The 36th Toronto International Film Festival was a whirlwind with all the running around to capture all the red carpets, screenings, press conferences and big named stars who were in attendance. TIFF is an exciting time for any member of the media, but it's also an exhausting one well-worth the sleepless nights.
After an exhilarating 11-days of star sightings, reviewing films and filing to deadlines - it's now time to regroup and focus on the next project at hand. It's hard to believe TIFF is already over. While in the moment, whether it was waiting in line for a press conference or in the photo pit at a red carpet event, it seemed to take its time.
TIFF was quite a success this year - it was gratifying for media, gave our economy a much-needed boost with revenues, and satisfied many film lovers with a variety of entertaining features, documentaries and shorts. Throughout the run of the festival, it was non-stop for all those involved with films to watch every day, gala presentations to attend, press conferences to cover, interviews with the stars and the numerous TIFF parties that went on until the wee hours of the night. Oh the parties - one of the highlights of the festival we all enjoy.
Unforgettable moments definitely include the rush of getting a spot on the red carpet, waiting with camera in hand all to grab that perfect shot of the many celebrities who came through Toronto for the film festival. I've never covered a red carpet event before, so this was absolutely thrilling.
Toronto was booming with music, festivities and celebrations - all for the love of cinema. This year, TIFF brought 268 features and 68 shorts to the big screen, an eclectic mix of well-versed, well-created and well-executed cinema.
Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Festival says TIFF is all about transforming the way people view the world of cinema, and with so much to see there's lots to choose from. These films all tell a story worth listening too, if you're open and willing to hear it.
“So we had the big ones that people were expecting to be good like Moneyball, The Descendants, Drive, Ides of March and The Artist, but we also had all kinds that were just discovered by our audience,” says Bailey. “What I like, is that we have a big enough range that there’s always going to be something for every movie goer.”
Some of this year’s highlights include one of my personal favourites Moneyball, a baseball film starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, about the challenges of a team trying to make it with not a lot of money to help them obtain the key players they need to be successful. I was rather surprised with how much I liked this film, since it was a sports film. But the story about the sport was intriguing and pulled me in right away.
George Clooney’s the Ides of March, which stars Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, was another fan fav this year and one many critics also gave a thumbs up. This film toys with the possibilities of what may really be happening behind the closed doors in politics. Highly recommended.
Joel Schumacher’s Trespass is a gripping film about a home invasion that unravels revealing a complicated thriller, starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman. Madonna’s W.E. was another one of those films audiences will either love or hate, there's no in-between here. Fascinated with the story of King Edward VIII and his romance with the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, the Material Girl wanted to give this story her own spin by giving it a modern-day feel.
George Clooney and Ryan Gosling having a few laughs during
the Ides of March press conference. Photo by: Sandy Caetano
Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler (Coriolanus).
Photo by: Sandy Caetano
Seth Rogen (50/50) posing for a few shots.
Photo by: Sandy Caetano
Anna Kendrick (50/50) look fabulous.
Photo by: Sandy Caetano
Other big name films to catch once they are released on the big screen nationwide are Ralph Fiennes’ thrilling Coriolanus with the ever handsome Gerard Butler, 50/50 starring Seth Rogen, and Drive starring Gosling (The Ides of March), already playing in theatres.
Luc Besson’s The Lady is also a highly recommended film. It’s an inspiring story about a real woman, Aung San Suu Kyi (or Daw Suu), who’s love and passion for her country has helped determine that anyone, man or woman, with faith, strength and willpower can eventually change the way the world works.
Also worthy of taking a look at include: Hysteria with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, Steve McQueen’s Shame, Axel Petersen’s for Avalon (Sweden) who received the International Critics Prize, Discovery Programme, and of course Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? which picked up the Cadillac People’s Choice Award.
And that’s all folks - that is, until next year’s festival gets underway. Until then, happy film-watching!
And remember to Stay Sassy! ;)
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