TIFF has announced Sly as the Closing Night Gala for the 48th edition of the Festival. The documentary captures the incredible and illustrious life of the remarkable actor, writer, director, and producer Sylvester Stallone. The film will have its World Premiere on Saturday, September 16, at Roy Thomson Hall.
See also: Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron soars into TIFF
“Stallone’s story is one of perseverance, triumph, and his indelible mark left on the world of film, and we couldn’t be more honoured to share it with our audiences as our Closing Night film,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Celebrating the legacy of a true icon, Sly takes audiences on an intimate journey through the life of Stallone, a cultural touchstone whose impact on cinema spans nearly half a century. Sly offers an unexpected and heartfelt exploration of the man behind the action megastar.”
ADVERTISEMENT |
Sly
Directed by Thom Zimny (Springsteen on Broadway, Elvis Presley: The Searcher), Sly pulls back the curtain and gives audiences an intimate look at the early life of the action megastar. It’s an opportunity for reflection on a career that spans nearly 50 years.
Sly travels back in time to show Stallone’s rough upbringing in New York City as a troubled kid. The same kid who’d escape his angry household to watch movies all day and then write scripts himself. Through his rollercoaster career, which exploded when Rocky — a role he had to fight to play, despite having written the now iconic movie — catapulted him to a level of stardom for which he was entirely unprepared.
The documentary takes this storied filmography and runs parallel with Stallone’s personal journey. It explores how his inspirational underdog story informed both the indelible characters he plays and the man he has become. There are highs and there are lows.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Sylvester Stallone gained international acclaim with his portrayal of Rocky and Rambo, with both projects becoming highly successful franchises over multiple decades. Other film credits include Demolition Man, Cliffhanger, Cop Land, and Escape Plan. More recently, The Expendables and Creed, which earned Stallone an Academy Award nomination in 2016. Stallone currently stars in the hit series Tulsa King, which has been renewed for a second season.
The film is produced by Sean Stuart, and executive produced by Braden Aftergood, Bill Zanker, Sam Delcanto, Jon Beyer, Tom Forman, Jenny Daly, and Stallone.
Sly will officially close the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2023.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Feature image by David Needleman
