TIFF 2012 TITLES ANNOUNCED (UPDATED)

Still from Looper

Now just over a month away, TIFF 2012 is set to kick-off with the first round of Films premiering in Toronto announced earlier this morning at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Only 60 Titles have been announced thus far, meaning there are several more to come these next few weeks.

As predicted here recently, Looper from Alliance Films will be making its Debut with Opening Night Gala honours. TIFF's Artistic Director Cameron Bailey, says the Film was chosen because it appeals to multiple demographics.  "Feel free to stand up and cheer. It's just a fun opening night Movie!", he tells CP24. The Time Travel Action Flick stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt.

Others Films set to premiere include:

Argo - A CIA Specialist helps six Americans who have found shelter at the home of Canadian Ambassador during the Iranian Revolution. Stars Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Clea Duvall and Taylor Schilling.

Anna Karenina - An Aristocrat embarks on a torrid Affair with an affluent Count. Stars Keira Knightley, Kelly MacDonald, Aaron Johnson and Jude Law.

To the Wonder - A Man reconnects with a Woman from his past after his Marriage to a European Woman falls apart. Stars Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Jessica Chastain.

Silver Linings Playbook - A former Teacher who was institutionalized, returns home to reconcile matters with his Ex-Girlfriend. He meets a mysterious Woman with her own problems. Stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

The Master - A Drama set in the '50s about a Man whose Faith-based Organizations begin to catch-on with the help of his Right-hand Man. Stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix. 

The Sessions - A Man with an iron Lung contracts a Sex Therapist to help him lose his Virginity. Stars Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes.

End of Watch - Two young Officers are marked for death after confiscating a small amount of Money and Firearms. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick and Michael Pena.

Imogene - A Woman fakes Suicide to win back her Ex-Boyfriend, only to wind-up having to care for her Gambling-addicted Mother. Stars Kristen Wiig, Matt Dillon, Annette Bening and Natasha Lyonne.

Song for Marion – An elderly Man gets a new lease on life with the help of a Choir Leader. Stars Terence Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave and Gemma Arterton.

What Maisie Knew – A seven-year-old Girl is caught in a custody battle between her Parents, a Rockstar Mother and Drug Dealer Father. Stars Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård and Steve Coogan.

Emperor – The fate of a Japanese Emperor is in question at the end of World War II. Stars Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones.

The Hunt - A Kindergarten Teacher is falsely accused of Child Abuse. Stars Mads Mikkelsen and Thomas Bo Larsen.

The Place Beyond the Pines - A Motorcycle Driver considers committing a Crime to provide for his Wife and Child. Stars Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Robert DeNiro, Rose Byrne and Bradley Cooper.

Quartet - A Comedy about three Seniors in a Home for retired Opera Singers. Stars Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon; Dustin Hoffman directs for the first time.

MARK RUFFALO TAKES LEAD IN RYAN MURPHY'S "THE NORMAL HEART": JULIA ROBERTS, JIM PARSONS, ALEC BALDWIN & MATT BOMER ALSO ADDED

Mark Ruffalo at TIFF 2008

2012 will be the start of Mark Ruffalo's long-overdue rise as a bona fide Leading Man in Hollywood.  The Actor has been confirmed to take the lead in Glee/American Horror Story Creator Ryan Murphy's new Film, The Normal Heart.  The HIV/AIDs Drama is based upon a TONY Award-winning Play of the same title and centers on Ned Weeks, who is one of the first Advocates in New York to raise awareness about the disease.  Written by Activist/Writer Larry Kramer, the Play largely is autobiographical.

The Cast for The Normal Heart is rather impressive including Julia Roberts, who last teamed with Murphy on 2010's Eat, Pray, Love.  She will be playing a wheelchair-bound Doctor who also is among the first to raise concern about HIV/AIDs.  Matt Bomer, whose star dramatically is on the rise, takes the role of Weeks' Boyfriend contracting the Disease, while another openly-Gay Actor Jim Parsons will tackle the role of an Activist from the South.  Alec Baldwin also has been named to play the Lawyer Brother of Weeks, struggling to cope with the sexuality of Ruffalo's character.

Ruffalo currently is filming Now You See Me, a Bank Heist Thriller which has the FBI circling a team of Illusionists who rob banks as part of their act, rewarding their audiences with money; Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg star. His upcoming Drama Thanks for Sharing has him alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, P!nk, Tim Robbins and Joely Richardson, about three Sex Addicts on the road to recovery.  His marquee release however is Disney's all-star The Avengers, in theatres May 4, 2012 which has him starring in what is said to be an important role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)