Cronenberg gets TIFF display

The TIFF Bell Lightbox is opening a new exhibition dedicated to one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers.

‘David Cronenberg: Evolution’ pays tribute to the legendary filmmaker’s entire career displaying props, costumes and behind the scenes footage from one of his earliest movies ‘Stereo’ all the way up to his most recent film ‘Cosmopolis.’ Melissa Raftis got a sneak preview of the exhibition ahead of its Friday launch.

‘David Cronenberg: Evolution’ is an exhibition 20 years in the making. That’s when TIFF CEO Piers Handling says the festival first approached the filmmaker to start donating scripts and objects from his work: “We’ve had a huge relationship with David that goes back over 30 years. We had his major retrospective in the 80’s and have opened the festival with a number of David’s films.”

Following Cronenberg’s exploration of human evolution and his evolution as a filmmaker, the exhibition showcases artifacts throughout Cronenberg’s career, focusing on some of his best known works like ‘The Fly’, ‘Dead Ringers’, ‘eXistenZ’ and ‘Naked Lunch’. Noah Cowan is the TIFF Artistic Director: “I think people get a good sense of the invention and the creativity that was happening and has been happening and continues to happen in David Cronenberg’s films.”

In the space called ‘Interzone’ dedicated to Naked Lunch, guests will have the opportunity to interact and even take a photo with a recreation of the Mugwump.

One of the original Mugwumps is on display as well, as is a telepod from ‘The Fly’.

During this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Cronenberg said the project will be another way for people to be affected by his films: “When I read the final press release, which was a five page press release outlining everything that was being done here, it was quite overwhelming. I don’t think I’ve really grasped the enormity of what these maniacs have done.”

‘David Cronenberg: Evolution’ runs from November 1st to January 19th.