And That’s a wrap! The 36th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival closes bigger and better than ever

Well, that’s a wrap on another highly successful Toronto International Film Festival. It was a thrill again to ride with Cadillac and cover what has become one of the busiest film festivals in the world. We hope you enjoyed Cadillac Festival Insider coverage as we took you inside TIFF – the press conferences, red carpets, parties, and more!

TIFF seemed to grow again this year as much of the movie-goer action emerged along King street in Toronto. We saw the official home of TIFF – the Bell Lightbox open fully and be a hub of activity. The Festival also utilized a new theatre opening weekend – the beautiful and spacious Princess Of Wales.

But alas, even the best parties have to end. So, the TIFF Cadillacs have been cleaned up and put away for another year. But like us Festival Insiders, we’ll all be back to do it again next year. Enjoy some of our highlights of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival:

- The Biggest Band in the world kicks-off TIFF’11
- Festival Insider Skye has dreams come true at Hello! Canada party
- Madonna makes a Gala red carpet appearance to the delight of fans.
- “Brangelina” is the number one power-couple of TIFF
- infamous street-artist Mr. Brainwash all over TIFF

and don’t forget, all the Cadillac Festival Insider photographs are permanently archived on our Flickr feed.

The Town’s BLAKE LIVELY makes a stunning red carpet appearance at Toronto Film Festival Gala premiere

photos: Gossip Girl star BLAKE LIVELY made an eagerly awaited appearance for the Gala premiere of THE TOWN. The Ben Affleck directed bank heist drama has Blake starring with a powerful cast that includes Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, and Jeremy Renner. (George Pimentel photos)

Lively’s movie career is on fire of late and Blake has hinted she wouldn’t mind if the Gossip Girl producers killed her off the successful television show. Lively has two years remaining on her Gossip Girl contract and it’s doubtful producers would let her out early. It’s not often you have a television series filled with a cast of burgeoning movie stars.

Even Blake’s Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgely (and real-life boyfriend) is at the Toronto Film Festival supporting his own film.

WANT TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE TOWN RED CARPET ARRIVALS – CHECK OUR FLICKR STREAM

Bruce McDonald’s TRIGGER – starring Molly Parker, Don McKeller, and the late Tracy Wright to be first film screened at The Bell Lightbox

It was announced during August by Toronto Film Festival co-director Cameron Bailey that iconic film director Bruce McDonald’s latest feature, Trigger will be the inaugural film premiere on September 12th at the new home of TIFF – the Bell Lightbox on King st. It will certainly be a night when the best in Canadian cinema will shine.

Trigger has McDonald returning to familiar themes of musicianship and artistry explored in his earlier films. Starring Molly Parker and Tracy Wright as former music partners that are reunited years later. Sadly, Tracy Wright passed away this year and there are sure to be some special moments of remembrance when Trigger opens up the Bell Lightbox that first Saturday of TIFF’10.

Bruce McDonald first burst onto the Canadian filmmaking scene in the mid-90′s with the now cult classic, Hard Core Logo (We hear a sequel is in the works.) Quentin Tarantino is a big fan of Bruce McDonald movies especially Hard Core Logo. Tarantino actually helped McDonald distribute HCL under Tarantino’s own personal studio name to ensure the widest possible audience saw Logo. A few years ago before emerging onto the international scene with her Oscar nominated role in Juno – McDonald cast Ellen Page in The Tracey Fragments.

TIFF co-director Cameron Baily congratulates Trigger actor Don Mckeller at August press conference to announce the Bruce McDonald film as the Bell Lightbox opening night Gala.

Score: A Hockey Musical to open the 35th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival

“Score: A Hockey Musical captures key elements of Canadian identity – our passion for our national pastime, our unique musical style and our special brand of humour.” – Piers Handling, TIFF co-director

The Hockey Hall Of Fame in Toronto could be considered an unusual place to hold the first official TIFF press conference of 2010. Festival co-directors Cameron Bailey and Pier Handling even entered the room in custom made hockey jerseys (#35 to honor the thirty-fifth edition of the festival.)

When Bailey started the announcement, “Ladies and gentleman, we’ve been drafted… into Hockeywood.” – The Cadillac Festival Insider knew we were in for a special announcement…

TIFF’s big 2010 Opening Night Gala on September 9th will be Score: A Hockey Musical.

Score: A Hockey Musical tells the tale of emerging love and fame for a teenage hockey phenom in Canada. The film features one of the most iconic stars ever of movie musicals, Ms. Oliva Newton-John of “Grease” fame. There’s also an impressive list of co-stars and cameo appearances. CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos, Evan Solomon, singer Nelly Furtado, even Wayne Gretzky’s dad, Walter makes an appearance in what looks to be a very fun film.

TIFF showed the media a few minutes of the film during the opening press conference. The first thought that came to this insider’s mind was, “It’s maybe Glee on Ice!”

Score: A Hockey Musical features relative newcomers Noah Reid and Allie MacDonald in the lead roles. It was cool to see all the press attention they were receiving at the Hockey Hall Of Fame. You could tell it was still so new for them. The Festival Insider chatted with Ms. MacDonald for a few minutes and discovered it will be Allie and Noah’s very first trip to the Toronto Film Festival – and what a way to start – the featured stars walking the red carpet at the opening night Gala!

It’s sure to be quite exciting for the entire cast as they become the centre of attention that first TIFF evening in Toronto. Our advice to Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Reid was to just sit back in their Cadillac and enjoy the ride. It’s sure to be a very special one that evening for the newly minted stars.