The Toronto International Film Festival will include some fantastic films, but one film that heads to the top of the list is Rian Johnson’s third and newest film ‘Looper.’ ‘Looper’ features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as hitman Joseph Simmons, who kills people sent by the Mafia and gang members from the year 2077 to 2047. The advantage here is that no one will miss that individual in the year 2047, thus covering up the perfect crime. However, things take a turn for the weird when Joseph Simmons’ older self (Bruce Willis) is sent back for him to kill.

‘Looper’ is expected to be a fantastic film, since this is only the second time in history that a non-Canadian film started the film festival. According to Cameron Bailey, the Toronto International Film Festival Artistic Director, “with ‘Looper,’ Rian has taken his filmmaking to a new level, and we can’t wait to present it to the Toronto audience in the most prestigious platform we can offer.” According to Cinema Blend, ‘Looper’ was a huge hit at the San Diego International Comic-Con.

This is the second time that Johnson has showed one of his films at the Toronto Film Festival, the first being the world premiere of his second film ‘The Brothers Bloom.’ Rian Johnson’s first film ‘Brick,’ with a budget of only $500,000, won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Cameron Bailey was at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and witnessed the presentation of ‘Brick.’ “I saw Rian’s debut feature ‘Brick’ at the Sundance festival and was impressed by his ability to engage both the mind and the heart,” he said.

The ten day Festival begins September 6 and is considered the unofficial beginning to the Oscar season. The rest of the Toronto Film Festival will include more than sixty films, thirty-eight of which will be world premieres. Some writers/directors are returning to the silver screen while others are debuting their first works.

Ben Affleck will return again as a director and actor in “Argo,” a film based on a true story that happened during the Iranian hostage crisis. Robert Redford will also direct and star in ‘The Company You Keep.’ Other films that feature returning directors are ‘Hyde Park on Hudson,’ directed by Roger Mitchell and starring Bill Murray as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ directed by David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper; and Billy Bob Thorton’s ‘Jayne Mansfield’s Car.’

At least three films will also be bringing literature to life this year with Director Joe Wright’s ‘Anna Karenina,’ ‘Cloud Atlas’ (which has an almost completely all-star cast, including Tom Hanks), and – surprisingly – Director Joss Whedon’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Stuart Blumberg (writer of ‘The Kids Are All Right’) will be making his directorial debut in the film ‘Thanks for Sharing,’ a romantic comedy starring Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow as friends recovering from sex addiction. Dustin Hoffman will also – finally – be making his directorial debut with ‘Quartet,’ a comedy about four retired English opera singers.

Some other films that have already started a buzz at other film festivals include Jacques Audiard’s ‘Rust and Bones’ at Cannes and ‘The Sessions’ at Sundance Film Festival.

Ultimately this year it looks like the Toronto International Film Festival is going to have some show-stealing productions. Unfortunately, the rest of us will have to wait until these films are released in theaters or on DVD/Blu-ray.

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Fort Lauderdale, U.S.A - Voyages to Antiquity, the cruise industry’s premier specialty enrichment provider, has published its 2013 brochure including more port calls in the Western Mediterranean; itineraries to France and Spain; a stronger emphasis on Sicily, the epicenter of Ancient Rome 3500 years ago; additional Dalmatian Coast sailings from Venice along the Adriatic and an additional Black Sea voyage. The line continues to offer a unique array of experiences in Greece and Turkey.

“The Mediterranean itineraries are the heart and soul of Voyages to Antiquity and we endeavor to make each season full of unique experiences for our guests. This year we have expanded our product offerings in the Western Mediterranean while also providing an emphasis to the ancient civilizations found in Sicily,” said Mitchell J. Schlesinger, vice president of marketing and sales for Voyages to Antiquity.

“We’ve received growing support from prestigious organizations whose well-traveled clients are interested in an educational, enriching vacation experience, including Smithsonian Journeys, the Archaeological Institute of America and numerous alumni organizations.”

The Mediterranean season begins and ends with sailings between Cairo and Istanbul, highlighted by two Wonders of the World, as well as the following sites:

• Cairo to Istanbul – March 30, 2013 and Istanbul to Cairo – October 25, 2013

Western Mediterranean cruises along the Riviera coast include:

• Rome to Cannes – May 16, 2013

• Cannes to Venice – May 28, 2013

Itineraries highlighting the Adriatic’s Dalmatian Coast and the treasures of Sicily include:

• Istanbul to Athens – April 12 and September 9, 2013

• Athens to Venice – April 24 and September 21, 2013
  Venice to Athens – June 11, 2013

• Venice to Rome – May 6 and October 3, 2013

• Athens to Rome – June 23, 2013

• Rome to Istanbul – July 3 and October 13, 2013

Guest lecturers and celebrated speakers from around the world complement the in-depth shore experiences by bringing to life the art, history and culture of the Mediterranean region.  Regional foods and wines further immerse guests in the destinations visited.

Extraordinary value is a hallmark with cruise fares starting from $3995, including shore excursions with complimentary bottled water; gratuities to shipboard staff and wine, beer and soft drinks at dinner. To accommodate the significant demand from single guests, Voyages to Antiquity has increased the number of dedicated single cabins to 26 to complement single supplements in double occupancy cabins, which start from just 25%.

Roundtrip air is available from $595 per person from 60 North American gateways, including transfers and all air taxes and surcharges. Guests who book by September 30, 2012 can enjoy up to $1000 in stateroom savings on departures from March 30 through July 3, 2013.

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Slowly, but surely, the tide has been turning in favor of sterling over the past few months, with the euro now significantly weaker against the pound than it has been for many months. In fact, the last time sterling was at its current level of approximately EUR1.20 to the pound was in the summer of 2010 and, before that, in December 2008.

While the UK economy is not yet showing any significant signs of recovery, it seems the weakness which has affected sterling may finally have bottomed out, with currency markets now punishing the euro, which has weakened against both sterling and the U.S. dollar.

For the UK buyer who has been searching for a new home in France, this is significant. The effect of the exchange rate changes over the past few months has been to effectively reduce property prices by around 10 percent, according to Offshoreonline.org. Add to this the aggressive pricing by developers in areas of the Cote D’Azur, such as Nice and Cannes, and the scene is set for UK buyers to at last be able to take advantage of what has been one of France’s stronger property sectors.

Exchange rate movements are important for buyers from the UK. Put simply, around six months ago, one pound sterling would have bought EUR1.10, but now for the same pound sterling, the UK buyer can expect to receive over EUR1.20. The net effect is to make any purchase of euros around 10 percent cheaper, saving GBP 20,000 on a GBP 200,000 house purchase, for example.

Buyers looking at high end new launches, such as Parc Eugenie in Cannes, should immediately see an enhancement to any rental returns, as with lower upfront purchase cost, the real yield they can expect will rise accordingly.

Commenting on the improved outlook for UK buyers in France, Offshoreonline.org managing director, Tim Harvey, said, “Exchange rates are a vital part of the mix for most UK buyers operating in France, but now it seems the tide may be moving slowly in favor of the UK buyer, with the weakening euro opening up some very attractive options for UK buyers.

With mortgage rates available from 3.45 percent, we have noticed a slow, but steady, increase in enquiries since before Christmas which has continued into the New Year.”

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Today marks the beginning of the Cannes International Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, in the south of France. In the Danish newspaper Politiken’s online edition, film critic Kim Skotte took a look at this years selection of competing features and noted that Denmark still have what it takes to walk among titans.

For Danes, the oldest and most prestigious film festival in the world is often centered on the surprisingly consistent representation of Danish craftsmanship. You could say that after winning this years Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, Denmark is not afraid to strut their feathers at the French Riviera. This year has Lars von Trier and his movie Melancholia as well as Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive competing while a third movie, Labrador, has been chosen for an exclusive screening in the official program.

However, the Danes do realize that the Cannes is not just about our own contributions.

If we look at the contenders for the Palme d’Or, this year sports an unusually strong mix of directors – that is, if we base our predictions on the accomplishments of these which is really all we can go on at this point. Of course, the pro can sometimes fail miserably while the virtually unknown can bring positive surprises. Guesswork aside, the battle for the golden palms is gonna be fought amongst established ‘old-timers’, upcoming talents and the odd jokers.

Besides Lars von Trier, who won the highest prize in 2000 with Dancer In The Dark, the selection holds several other winners and especially – nearly-winners.

Amazingly enough, the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar has never won the Palms though he came close in 1999 with Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother). This year he has a new shot with La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I live In), based on the novel Tarantula by the French crime author Thierry Jonquets. The movie is said to be a new direction for the filmmaker with a twist of old. This is founded in the fact that the story has been described by Almodóvar to Cineuropa as “a horror story without screams or frights” and stars Antonio Banderas as the troubled plastic surgeon.

The jury, headed by veteran Robert De Niro this year, has the opportunity to fall for an array of other styles however. The Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have previously won two times already and their film Le Gamin au Velo could prove a third success.

From Italy, two strong contenders are present. Paolo Sorrentino first made an impression with his experimental Il Divo which won the Jury prize in 2008. This year is his fourth time at the French resort with his American excursion This Must Be The Place, starring Sean Penn. He is matched by Nanni Moretti, a seventh time contender who have also managed to win in 2001 with La Stanza Del Figlio (The Son’s Room)

Overall, the field is speckled with experienced people – Terrence Malik, director of The Thin Red Line, brings The Tree of Life while the Finish director Aki Kaurismäki makes his fourth appearance along with Japanese Naomi Kawase, the youngest winner of Caméra d’Or.

The scene is set for a battle of established names and talents and even though film is regarded an art form, the competition between May 11-21 could prove a fierce race, leaving us gasping for air. If you want to learn more, please visit the Festival site.

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