TIFF 2015 is well under way with star studded red carpet premieres, fancy VIP-only parties, and if you’re lucky a chance to spot your favourite celebs out and about Toronto. But the Toronto International Film Festival isn’t all about Hollywood celeb spotting. It’s also a great opportunity for new Canadian talent to get noticed. TIFF’s Rising Stars program is now in its fifth year, and it has the honour of calling David Cronenberg muse, Sarah Gadon, and Golden Globe-nominated star of Orphan Black, Tatiana Maslany alumni.
This year’s Rising Stars are considered promising Canadian talent poised for international careers. Over the 10-day festival, they’ll have the chance to attend red carpet premieres, VIP events, and meet with influential industry insiders. It’s only a matter of time before these young actors land a role capable of making them household names.
Deragh Campbell
Although her parents were both involved in the local theatre festival circuit when she was growing up around Niagara-on-the-Lake, Deragh Campbell had her sights set on becoming a novelist. She even studied Creative Writing at Concordia University before being cast in Matthew Porterfield’s indie feature I Used to be Darker. After filming the mostly-improvised film, Campbell knew she wanted to be an actor.
Coming up, she’s appearing opposite Tatiana Maslany in The Other Half
Stephan James
With roles in the Oscar-nominated film Selma, the CBC miniseries The Book of Negroes, and leading roles in two upcoming TV series, Stephan James’ career is already off to a running start. Like a lot of young Canadian actors, he also had a minor role in two seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. Thanks to his role in Selma, James even had the opportunity to meet President Obama during a White House screening of the film.
Next up, James stars as Olympic athlete Jesse Owens opposite William Hurt and Jeremy Irons in Race.
Aliocha Scheinder
Paris-born, and Quebec-raised, Aliocha Scheider has made quite the name for himself in Quebec cinema. He made his big-screen debut in one of the most successful Canadian films of all time, Bon Cop, Bad Cop when he was only 13, and now at 21, he’s hoping being named a Rising Star will help him transition into more English-speaking roles. Schneider is appearing in two films screening at TIFF. First Closet Monster opposite former Rising Star, Connor Jessup and Isabella Rossellini, and then Ville-Marie, opposite Monica Bellucci.
He’s currently wrapping up recording on his first album as a singer-songwriter, and intends to continue pursuing acting as well.
Karelle Tremblay
Only 19-years-old, Tremblay got her big break when she was cast in last year’s TIFF selection, Corbo, about a Quebec teen who evolves from pro-independence activist to full on radical terrorist. She hopes to be able to continue to explore her dark side with roles that appeal to her more “intense” nature, and would love to follow a similar career trajectory as Natalie Portman.
This year, the Montreal native is set to appear in the TIFF screening of Les êtres chers, from acclaimed director Anne Émond.
