The Circuit

Our own Anne Thompson helps kick off Toronto with a story on Sony Pictures classics.  After a big presence at Telluride, they follow up with a record 9 films at Toronto, including "Brick Lane" (pictured).

In fact, Barker and Bernard opted to acquire in advance two pics that were going to the fest so the company could get the full promo bang for its festival bucks. Sight unseen, SPC scooped up Channel Four's "Brick Lane," based on Monica Ali's novel about a Bangladeshi woman in London, which they had been closely tracking.

"We were so close to investing in it," said Barker.

You'll notice Anne's article links into our new Festival Central design.  Watch us in the next few days for some big, beautiful changes to Variety's festival hub.