TIFF 2013: World Premiere of Godfrey Reggio's VISITORS Announced As First Selection

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced their first film for the 2013 edition. It's a world premiere no less, and sure to be a popular choice.

The film is titled Visitors, and "will have its world premiere at the Festival in September in stunning 4K digital projection with live accompaniment by members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Michael Riesman," according to a prepared statement by the festival. TIFF has also tagged Steven "I'm retired, no really" Soderbergh to "officially present" the film. If that guy's not careful, he might get used to still being in the Hollywood spotlight.

Director Godfrey Reggio is best known for his "Qatsi" trilogy of films, meditative and beautiful films about our planet and its inhabitants, traditionally scored by the inimitable [sic] Philip Glass. With Ron Fricke taking up the mantle for this type of work (Samsara was one of TIFF's first ever 4K presentations in 2011), it's nice to see the original director once again assume his duties.

They even announced a date: September 8 at 6 p.m. at the Visa Screening Room in the Elgin Theatre. Get your tickets early.

From the official press release:

The filmmakers advance their previous work by incorporating body language as non-spoken narrative to join with image and music. Footage of nonverbal human portraits and communication reveals a constant stream of unconscious emotions, barely noticed by most people.Visitors reveals humanity's trancelike relationship with technology, which, when commandeered by extreme emotional states, produces massive effects far beyond the human species. The protagonist, a wise gorilla, sagely witnesses the antics of Homo sapiens. The film is visceral, offering the audience an experience beyond information about the moment in which we live.

Whatever, the thing's likely to be damn pretty, and takes a bit of the sting out of not prancing around the Croisette this year with my fellow ScreenAnarchistss. Only a bit, mind you...