Julie Pacino at TIFF 2012

by John Hiscock

Photos by Theo Kingma

Members of the HFPA talked with Al Pacino’s daughter Julie on the opening night of the Toronto film festival about her plans to make The First, a movie about the life of America’s Sweetheart Mary Pickford.

Pickford, the first international movie star, was born Gladys Marie Smith in Toronto in 1892 and a statue and historical plaque mark the spot where her house was on the city’s University Avenue.

Launch party for Julie Pacino’s Mary Pickford biopic The First, at TIFF 2012

Julie says that Lily Rabe will portray the adult Pickford, Michael Pitt has been cast as Owen Moore, her first husband and Jude Law has been asked to play her husband and swashbuckling silent star Douglas Fairbanks.

“Her onscreen talents still hold up today,” said Julie, talking during a crowded party where Pickford’s movies played on giant screens around the room.  “She was the queen—much bigger than Madonna.”

Production starts next year and, said Julie: “We’re excited to be kicking things off on opening night of the Toronto Film Festival. “I believe in timing and synchronicity and now is the time.”

Launch party for Julie Pacino’s Mary Pickford biopic The First, at TIFF 2012