars: Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay and Sophie Nélisse.
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
Jared Abrahamson
Currently resides: Vancouver
Who he’s excited to see at TIFF: Jay Baruchel
The thing that makes him most confident is: “When I’m training and boxing in the gym—that’s when I’m in my natural element.”
His fashion icon: “I’m not that fancy of a guy, but I look up to classics like Frank Sinatra. For me, that’s who I think is a well-dressed man.”
Breakthrough: Nominated for Leo Award’s Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama for his role in Destroyer.
Watch him at this year’s TIFF in:Hello Destroyer, a film about a young hockey player on a minor league, directed by Kevan Funk.
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
Grace Glowicki
Currently resides: Montreal
Her fashion icons: “Thom Yorke, Patti Smith and Charlotte Gainsbourg.”
Most starstruck she’s ever been: “I saw Michael Dowse at an after-party in Toronto and I couldn’t go and say hi because I just respect him so much and I was too nervous.”
Breakthrough moment: She was presented the Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance for her role in Her Friend Adam at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
Mylène Mackay
Currently resides: Montreal
Her fashion icon: “Charlotte Cardin. She’s a singer from Montreal and she’s always wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. I think it’s so beautiful—something so simple like that.”
The thing that makes me most confident is: “The sun. Whenever I come back from vacation and have some sun and have eaten well and meditated, I always feel pretty and confident.”
Breakthrough: She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Canada Screen Awards for her role in Endorphine.
Watch her at this year’s TIFF in: Nelly, an emotional biopic of a controversial Quebec writer and former sex worker Nelly Arcan, where Mackay plays her first lead role.
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
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TIFF 2016 Rising Stars
Sophie Nélisse
Currently resides: Montreal
Describe your style in three words: “Classic white girl (a.k.a. the crop-top, ripped jeans and a pair of white Converse or Vans look).”
Most starstruck you’ve ever been: “Leonardo DiCaprio—I was at the Critics’ Choice Awards and he was sitting at the table right beside me. Everybody was like, ‘Go up and say, ‘Hi, can I have a picture?’ I just felt so bad because I was just like, let him eat, you know?”
Excited to meet at TIFF: “Michael Fassbender would be pretty cool.”
Breakthrough: She won several awards for her role in The Book Thief, including Young Artist Awards, Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards and Hollywood Film Awards.
Watch her at this year’s TIFF in: Mean Dreams, a movie about two teens from a rural town running away from their dark pasts.
, the 10-day film festival is set to be the starriest yet.
But celebrity stalking aside, TIFF is also the perfect stage for up-and-coming stars to shine bright, thanks to programs like Rising Stars. For the past six years, budding young talent gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to not only meet the industry's big wigs like directors, producers and actors at events, but they also get the full red carpet treatment, courtesy of Hudson’s Bay. Alum of the coveted program include stars like Tatiana Maslany and our former cover girl Sarah Gadon. Every year, we get to meet these enthusiastic and talented young artists, and this year’s group is one you don't want to miss.
Flip through to get to know this year’s TIFF Rising Stars: Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay and Sophie Nélisse.
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