TIFF to feature films starring Ryan Gosling, Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper

Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press</span>
Published Tuesday, July 24, 2018 11:08AM EDT

TORONTO -- Bradley Cooper's directorial debut featuring Lady Gaga, a Julia Roberts family addiction drama, and Ryan Gosling's turn as astronaut Neil Armstrong are among the projects bound for the Toronto International Film Festival.

On Tuesday, organizers unveiled the galas and special presentations set for this year's fest, which runs Sept. 6-16.

The list includes Cooper's romantic drama "A Star is Born," which the four-time Oscar-nominated actor co-wrote and stars in, playing an alcoholic country musician who falls in love with a singer played by Gaga.

A STAR IS BORN, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper with @ladygaga, Andrew Dice Clay, and Dave Chappelle. #TIFF18 https://t.co/xqSUrhrd9q pic.twitter.com/ewB4Mj3dCI
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

In Peter Hedges' "Ben is Back," Roberts plays a mother whose son (played by Lucas Hedges of "Manchester by the Sea") returns home for the holidays with substance abuse issues.

The theme of recovery continues with Felix van Groeningen's "Beautiful Boy," starring Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet as his son who's battling a methamphetamine addiction.

Our #TIFF18 Galas include: Felix Van Groeningen’s BEAUTIFUL BOY, starring @SteveCarell, @RealChalamet, Maura Tierney, and Amy Ryan. https://t.co/O1hMHoH84v pic.twitter.com/58AvcNqKJB
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

Meanwhile, Gosling teams up with his "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle for "First Man," about Armstrong's life and legacy walking on the Moon. Steven Spielberg is an executive producer.

Damien Chazelle (@DSChazelle)’s FIRST MAN, starring @RyanGosling and Claire Foy. #TIFF18 https://t.co/PIONsYobQq pic.twitter.com/mvNkgT6QgZ
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

The lineup also has Montreal native Jason Reitman's "The Front Runner," starring Hugh Jackman as American Senator Gary Hart who was embroiled in an adultery scandal.

While the bulk of the Canadian titles have yet to be revealed, some major homegrown films have been locked in, including "Through Black Spruce" by Toronto director Don McKellar. It's based on the acclaimed novel by Canadian author Joseph Boyden, whose claims of Indigenous ancestry were questioned last year and sparked online debates after an investigation by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Don McKellar’s THROUGH BLACK SPRUCE, starring Tanaya Beatty, Brandon Oakes, Kiowa Gordon, @Rafeolla, and @tantooC. #TIFF18 https://t.co/mRxpxVd5r8 pic.twitter.com/tHWYF9G2IV
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

Emmy-nominated writer-director Patricia Rozema of Kingston, Ont., returns to the fest with "Mouthpiece."

Montreal filmmaker Kim Nguyen, whose previous features include the Oscar-nominated "Rebelle," recruited an A-list cast for "The Hummingbird Project." Jesse Eisenberg, Alexander Skarsgard and Salma Hayek star in the 1990s-set story of high-frequency trading.

And while "The Sisters Brothers" is not a Canadian film, it is based on the lauded comic western novel by Vancouver Island native Patrick deWitt. "Rust and Bone" filmmaker Jacques Audiard directed and co-write the adaptation, which stars John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Other heavy-hitting projects include David Lowery's bank-robber biopic "Old Man & the Gun," which is said to be Robert Redford's final onscreen performance before his planned retirement from acting. Co-stars include Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, Tom Waits and Sissy Spacek.

David Lowery’s THE OLD MAN & THE GUN, starring Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck, and Danny Glover. #TIFF18 https://t.co/uVOLPOpNsH pic.twitter.com/Ujh74UVPS9
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

Steve McQueen will be at the fest with the heist thriller "Widows," which is loaded with stars including Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, and Liam Neeson.

Steve McQueen’s WIDOWS, starring @violadavis, @MRodOfficial, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo. #TIFF18 https://t.co/xIc7M7Np9u pic.twitter.com/AjIBUCistG
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

In "What They Had" by Elizabeth Chomko, Blythe Danner plays a mother with Alzheimer's disease. Co-stars include Hilary Swank and Michael Shannon.

Emilio Estevez makes a long-awaited return to filmmaking with "The Public," in which he also stars alongside a cast including Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, and Gabrielle Union.

THE PUBLIC, directed by and starring Emilio Estevez with Jacob Vargas, @itsgabrielleu, @TaySchilling, and @jfreewright. #TIFF18 https://t.co/7zDPbCA9WL pic.twitter.com/W431aaX3rD
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 24, 2018

A total of 17 galas and 30 special presentations were announced -- 21 of which are world premieres, and 13 of which are directed by women.

Comedies include "The Weekend" by Stella Meghie, starring Sasheer Zamata, Tone Bell, and DeWanda Wise.

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