FESTIVAL INSIDER » TIFF

[VIDEO] Woody Harrelson’s “Rampart” premieres in a new TIFF theatre – The Princess Of Wales on King street

Richard Budman — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:54:40 +0000

Full use of the TIFF Bell Lightbox on King street wasn’t the only new theatre to see action during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. This year also marked the first time the Festival used the famous Princess Of Wales theatre, located just down the street from the Lightbox.

The Princess Of Wales has primarily been used for Toronto theatrical productions. Named for Diana, the late Princess Of Wales, the theatre opened to the public during 1993 with the musical Miss Saigon. Designed by award-winning Architect Peter Smith, the theatre features a horseshoe-shaped, two-balcony seating plan connected to the proscenium by box seats. With seating on three levels – orchestra, dress circle and balcony – the Princess of Wales is surprisingly intimate for a theatre that seats 2,000. The Toronto International Film Festival consulted on the installation of a new state-of-the-art theatre sound system – optimized for movie viewing in the Princess Of Wales so expect this theatre to see plenty of TIFF action in the years to come.

[VIDEO] Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE reports from a busy King street outside the Princess Of Wales theatre just as Woody Harrelson and the cast of “Rampart” make a 2011 TIFF debut. (photos: Richard Budman. video/editing: Mike Edge.) Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE is wearing designs by Stephan Caras and jewelry by Psalms 91:1

TIFF insiders night with the Festival programmers and their best picks

Richard Budman — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:26:22 +0000

The Toronto International Film Festival held its annual TIFF Insiders night where the TIFF team of programmers all come together and share some of their favorite picks of the Festival. After all, it is this group of people that screen thousands of films each year – rejecting about 90% – to eventually arrive at the 300+ films that make up the 36th edition of TIFF.

So a crowded room of TIFF sponsors, donors, and other festival friends got a chance to meet the programmers and hear about some of the films that really stand out in their minds.

It didn’t take long for the first few programmers to talk about a documentary that seems to make an impact on whoever has seen it, Pink Ribbons, Inc. Léa Pool’s investigative film about the industry and “culture” around breast cancer.

Programmer Jane Schoettle’s highlighted the performance of Matthew Goode in Burning Man as must-see. A personal favorite of Schoettle’s is Pariah with director Dee Rees as a talent to watch out for. We’re already hearing the company behind Pariah is planning a push to get it noticed by Oscar voters.

Another two titles we heard talked about in the room that night; The Hunter with Willem Defoe playing a mercenary and Juan Of The Dead and its funny trailer.

A personal fave of TIFF Midnight Madness programmer Colin Geddes is You’re Next by the director and writer of last year’s Festival indie hit, A Horrible Way To Die. Geddes gem of the Festival is a “Die Hard” type of action film, Sleepless Night (Nuit Blanche.)

Drive, starring a stunt-driving Ryan Gosling was called out a few times as a fun one to see. The film earned the director, Nicolas Winding Refn an award at Cannes this year. (We were then reminded that Drive will open up wide in theatres the week after TIFF, so perhaps look for films at the Festival that are harder to find playing later.)

Real To Reel programmer Thom Powers wasted no time in calling Paradise Lost 3 – Purgatory his gem of the festival. The filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky started their quest almost twenty years ago with the first Paradise Lost. It was just a few weeks ago when the featured protagonists of the films, were in the news, as the final twist in their two decade legal odysssy was finally written.

A hot pick of veteran TIFF Programmer Michèle Maheux is We Need To Talk About Kevin starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. Maheux’s favorite was The Artist – shot entirely in black and white, without dialogue and in a traditional 1.33 aspect ratio, the film excited someone in the audience who previously saw it so much she blurted out, “(The Artist) is most fun you’ll have at the film festival this year.”

Cameron Bailey cited Rampart starring Woody Harrelson as a very hot pick of the Festival. Bailey calls Harrelson’s performance of a dirty cop in LA one that is sure, “to get noticed by the Oscar voters this year.” Cameron’s gem and “one of the most gripping” films of the festival is Guilty. Vincent Garenq’s disturbing drama from France investigates the corrupt judicial system and false accusations of pedophilia. The TIFF co-director was quick to call Elles starring Juliette Binoche his not-to-miss of the Festival.

Piers Handling’s favorite pick was the french film Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale) – Handling called it simply, “the french Apocalypse Now.”

What’s on the Cadillac Festival Insider’s not-to-miss list? Branwen Okpako’s The Education of Auma Obama. A documentary on the U.S. President’s older half-sister. Festival programmer Rasha Salti was so happy to find this film and bring it to TIFF. Salti describes Auma as having many of the same passionate characteristics as her powerful brother.

If the 35th edition of the Toronto Film Festival will be remembered for anything – it’s the opening of the BELL LIGHTBOX – Toronto’s new home for film and culture

Richard Budman — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:27:32 +0000

photos: Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE on arrival at the newly opened home of TIFF – The BELL LIGHTBOX. SKYE is wearing a dress & accessories by Pam Chorley’s Fashion Crimes (photo: September 16, 2010 / Richard Budman)

Over a decade in the making, if there is one thing the 2010 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival will be remembered for – it’s the opening of the BELL LIGHTBOX.

TIFF’s new home will be all things to the festival – a state-of-the-art screening facility as well, as place to meet and discuss the art and culture of film.

We couldn’t let the 35th edition of the festival end without a visit to the new Bell Lightbox. And it was as beautiful and spacious as one could imagine. We Festival Insiders especially loved being able to begin our night with a drink before a TIFF screening in the Blackberry Lounge. The lounge even had Blackberry charging stations so we could give our batteries a quick charge before tweeting into the night.

The esteemed film critic, Roger Ebert who annually covers TIFF couldn’t help but comment while in Toronto visiting the new facility, “The Bell Lightbox is superb. No other word for it.”

10 essential films at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival for red carpet celebrity spotting – get your cameras ready!

Richard Budman — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:49:13 +0000

INSIDE JOB - Thursday, Sept 9th @ Ryerson 9pm. Matt Damon is narrator of this documentary and should make a surprise appearance.

STONE – Friday, Sept 10th @ Elgin 9pm. The legend himself Robert De Niro, with Milla Jovovich and Edward Norton.

SUPER – Friday, Sept 10th @ Ryerson midnight. Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Canada’s own Ellen Page. and maybe even Kevin Bacon.

NEVER LET ME GO – Saturday, Sept 11th @ Ryerson 6pm. Great chance to see A-lister Keira Knightly and two up-and-coming stars; Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, New Spiderman), and Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wallstreet 2)

THE TOWN – Saturday, Sept 11th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and director Ben Affleck (might we see Ben’s wife Jennifer Garner join him on The Town’s big night)

HEREAFTER – Sunday, Sept 12th @ Elgin 9pm. The icon Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon. Don’t be surprised if Matt’s good friend Ben Affleck shows up too.

YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER – Sunday, Sept 12th @ Elgin 6pm. The directing icon Woody Allen brings a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Freida Pinto, and possibly Antonio Banderas.

BLACK SWAN – Monday, Sept 13th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. One of the most buzzed films at TIFF brings Natalie Portman and (we think) Mila Kunis too for a red carpet pair too beautiful for words.

HENRY’S CRIME - Tuesday, Sept 14th @ Elgin 9pm. Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, James Caan. Need we say more?

THE MAKING OF DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN – Tuesday, Sept 14th @ Roy Thomson Hall 9:30pm. There doesn’t get bigger superstars then Bruce Springsteen and his red carpet entrance promises a sight to be seen (and you never know what friends Bruce will surely bring to his rare film festival appearance. Count on Ed Norton for one.)

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The Toronto Film Festival Galas at Roy Thomson Hall was a great place for TIFF celebrity sightings

Richard Budman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:18:05 +0000

(festivalinsider.ca) If there was one change that proved popular this TIFF – it was the new red carpet set-up at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. In years previous, The red carpet was on one side of the tight Simcoe St. and fans were stuck waiting on the OTHER side of the street. For 2009, the red carpet Cadillac drop-off of TIFF guests was brought into a park on the east side of the theatre, allowing the fans wanting a glimpse of their favorite TIFF stars a much closer look, and an excellent chance for a photo or autograph.

IVAN and JASON REITMAN had a very busy TIFF 2009 with Up In The Air, Jennifer’s Body, and Chloe all having Toronto premieres

Richard Budman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:01:03 +0000

(festivalinsider.ca) There could not have been a more active father-son duo in the filmmaking business then what Ivan and Jason Reitman put on display during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Put simply, the Reitmans owned TIFF’09. Jason Reitman was in Toronto as producer on Jennifer’s Body and director on the already highly acclaimed UP IN THE AIR. After the recent film festival reviews for Up In The Air, many think the George Clooney starring vehicle will be well represented come awards time. During the press conference, Jason was sure to point out a key producer on the film, his father, Ivan Reitman proudly sitting in the first row with the assembled media. It wasn’t the only business at TIFF for Ivan – he was also there to support another Gala premiering film he produced – the Atom Egoyan directed CHLOE. From press, to red carpet premieres and receptions, there was no shortage of Reitman sightings during the 2009 TIFF week.

IT LOUNGE gifting suite at Windsor Arms Hotel plays host to TIFF celebrities and contributes to a roster of charities

Richard Budman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:28:16 +0000

The IT Lounge, hosted by NKPR at The Windsor Arms Hotel during TIFF week is proud to have broken new ground as the first gifting suite in North America to have had each participating brand contribute to a charity or cause.

A who’s who of celebrities visited the IT Lounge during the week to lend their support. For each of those visits, a special donation was made to the 12 charities. Brooks, Fila, Goody , Sharpie, Universal Music, were just some of the gifting companies contributing to the program.

Some of the many celebrity guests that visited IT Lounge: Paul Haggis, Olivia Wilde, the entire crew from So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Sissy Spacek, Saukrates, James Purefoy, Divine Brown, Kat Dennings, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Jennifer Garner, Russell Peters, Kyle MacLaghlan, Ivana Santilli, Marci Playground, Edward Norton, Ricky Gervais, Kardinal Offishal, Samantha Morton, Kristin Booth, Colin Mochrie, Deb McGrath, Eva Avilla, Lyriq Bent, Monika Schnarre, Caitlin Cronenberg, Lisa Ray, Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer, Terry Gilliam and many, many more!

rising star Amber HEARD at TIFF’09 with THE JONESES – Next up is THE RUM DIARY with Johnny Depp

Richard Budman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:41:32 +0000

Rising star AMBER HEARD was in Toronto for the world premiere of The Joneses. The film also stars Demi Moore and David Duchovny. Heard was channeling old-school Hollywood glamour during her stop at the after-party at AME on Mercer St. for the TIFF premiering film which has been earning strong reviews. Next up for Amber is a movie based on Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary, opposite Johnny Depp.

Nicolas Cage at 2009 TIFF press conference ON the importance of acting awards and where he keeps his Oscar

Richard Budman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:07:08 +0000

NICOLAS CAGE has come to Toronto this year in support of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. It was an especially reflective Cage in the press conference for the film accompanied by director Werner Herzog. “You can’t make movies thinking about awards…You make movies just coming from the heart.” – NICOLAS CAGE

Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts celebrate Mother and Child with a few TIFF party stops

Richard Budman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:35:54 +0000

(festivalinsider.ca) KERRY WASHINGTON and NAOMI WATTS attended the party for Mother And Child at Swarovski crystal store on Bloor Street prior to their Gala TIFF screening. Watts and Washington continued the celebrating after their premiere stopping by a party at The Gardiner Museum for designer turned director Tom Ford’s A Single Man