TIFF 2024 opens with celebration of the Tragically Hip
New doc on beloved Kingston band directed by Gord Downie’s brother, Mike
The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is kicking off its opening day with a celebration of one of Canada's most acclaimed bands.
The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal — a four-part documentary directed by Mike Downie, brother of the band's late frontman — will have its world premiere at The Royal Alexandra Theatre on Sept 5.
The documentary looks at the band's founding moments — as friends Gord Downie, Gord Sinclair, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois and Johnny Fay are living in Kingston, Ont. — and follows its evolution over the course of the group's 40-year music career.
The Tragically Hip's manager, and the film's executive director, Jake Gold calls the picture "the definitive documentary on their whole career," one that uses "never before seen" footage, photos and audio.
"I think that when people see it they'll see a band of brothers that really saw each other as family," Gold told CBC Toronto.
"Through all the ups and downs, they all still supported each other and each other's vision."
TIFF is well-known for showcasing the best of Canadian and international films each summer, attracting some of the industry's biggest stars to the city.
Public tribute to band to follow premiere
After the film's premiere, there will be a free public sing-along to celebrate the Hip, led by Choir!Choir!Choir!, a singing event launched in Toronto.
"To be able to sing these songs in a public place in downtown Toronto, which is namechecked in their songs, I just feel like the collective joy and love for the band will be felt in a way that will be remembered for a really long time," said co-creator Nobu Adilman ahead of the event.
Choir!Choir!Choir! has previously put on tributes for the Tragically Hip and Downie, including one at Yonge-Dundas Square in 2018, a year after the frontman's death. At that event, members of the band played along live.
Adilman said people with the documentary reached out to him and co-creator Daveed Goldman to put on Thursday's show and they "said yes immediately because it's just so meaningful."
"It'll be like seriously controlled chaos," Adilman said.
"The electricity of Festival Street and TIFF and the excitement that people have for the festival, the fact that [the singalong is] free — we just want everybody to show up."
TIFF's 49th edition
This year's buzzworthy list of expected celebrities includes Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Will Ferrell and Matt Damon, among others.
According to TIFF's website, 278 films are showing at this year's festival with 20 in its Official Selection category, including R.J. Cutler and David Furnish's Elton John: Never Too Late and Rez Ball, produced by LeBron James.
The 11-day festival runs from Sept. 5 to 15, taking over King Street between University Avenue and Peter Street with red carpets, art exhibits and free activities.
