Sophie Fiennes’ Irish/UK documentary/biopic Grace Jones : Bloodlight And Bami has been added to the lineup for the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, which takes place September 7th to 17th. It will World Premiere as the opening film of the festival’s Documentary strand.
The film, which was previously titled Grace Jones: The Music of My Life, is a multi-narrative journey through the private and public realms of the legendary singer and performer Grace Jones. Mixing intimate personal footage with unique staged musical sequences, and reaching beyond the iconic mask to create a cinematic journey into the worlds of Ms Grace Jones.
The documentary is a collaboration between Jones and Fiennes, who first embarked on the project together in 2005. Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami is produced by Katie Holly for Blinder Films, as well as Sophie Fiennes and Shani Hinton in association with JW Films and financed by BBC Films and the BFI in association with Roads Entertainment and the TBA21 Foundation and with the participation of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board.
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami is the fourth Irish title to be selected for TIFF 2017, following previously announced films: The Breadwinner, directed by Nora Twomey; Mary Shelley, directed by Haifaa Al-Monsour; and the Element Pictures co-production Disobedience, directed by Sebastián Lelio.
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami opens in Ireland on October 27th, with a special preview playing in a number of cinemas nationwide on October 25th . Tickets for the preview are on sale now.
Other films announced today in the Midnight Madness and Documentary Strands are:
Midnight Madness
Bodied – Joseph Kahn, USA, World Premiere, Midnight Madness Opening Night Film
Brawl in Cell Block 99 – S. Craig Zahler, USA, North American Premiere
The Crescent – Seth A. Smith, Canada, World Premiere
The Disaster Artist – James Franco, USA, World Premiere
Great Choice – Robin Comisar, USA, Canadian Premiere
Mom and Dad – Brian Taylor, USA, World Premiere
Revenge – Coralie Fargeat, France, World Premiere
The Ritual – David Bruckner, UK, World Premiere
Vampire Clay – Sôichi Umezawa, Japan, World Premiere, Midnight Madness Closing Film
Documentaries
Azmaish: A Journey through the Subcontinent – Sabiha Sumar, Pakistan, North American Premiere
BOOM FOR REAL The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat – Sara Driver, USA, World Premiere
The China Hustle – Jed Rothstein, USA, World Premiere
Cocaine Prison – Violeta Ayala, Australia/Bolivia/France/USA, World Premiere
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars – Lili Fini Zanuck, United Kingdom, World Premiere
Ex Libris – The New York Public Library – Frederick Wiseman, USA, North American Premiere
The Final Year – Greg Barker, USA, World Premiere
The Gospel According to André – Kate Novack, USA, World Premiere
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami – Sophie Fiennes, United Kingdom/Ireland, World Premiere, Documentary Programme Opening Film
JIM & ANDY: the Great Beyond – the story of Jim Carrey & Andy Kaufman featuring a very special, contractually obligated mention of Tony Clifton – Chris Smith, USA/Canada, North American Premiere
Jane – Brett Morgen, USA, World Premiere
The Judge – Erika Cohn, Palestine/USA, World Premiere
The Legend of the Ugly King – Hüseyin Tabak, Germany/Austria, World Premiere
Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle – Gustavo Salmerón, Spain, North American Premiere
Love Means Zero – Jason Kohn, USA, World Premiere
Makala – Emmanuel Gras, France, North American Premiere, Documentary Programme Closing Film
Of Sheep and Men – Karim Sayad, Switzerland/Qatar, World Premiere
One of Us – Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, USA, World Premiere
The Other Side of Everything – Mila Turajlić, Serbia/France/Qatar, World Premiere
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me – Sam Pollard, USA, World Premiere
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood – Matt Tyrnauer, USA, World Premiere
Silas – Anjali Nayar and Hawa Essuman, Canada/South Africa/Kenya, World Premiere
Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! – Morgan Spurlock, USA, World Premiere