Toronto Adds Ben Stiller’s ‘Brad’s Status,’ Armando Iannucci’s ‘Death of Stalin’

The Platform competition unveiled 11 auteur contenders, including Warwick Thornton’s ‘Sweet Country’ and Clio Barnard’s ‘Dark River.’

Mike White’s Brad’s Status, starring Ben Stiller, and The Death of Stalin, from Veep creator Armando Iannucci, will compete in the Platform juried competition at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival, organizers said Thursday.

Iannucci’s second feature — based on a graphic novel and starring Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Olga Kurylenko and Homeland star Rupert Friend — will open the Platform sidebar. In all, 11 indie titles will vie for a $25,000 first prize. The winner to be chosen by a jury that comprises directors Wim Wenders, Malgorzata Szumowska and Palme d’Or winner Chen Kaige.

The Platform lineup also includes Brad’s Status, a comedy from Amazon Studios, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment that stars Stiller alongside Austin Abrams, Jenna Fischer and Luke Wilson. Annapurna Pictures and Amazon Studios will jointly release the comedy domestically on Sept. 15.

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