Being Julia to open the 29th Toronto International Film Festival

Jun 29, 2004 by Ian Evans

Being Julia, which stars Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons, will open the 29th Toronto International Film Festival on September 9th, 2004 with a Gala Screening at Roy Thompson Hall.

Directed by Academy Award®-winner István Szabó and produced by Golden Globe®-nominee Robert Lantos, the film is written by Academy Award®-winner Ronald Harwood (The Pianist) and features a cast that includes Bruce Greenwood, Michael Gambon, Miriam Margolyes, Juliet Stevenson, Shaun Evans, Lucy Punch, Maury Chaykin, Sheila McCarthy, Rita Tushingham, and Rosemary Harris.

Set in 1938, the film follows Julia Lambert (Annette Bening), an actress who rules London’s West End. Her marriage to a theatrical producer (Jeremy Irons) is mostly platonic and she soon launches into an affair that threatens to ruin her career. Seeking revenge against her lover, she proves her acting talents can be used offstage as well.

“We are thrilled to open this year’s Festival with Being Julia,” said Piers Handling, CEO & Director of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. “Szabó has made a tremendously playful and uplifting film, capturing the effervescence of 1930s theatrical life with graceful panache. Annette Bening gives an award-worthy performance surrounded by tremendous Canadian and international talent.” Being Julia is the ninth film produced by Robert Lantos to open the Festival.

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