James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma) directs Matt Damon and Christian Bale in this high-speed biographical drama that pits an underdog team of American automotive engineers against Ferrari in the 1966 "24 Hours of Le Mans" endurance race.

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Gala Presentations

Ford v Ferrari

James Mangold

The press conference for this film will be held on September 10. Please visit the event page for the livestream link.

Racing cars for a living may be a noble pursuit or absolute folly but it sure as hell is exciting. In this follow-up to his superb Marvel reinvention, Logan, director James Mangold tells the tale of real-life superheroes Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Mavericks of the first order, Shelby and Miles commandeered the resources of the mighty Ford Motor Company in the 1960s to go head-to-head with the gods of Italian auto racing. With standout performances from Matt Damon and Christian Bale, this story makes for one of the most electrifying films of the year.

Shelby (Damon) wins France's prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1959, a rare feat for an American. But a weak heart valve stops his career cold, pushing him out of the driver's seat. Miles (Bale) is terrible at running an auto shop but he's a brilliant driver. When Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) comes looking to burnish Ford's family brand with some fast-car sizzle, Shelby and Miles stand as the perfect team to build and race a true competitor to Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone), who seems to win as easily as he downs an espresso. But can two hot-headed startup guys work with a corporate titan to grab road racing's ultimate prize?

Mangold marshalls the combined talents of his cast and craftspeople to deliver a dazzling rush of entertainment. Director of photography Phedon Papamichael finds new ways to shoot the race scenes to convey their speed and lethal danger. The surround sound puts you right in the driver's seat. But as the film rockets to its nail-biting conclusion, it's the pure drama of people trying to be the very best that wins the day.

Screenings

Mon Sep 09

Roy Thomson Hall

Premium
5:30pm
Mon Sep 09

Elgin Theatre

Premium
8:00pm
Tue Sep 10

Scotiabank 1

Press
8:00am
Tue Sep 10

Scotiabank 3

Press
8:00am
Tue Sep 10

VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Regular
10:30am
Thu Sep 12

Scotiabank 12

Press
10:15am
Fri Sep 13

VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Regular
9:30pm
Sat Sep 14

Ryerson Theatre

Regular
4:30pm