AWARDS BEAT

Toronto International Film Festival
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But while Courier, Boris Becker and others talk about the Bollettieri-Agassi bond in “Love Means Zero,” Agassi himself is conspicuously absent. Almost 25 years after Agassi lost at Wimbledon and Bollettieri subsequently ended their relationship by letter (after giving an interview to USA Today), Agassi declined to participate in the documentary.
That leaves an enormous hole at the heart of the film, though Kohn does his best to make this a movie that doesn’t need the absent Agassi. He does this by talking to others around Bollettieri, particularly his fellow coaches at the academy, and by structuring the film around a series of conversations between the director and his subject.
Not for nothing does this movie begin with the credit “Starring Nick Bollettieri.” Kohn tries hard to talk Bollettieri out of using his “performance voice,” but never really succeeds – so the film becomes a match, in which Kohn tries to get at his subject and a self-aware, protective and theatrical Bollettieri volleys everything back with frustrating equanimity or an even more frustrating insistence that he doesn’t remember.
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Perched in a chair in front of the courts of what used to be his academy, the sun-baked 86-year-old coach holds court like an old, wrinkled orangutan, shooting down Kohn’s attempts at psychoanalysis and blocking every uncomfortable query:
“I don’t remember.”
“Why? I don’t know. That’s Nick.”
“If I hurt you, maybe I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
Still, the director persists gamely; Bollettieri is never less than fascinating, and as the film goes on he seems to lose a few of his defenses and drop the self-justifying bluster just enough to give us glimmers of doubt and regret.
Also Read: 'Battle of the Sexes' Review: In a Hard Year for Women, Emma Stone Provides Reason to Cheer
The final credits to “Love Means Zero” point out that Andre has yet to respond.
117 Amazing Portraits From TheWrap's Toronto Studio, From Angelina Jolie to Jim Carrey (Photos)
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Actors Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney and director Craig Gillespie, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress-producer Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Sebastian Stan, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Helen Mirren, "The Leisure Seeker"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Helen Mirren, "The Leisure Seeker"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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"Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond" Jim Carrey
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Jim Carrey, "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Chris Smith, "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Current War"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Michael Shannon, "The Current War"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon with actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon and Nicholas Hoult, "The Current War"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Angelina Jolie, "First They Killed My Father"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Angelina Jolie with producer Rithy Panh, stars Kimhak Mun, Sareum Srey Moch and co-writer Luong Ung, "First They Killed My Father"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Writer-director Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Laurie Metcalf, "Lady Bird"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Tracy Letts, "Lady Bird"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Brie Larson, "Unicorn Store"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Sam Rockwell, "Woman Walks Ahead"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci, "The Children Act"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Writer Ian McEwan, actor Stanley Tucci, director Richard Eyre and actors Emma Thompson and Duncan Kenworthy, "The Children Act"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Stanley Tucci, "The Children Act"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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"Outside In" director Lynn Shelton with her cast Jay Duplass, Kaitlyn Dever and Edie Falco
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Jay Duplass, "Outside In"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Edie Falco, "Outside In"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Kaitlyn Dever, "Outside In"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Lynn Shelton, "Outside In"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Jake Gyllenhaal, "Stronger"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Tatiana Maslany, "Stronger"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Miranda Richardson, "Stronger"
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"Stronger" star Jake Gyllenhaal with Jeff Bauman, the Boston Marathon bombing survivor he plays in the fiilm
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Writer Jeff Bauman, "Stronger"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Cedric the Entertainer, "First Reformed"
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Cedric the Entertainer, "First Reformed"
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Cedric the Entertainer and director Paul Schrader "First Reformed"
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Director Paul Schrader, "First Reformed"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actors Aaron Pederson, Abbey Lee, Matt Nable, Simone Kessell, Josh McConville and Ryan Corr, "1%"
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Abbey Lee, "1%"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Simone Kessel, "1%"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Ed Harris, "Kodachrome"
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Actor Ed Harris and director Mark Raso, "Kodachrome"
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Mark Raso, "Kodachrome"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Writer-producer Jeremy Chilnick, writer-director-producer Morgan Spurlock and producer Matthew Galkin, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Producer Matthew Galkin, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken"
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Writer-producer Jeremy Chilnick, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Writer-director-producer-star Morgan Spurlock, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Morgan Spurlock, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Joseph Kahn, "Bodied"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Rory Uphold, "Bodied"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Calum Worthy, "Bodied"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Armando Iannucci, "The Death of Stalin"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Darren Aronofsky, "mother!"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Darren Aronofsky, "mother!"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince and Sean Baker, "The Florida Project"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director-star James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director-star James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Dave Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Dave Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Alison Brie, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Alison Brie, "The Disaster Artist"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Ari Graynor, "The Disaster Artist"
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Actress Jessica Chastain, "Molly's Game" and "Woman Walks Ahead"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Jessica Chastain, director Susanna White and Michael Greyeyes, "Woman Walks Ahead"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Julianne Nicholson, "Who We Are Now"
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Zachary Quinto, "Who We Are Now"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Josh Lucas, "Mark Felt"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Selma Blair, "Mom and Dad"
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Selma Blair and Nicolas Cage, "Mom and Dad"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, "One of Us"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Kyle Rideout, "Public Schooled"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Judy Greer "Public Schooled"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Eddie Izzard, "Victoria & Abdul"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Ali Fazal, "Victoria & Abdul"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Elisabeth Moss, "The Square"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Terry Notary, "The Square"
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Director Ruben Ostland, "The Square"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Claes Bang, "The Square"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Screenwriter Anthony McCarten, "Darkest Hour"
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Writer Anthony McCarten, stars Ben Mendelsohn, Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas with director Joe Wright, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Ben Mendelsohn, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Kristin Scott Thomas, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Joe Wright, "Darkest Hour"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Nahuel Peres Biscayar, "BPM (Beats Per Minute)"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Arnaud Valois, "BPM (Beats Per Minute)"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director John Curran with actors Jim Gaffigan, Ed Helms and Kate Mara, writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, "Chappaquiddick"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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"Chappaquiddick" director John Curran
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Kate Mara, "Chappaquiddick"
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Kate Mara, "Chappaquiddick"
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Jim Gaffigan, "Chappaquiddick"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Ed Helms, "Chappaquiddick"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Dan Gilroy, "Roman J. Israel, Esq."
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Diane Kruger, "In the Fade"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Diane Kruger, "In the Fade"
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Director Alexander Payne, "Downsizing"
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Actors Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau and director Alexander Payne, "Downsizing"
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Actor Christoph Waltz, "Downsizing"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actress Hong Chau, "Downsizing"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actors Wes Studi, Rosamund Pike, direcor Scott Cooper, Christian Bale and Jonathan Majors, "Hostiles"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Actor Simon Baker, "Breath"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Simon Baker, "Breath"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director Neil Burger, "The Upside"
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Writer-director Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Director and co-writer Dee Rees, "Mudbound"
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Actor Jason Mitchell, "Mudbound"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Rob Morgan, "Mudbound"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Jason Mitchell and Rob Morgan, "Mudbound"
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Actors Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, director Dee Rees, actors Rob Morgan and Carey Mulligan, "Mudbound"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Garrett Hedlund, "Mudbound"
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Writer-director Robin Campillo, "BPM (Beats Per Minute)"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, "Battle of the Sexes"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, "Battle of the Sexes"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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Brady Jandreau, "The Rider"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
TIFF 2017: Jake Gyllenhaal, Helen Mirren, Benedict Cumberbatch and more sit down to talk about their latest projects
Actors Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney and director Craig Gillespie, "I, Tonya"
Photographed by Corina Marie for TheWrap at the Thompson Toronto
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