“The Judge” Set as Opening Film for TIFF
Robert Downey, Jr.is set to give a powerful performance in The Judge, one of the three WB films that will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Judge, along with This is Where I Leave You and The Good Lie, will be the studio’s presence at the festival, but The Judge has a special role as the festival’s opening film.
The Judge will debut Sept. 4. The Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures project stars Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard and Billy Bob Thornton along with Downey. The film revolves around a lawyer who returns to his small town for his mother’s funeral, but has to stay to help his father.
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer (Downey Jr.) returns to his childhood home where his estranged father (Duvall), the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth, and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years.
“The stars aligned and we are thrilled to announce that we will kick off the Festival with The Judge,” said Director and CEO of TIFF, Piers Handling. “(The Judge director) David Dobkin has delivered a moving, textured story about family, duty and the way we remember our past. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to this year’s event.”
“We always want to deliver for our audience and we can’t think of a better way than kicking things off with The Judge,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director for the Toronto International Film Festival. “Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are terrific in the film, and David Dobkin guides the entire cast to rich, satisfying performances.”
Sue Kroll, President Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, said, “We are so proud to be taking The Judge to TIFF, and honored to be in the opening night slot. The film is truly deserving and we believe the always-discerning audience in Toronto will appreciate it as much as we do.”
“I brought my first film, Clay Pigeons, to Toronto, so 15 years later to actually be on opening night with The Judge is incredibly special and thrilling,” Dobkin stated. “The Festival audiences are terrific, and I know I speak for everyone involved in the film when I say we are so pleased to be unveiling it there.”
The Toronto International Film Festival starts Sept. 4 and runs through Sept. 14. Ticket packages can be purchased 24 hours a day at tiff.net/festival or by phone from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET daily at 416-599-TIFF or 1-888-599-8433, or visit the Gupta Box Office at TIFF Bell Lightbox, in person from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET daily at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West, until August 20. TIFF prefers Visa.
