(Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
If it's true that it's always darkest before the dawn, "Twilight Breaking Dawn" star Kristen Stewart may be in for a pleasant surprise when she attends the Toronto International Film Festival next week.
See more: KStew set for 'On The Road' appearance at TIFF
The 22-year-old actress has been out of the spotlight since July 25 when she apologized for cheating on her boyfriend of four years, "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson, with her married "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders. Stewart is slated to attend the premiere of her new movie, "On the Road," Walter Salles' adaptation of the Jack Kerouac novel, on Sept. 6 in her first public appearance post-scandal. But after skipping a number of other planned events, is TIFF really the best place for Stewart's coming out party?
WHY SHE SHOULD
TIFF and Stewart have a friendly if not entirely exciting relationship. She last visited the fest in 2007 when, a little known star at the time, she was promoting Sean Penn's film "Into the Wild." Her appearance was uncharacteristically uneventful though it did take place a year before she sunk her teeth into "Twilight" -- at the time, she was reportedly still dating her "Speak" co-star Michael Angarano.
See more: TIFF 2012: Canadian movie highlights
Four years later, Stewart is in the polar opposite position, a mega-star with a scandalicious love life. However, she will still be facing the same fest, a Canadian institution that rarely inspires the gutter press (unless Colin Farrell or Sean Penn is around, that is). Not only that, it's been a month since the actress acknowledged her public and sooner or later she's going to have to face the press. With the final "Breaking Dawn" installment coming out in November, she will no doubt be more comfortable hitting the red carpet alone first before publicly appearing side by side with her cuckolded rumoured ex.
And let's not forget the point of TIFF: The movies. Unlike a certain teen vampire series, "On the Road" is an indie drama by a foreign director with a cast including two famous actresses (Kirsten Dunst co-stars), but less well-known actors. Brit star Sam Riley and not-yet-household-name Garrett Hedlund could stand to glean some star power from Stewart and her blonde pal.
WHY SHE SHOULDN'T
As Robert Pattinson has learned in recent weeks, giving the press nothing to write about is the best way to get them off your trail. Unfortunately, Stewart only has to show her face and the media jumps on it. Appearing on the TIFF red carpet opens her up to all sorts of negative press she may have avoided if she were to keep laying low.
See more: Stewart, Pattinson pull out of 'Twilight' conventions
Not only that, Stewart's presence will no doubt eclipse that of her indie flick, "On the Road." The film may have competed for the Palme D'Or at Cannes but it is no "Twilight" and reporters may be more interested in questioning her about her cheating scandal than the film (remember that George Clooney incident last year?).
And considering Toronto's relationship with RPattz, those questions may not be pretty. This summer Pattinson did a slew of press junkets promoting "Cosmopolis" by Canadian director David Cronenberg. Since RPattz filmed it in Toronto and attended the premiere here, we can't help but feel like the jilted Brit is one of ours.
So, what do you think, should she or shouldn't she?