‘Lady Bird’ leads another charge for ‘Moonlight’ maker A24
TORONTO: Greta Gerwig stood on the stage of the Ryerson Theatre at the Toronto International Film Festival, wiping back tears from the roaring standing ovation that greeted her directorial debut, “Lady Bird.”
Gerwig was already a successful actress and a proven screenwriter, having co-written several films including two with Noah Baumbach (“Frances Ha” and “Mistress America”). But her leap into directing, she said, took some gumption.
“When I finished this (script), I thought, you know what, I have always wanted to direct. And I never felt ready. I never felt like I had enough experience, enough time, enough hours under my belt, enough time being around other directors on set,” said Gerwig at the premiere. “And then I thought: It is time to jump, kid. You have got to do it. Even though it is scary, you have to give yourself a chance.”
“Lady Bird,” an autobiographical coming-of-age tale written and directed by Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, is one of the films that has indie distributor A24 poised to again be a major player through awards season. After its first best-picture nominee two years ago (the Brie Larson-led “Room”) and Barry Jenkins’ bestpicture winning “Moonlight” last year, A24’s blistering streak may well continue.
Both of those films made landfall at Telluride and then made their biggest splash at the Toronto International Film Festival. The same has also been true of “Lady Bird,” which is backed by producer Scott Rudin.