SPOTLIGHT ON.

FILM festivals; PERFORMING arts festivals; KIDMAN, Nicole, 1967-; HOPKINS, Anthony, 1937-; BENTON, Robert, 1932-; ROTH, Philip, 1933-2018; THOMPSON, Emma, 1959-; NEESON, Liam, 1952-; LINNEY, Laura, 1964-; GRANT, Hugh, 1960-; FILMMAKERS; MOTION picture industry

TORONTO (Ont.); CANADAReport Available

Filmmakers, journalists and just plain movie lovers flocked to the quality-laden Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 4-13), where 254 features unspooled. Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman give complex, crackerjack performances as a mismatched couple in director Robert Benton's worthy if not electrifying film version of Philip Roth's novel, 'The Human Stain.' The large cast of 'Love Actually' includes Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in a hilarious turn as England's prime minister. 'Kitchen Stories' is an oddball Norwegian comedy about Swedish scientists observing bachelor farmers in their kitchens in remote Norwegian village.