Stars attending TIFF 2012

The confirmed VIP list includes stars such as Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, Vanessa Redgrave, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Jackie Chan, Jennifer Connelly, Billy Bob Thornton, Bradley Cooper, Marion Cotillard, Colin Firth, Kiefer Sutherland, Viggo Mortensen, Javier Bardem, Adam Sandler, Helen Hunt, Laura Linney, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear, Gael Garcia Bernal, Salman Rushdie, Sam Rockwell, Naomi Watts, Dennis Quaid, Ryan Gosling, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Affleck and Penelope Cruz.

Andy and Lana Wachowski, celebrated Matrix directors, will be in town for the premiere of Cloud Atlas, with the films co-stars – Hanks and Cruz – by their side.

Roger Michell’s new film about the relationship between FDR and his wife Eleanor, Hyde Park On the Hudson, will have lead actor Murray in attendance.

Canadian audiences will be particularly excited to see Argo, a film that explores the CIA’s role in “The Canadian Caper,” an operation that saw Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor help free six Americans out of Iran during a 1979 hostage crisis. Director and lead actor Ben Affleck will be in attendance for the Q&A.

Some interesting panel speakers and documentary subjects were also announced: Snoop Lion (aka Snoop Dogg), Ice -T, Angela Davis, Thelma Houston, Janice Stein, and Michael Ignatieff.

Legendary Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolluci’s first film in 10 years, Me and You, will also be premiering at the festival.

For their Mavericks speaker series, a discussion of Amy Berg’s documentary West Of Memphis will include Johnny Depp and The Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines.

For a full look at the film lineup and stars coming this year, be sure to check out the festival website.