Another Year, Another TIFF...
Blog by Star!Expert, Thursday, September 06, 2007
Many dread September and all that it brings. The long (usually) relaxed sunny days lounging at the cottage or wandering through various street festivals are replaced by back to school woes and a nose-to-the-grindstone work mentality. The fun times are over and it’s time to move on... or is it? For a few (a group which, like the event, gets bigger each year) September’s arrival means only one marvellous thing…it’s time for the Toronto International Film Festival (or TIFF, as it’s lovingly referred to by those in the know).
It’s one of the finest festivals of its kind in the world and we’re lucky... nay privileged... enough to have it right on our doorstep. While the industry big-wigs have come more and more to rely on TIFF as a way to open Oscar season, the public itself remains the focus of the whole shebang. The 32nd Annual Festival is no exception…with over 340 public screenings and films from over 55 countries, it’s not surprising that people get excited by the number of films they have the chance to see. Although I think the dance of joy I do every year is probably overkill.
Of course, the fact that many of these screenings also are attended by the stars themselves helps to elevate the buzz to a fever pitch each and every year. So even if you aren’t able to catch a flick, you can definitely occupy yourself with a little stargazing throughout the downtown core. Who should you look out for this year? Well... Jude Law, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Woody Allen, Denys Arcand, Colin Firth, Kevin Bacon, Keira Knightley, Brad Pitt, George Clooney... to drop just a few names. Try to look both ways before sprinting across the street to get a better look, especially if you’re not sure it’s them, and I suggest refraining from lunging at anyone as the Festival is memorable enough without getting a shiny, framed restraining order! Also a good rule of thumb if you are out and about during the festival is if you find yourself saying “Hey! That guy kind of looks like Viggo Mortensen!” ...it probably IS.
But in case we lose sight of the real reason the festival is so fabulous, TIFF is really all about the movie-going. From the crowds to the awesome venues to the special guests, it is an experience like no other. My favourite thing to do during the festival? Attending the small screenings at the smaller venues…it has such an intimate feel that, even briefly, you do truly feel like an important part of the whole process. My best and first festival experience was a screening of Lodge Kerrigan’s brilliant character piece, Keane, at the Isabel Bader Theatre in 2004. The movie was an amazing emotional ride and I was completely blown away by every aspect of the production. But the whole experience was elevated to a new level when the small audience had the chance to actually discuss it with the writer/director (Lodge) AND it’s brilliant lead, Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Brides). So while the big ticket items may be the Gala and Screening Room presentations (both of which are amazing to attend), if you get a chance – check out the smaller venues and films too.
On that note, I woke up super early this morning to purchase my single tickets for this year and am now the proud owner of tickets for 8 different screenings... let the stargazing, film-watching fun begin! I’ll race you to the good seats…just don’t hip-check me out of the way as some interesting, backpacked soul did at the Elgin last year!
Emma
