Since 2011, TIFF has been choosing four Canadian actors who are poised for promising international careers. During the festival, the “Rising Stars” are given the chance to meet with industry insiders, producers, and casting directors, as well VIP access to red carpet premieres and parties. Past Rising Stars have included Sarah Gadon, Tatiana Maslany, and Connor Jessup, and this year’s four young actors hope to follow in their successful footsteps.
Deragh Campbell
Born in Toronto, and raised near Niagara-on-the-Lake by parents who were part of the Shaw Festival scene, Campbell originally wanted to become a novelist. She studied Creative Writing at Concordia University, but a chance encounter with filmmaker Matthew Porterfield landed her a starring role in his indie feature, I Used to be Darker which premiered at Sundance.
Campbell’s dream would be to work with Belgian director, Chantal Akerman. Coming up, you can catch her opposite previous Rising Star, Tatiana Maslany in 2016’s The Other Half.
Stephan James
With a couple roles in high profile projects like the Oscar-nominated film Selma and the CBC miniseries The Book of Negroes, James’ career is already off to a promising start. He recently landed a series regular role in NBC’s upcoming drama, Unveiled, and a leading role in Director X’s Undone.
As part of the cast of Selma, James had the chance to meet President Obama during a White House screening of the film. Coming up, he stars as Olympic track and field athlete Jesse Owens in Race, opposite Jeremy Irons, Jason Sudeikis, and William Hurt.
Aliocha Schneider
Born in Paris, and raised in Quebec, Schneider made his big-screen debut in one of the highest-grossing Canadian films of all time, Bon Cop, Bad Cop when he was only 13. Since then he’s made a name for himself in Quebec cinema, and is appearing in not one, but two films screening during TIFF. In Closet Monster Schneider is opposite previous Rising Star, Connor Jessup and Isabella Rossellini, and in Ville-Marie he plays the son of Monica Bellucci’s character.
Schneider hopes being named a Rising Star will help him transition from Quebec cinema into more English speaking roles, and he hopes to one day get the chance to work with Paul Dano.
Karelle Tremblay
At only 19, the Montreal native already has a starring role in a TIFF film under her belt. Last year’s Corbo was about a teenage Quebecer in the 1960’s who evolved from a pro-independence activist to a radical terrorist. This year, Tremblay appears in Les êtres chers from acclaimed director, Anne Émond.
Tremblay describes herself as more “intense” than many of peers, and she’s eager to take on unconventional roles to explore more of her dark side. She hopes to follow in similar career footsteps as Natalie Portman.
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MORE TIFF 2015 COVERAGE:
• The Highlights of TIFF 2015
• TIFF 2015: Men On The Red Carpet
• 10 Of The Most Anticipated Movies At TIFF 2015
