Yesterday concluded the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, a ten‑day sprint of premieres, parties, and storytelling that lit up the city. Toronto buzzed with red carpets, late‑night gatherings, and fans eager for a glimpse of their favorite stars. If you missed the festival this year, this recap highlights the films and celebrity appearances that defined TIFF 2012 for cinephiles across North America.
10. Ernest & Celestine
TIFF 2012 photo note
Ernest & Celestine, adapted from Gabrielle Vincent’s beloved French children’s book, follows a loner bear musician who befriends an orphaned mouse. In their town, bears and mice are not meant to become friends, and the budding relationship challenges the elders’ rules. The two unlikely allies navigate a world that resists change and discover that friendship can teach courage, empathy, and the value of looking beyond differences.
9. Short Cuts Canada
Short Cuts Canada spotlights short films created by emerging Canadian filmmakers. The category offers a platform for rising talents to showcase originality and voice beyond blockbuster productions, reminding audiences that homegrown cinema can be inventive, intimate, and deeply engaging.
8. Kristen Stewart
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Kristen Stewart arrived on the TIFF red carpet for the premiere of her new film, On the Road, which also features Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst. She wore a floral dress and was greeted by thousands of screaming fans, reporters, and photographers.
7. Igor & The Cranes’ Journey
TIFF 2012 photo note
Igor & The Cranes’ Journey centers on a father and son who are brought together by an experience of a lifetime. When young Igor and his father Peter witness the birth of a crane, Igor names him Karl and promises to protect him. One day, Karl disappears and Igor and his father work together to bring him back. Based on the novel by Aki Shavit, Igor & The Cranes’ Journey is a truly beautiful film.
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6. Jennifer Lawrence
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Jennifer Lawrence attended the red carpet gala for Silver Linings Playbook, which also stars Bradley Cooper. The Hunger Games star introduced us to her new look with straightened her hair and a long, colorful gown. She was reportedly seen hanging out with Emma Watson and Kristen Stewart at the Soho House in Toronto.
5. Nono, The Zigzag Kid
TIFF 2012 photo note
Based on a novel by Israeli author David Grossman, the plot revolves around a young boy named Nono. He is inspired by his father, who is considered the best police inspector in the world. Days before his Bar Mitzvah, Nono is sent to visit his uncle Sjmoel, who is supposed to set Nono back on track. However, during the train ride to his uncle’s place, he meets a burglar named Felix Glick and together, they stop the train and enter a mysterious and abnormal world that changes their lives forever.
4. Zac Efron
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The High School Musical alumnus stars in two highly anticipated films: The Paperboy, with Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and John Cusack, and At Any Price, featuring Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham. These projects mark a deliberate move away from dancing and singing toward more adult, provocative roles.
3. Selena Gomez
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Like Zac Efron, Selena Gomez attended TIFF 2012 for two movies, Hotel Transylvania and Spring Breakers. She also brought Justin Bieber’s younger siblings, Jaxon and Jazmyn, to the premiere. Selena was certainly one celebrity that drew an enthusiastic crowd everywhere she went.
2. Emma Watson
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Emma was in Toronto to promote her film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, alongside Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd, Nina Dobrev and Mae Whitman. In interviews, she explained that her role felt exotic as she moves beyond the Hermione Granger persona and steps into the voice of an American teenager.
1. Hotel Transylvania
TIFF 2012 photo note
The characters you would usually regard as villains and monsters are presented in a new light. Hotel Transylvania is a heartwarming story about Count Dracula’s effort to protect his 118‑year‑old daughter Mavis from the dangers outside their cozy home. This adorable film stars Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, CeeLo Green and Andy Samberg. It opened in theatres on September 28, 2012.