[VIDEO] “Where Do We Go Now?” earns the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for favourite film of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

[VIDEO] In a slight upset, a foreign language film set in war-torn Lebanon emerged as the people’s choice favourite of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. “Where Do We Go Now?” from Lebanese-Canadian director and actor Nadine Labaki won the 2011 Cadillac People’s Choice Award – an accolade that usually signals more recognition is to come for the film. Labaki’s film has already been announced as Lebanon’s official entry into Oscar consideration for best foreign language film. The TIFF award should further help it make the coveted short-list of Academy Award considerations once the nominations are announced early next year.

The Cadillac People’s Choice award also includes a $15,000 cash prize. Festival programmer Rasha Salti, accepted the award on the director’s behalf, who was in the process of flying back to Lebanon. “I’m thrilled, I’m happy, I’m ecstatic, I’m excited… I’m running around jumping up and down at the Frankfurt airport. Tomorrow we’ll be screening ‘Where Do We Go Now?’ for the first time in Lebanon and I will be proud and happy to announce the news in front of my crew, my family and the Lebanese audience.” Labaki said in a statement emailed to TIFF.

“The Island President” won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for favorite documentary. Thom Powers, documentary programmer for TIFF accepted the award on the filmmaker’s behalf. Said Powers, “The President came here from the Maldives . He was watching the film for the first time along with the audience. There was something so exciting about that experience, it translated to the audience and elevated the film to the People’s Choice Award.” The TIFF premiere also marked the first time a sitting President in power had ever visited the Festival.

“The Raid” was voted favourite Midnight Madness feature and writer-director Gareth Evans, along with stars Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim were on hand at the awards brunch to accept their Cadillac People’s Choice Award.
M.J. Comeau, VP of Sales for GM Canada presents the Cadillac People’s Choice Awards to the winning films. (photos: George Pimentel. video/editing: Mike Edge.)

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

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

Cadillac Festival Insider talks TIFF with Norman Jewison at the annual Canadian Film Centre barbecue

The Canadian Film Centre has been a place to celebrate excellence in Canadian film and television production for more than a quarter-century. The annual barbecue, traditionally held on the first Sunday afternoon during the Toronto International Film Festival is always a great time when most of the Canadian production industry comes together to network and indulge in delicious food and drinks.

Cadillac Festival Insider was happy to catch up with the man who had the original vision for the CFC – filmmaker Norman Jewison. Jewison reflects on how the Toronto International Film Festival has grown up through the years to become the largest public festival in the world now.

Cadillac Festival Insider is on the official TIFF red carpet with the cast of Killer Joe and Oscar-winning director William Friedkin

[VIDEO] Cadillac Festival Insider takes you on an official TIFF red carpet tonight for the premiere of “Killer Joe” directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker William Friedkin. We chatted with the cast – Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, and Juno Temple about performance – and what it takes to achieve your best one. (photos: Richard Budman video/editing: Mike Edge.) Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE is wearing on the TIFF red carpet designs by Stephan Caras and jewelry by Psalms 91:1.

[VIDEO] Inside the Sales and Industry centre at the Toronto International Film Festival

Cadillac Festival Insider takes you inside another important part of TIFF – The Sales & Industry Office which is committed to facilitating relationships between accredited buyers, sales agents and filmmakers with films in the Festival. This is the place where the deals go down.

Hello! Canada celebrates Hollywood Style at Ritz Carlton hotel during the 2011 Toronto Film Festival

(September 10, 2011) Cadillac Festival Insider was at the grand new Ritz Carlton Hotel in Toronto as Hello! Canada magazine celebrates Hollywood Style. Held during the opening weekend of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival the event brought out the best in Canadian media talent and an international star or two, including Backstreet Boys’ Howie D. Festival insider reporter SKYE even had her dreams come true when she got to duet with Howie.

Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE is wearing designs by Stephan Caras and jewelry by Psalms 91:1 at the Hello Canada! celebrates Hollywood at the Ritz Carlton hotel.

[Video] Cadillac Festival Insider gets ready for the TIFF red carpets at the gifting suites

[VIDEO] Cadillac Festival Insider got a taste of what the celebrities and VIP’s of the Toronto International Film Festival get to experience – a visit to the two top gifting suites that happen during every TIFF – The Tastemakers Lounge and the IT Lounge. The insiders came away pampered, ready for the red carpets and parties, and, with a big bag of swag!

Thank you!

[VIDEO] Film Critic Richard Crouse shares his TOP 10 #TIFF11 picks with Cadillac Festival Insider

Our friend, esteemed film critic Richard Crouse was kind enough to sit down with Cadillac Festival Insider at the Bell Lightbox a few days before the Toronto International Film Festival is set to kick off. Crouse shares quick thoughts on 10 movies that will premiere during #TIFF11 that WILL BE worth seeing. Richard has nice words so far for; Drive, 50 /50, The Artist, The Skin I Live In, Take Shelter, Melancholia, Machine Gun Preacher, Take This Waltz, Afghan Luke, and Breakaway. [VIDEO]

[VIDEO] Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE visits the best spots in Toronto for celebrity spotting during TIFF – Ritz Carlton hotel, Bell Lightbox on King, and Yorkville ave.

(VIDEO) The 36th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival is right around the corner and Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE visits some spots in Toronto which promise to come alive with film goers and celeb spotters as TIFF takes over Toronto during September, 2011

The Toronto International Film Festival announces its Canadian lineup of 2011 films

While September is the month the Toronto International Film Festival rolls out the red carpets and films. August is the month for highly anticipated announcements as TIFF hosts some lavish press conferences as the annual festivals program begins to come together. On August 9th, at the Royal York hotel in Toronto, TIFF announced its line-up of Canadian films.

First seen at the Canadian International Auto Show – Cadillac is a proud supplier of more than 36 luxury vehicles to TIFF 2011

Before the official vehicles of the Toronto International Film Festival – Cadillac take to the streets they are on display at the 2011 Canadian Auto Show. Cadillac supplies more than three dozen luxury vehicles that transport Festival executives, celebrities, and VIP’s around the city during two weeks in September when TIFF gets into gear.

CADILLAC PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS for the 2010 Toronto Film Festival [VIDEO] Congratulations A KING’S SPEECH, STAKELAND, and DAVID SUZUKI – A FORCE OF NATURE

Cadillac is proud to continue its tradition of supporting the Toronto International Film Festival with the Cadillic People’s Choice Awards. Frank Trivieri, General Director of Marketing for General Motors of Canada was on-hand at the Sunday afternoon TIFF luncheon to help congratulate the winners.

The 2010 Cadillac People’s Choice Award winners at the Toronto International Film Festival…
Favorite Film: A KING’S SPEECH
Favorite Midnight Madness Movie: STAKELAND
Favorite Documentary: A FORCE OF NATURE – DAVID SUZUKI MOVIE

Test Drive the Ultimate ride – the TIFF’10 Cadillacs at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto

Did you know you can TEST DRIVE the type of Cadillac’s all those Toronto Film Festival celebrities get dropped off on the red carpet in. From Tuesday September 14th to Friday September 17th (11am to 4pm) Cadillac is giving people the chance to test drive the ultimate ride outside the Cadillac display at Roy Thomson Hall on King St. in Toronto.

And Keeping in the TIFF movie spirit – you’ll also walk away after the test drive with a pair of FREE Cineplex screening tickets.

Canadian Film Centre’s annual @CFCcreates Barbecue always a highlight on the TIFF party schedule – Norman Jewison hosts with Paul Haggis

The Canadian Film Centre’s annual Sunday afternoon Barbecue has always been one of the better invites of TIFF week. The yearly event always promises a fun afternoon of chatter among old friends, drinks, and good eats (Licks burgers & Guck sauce!)

One of the reasons the BBQ is held each year is to celebrate the films and projects that are created by CFC alumni and make their way into screening during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Two CFC shorts – HOW TO RID YOUR LOVER OF A NEGATIVE EMOTION CAUSED BY YOU! and CHAMPAGNE, created through the CFC Short Dramatic Film Program will screen in the Short Cuts Canada program, while CFC’s commitment to innovation takes centre stage with WHAT?S YOUR ESSENTIAL 100, an interactive installation that invites visitors to text in their favourite films from the Essential 100 list and see a dynamic visualization of images projected above the box office.

photo: Academy award winning writer and director Paul Haggis chats with Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE during the annual CFC barbecue. SKYE is wearing a dress by NADA Designs. (September 12, 2010 / R. Budman photos)

We’ll be back next year with more Cadillac Festival Insider TIFF Premiere ticket giveaways – they were lots of fun!

The Cadillac Festival Insider had lots of fun this year giving away TIFF screening tickets to our followers and friends. We know what a hot ticket TIFF premieres can be and how fast Toronto Film Festival screenings sell-out.

Cadillac was also thrilled to offer some nights out on the TIFF town for a select few this year. We love hearing how we help make amazing TIFF nights come true for nice people. We look forward to doing more of the same next year.

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THE TOWN press conference in Toronto – BEN AFFLECK pulls together an acclaimed cast for 2nd directorial effort

Director BEN AFFLECK brought his THE TOWN cast to the Toronto International Film Festival. Affleck took a moment at the press conference to explain how he managed to pull together such an acclaimed (and busy) group of actors. (photos: Richard Budman for Cadillac Festival Insider)

A NATALIE PORTMAN FAN FRENZY at Roy Thomson Hall for the Gala premiere of Black Swan – Natalie pleads with fans to “DON’T SQUISH”

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Alliance Films celebrates their slate of movies at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival with the return of their famous party

Alliance Films celebrates their 2010 TIFF line-up of movies with a BIG party – their first during the festival in five years. Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE was on the red carpet and even managed to catch up to someone that has done something few in this world have – knockout former boxing champ Mike Tyson.

At the Artists for Peace and Justice Toronto fundraiser Martin Sheen teaches Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE the Fishburne handshake

At the Artists for Peace and Justice fundraiser held annually during the Toronto Film Festival – MARTIN SHEEN teaches Cadillac Festival Insider SKYE a special handshake – taught to Mr. Sheen by Laurence Fishburne.

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Microsoft founder BILL GATES supports education documentary Waiting for ‘Superman’ at 2010 Toronto Film Festival

It’s no surprise when Toronto’s International Film Festival attracts some of the most powerful movie stars in the world. Today, it attracted another type of power player – Microsoft founder BILL GATES.

The Festival Insider had a chance to ask Mr. Gates a question (and also vent a little frustration over Windows Vista.)

STONE press conference at 2010 Toronto Film Festival with Robert Deniro, Ed Norton, and Milla Jovovich – Deniro sees himself acting “in only 3 more movies”

It was a packed media room for the Toronto International Film Festival press conference for STONE, easily one of the most anticipated pressers of TIFF. With acting legends like Robert Deniro and Ed Norton in the room, press conference moderator Henri Béhar, while customary to highlight an actors previous works when introducing them, when getting to Deniro, said “I’m not even going to try… Mr. Robert Deniro”

While Mr. Deniro was a man of few words during the press conference. When he spoke those words the media was hanging on every one of them. Including when Deniro talked about “only seeing himself acting in 3 more movies.”

PART 2: Interview with movie critic RICHARD CROUSE on his TIFF’10 picks – Javier Bardem in Biutiful – Kat Dennings in Daydream Nation – and Black Swan

FIRST LOOK VIDEO – THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town documentary brings Bruce Springsteen to TIFF for Gala premiere and interview

When THE BOSS himself, Bruce Springsteen steps onto the red carpet for the TIFF Gala world premiere of THE PROMISE: Making of Darkness On The Edge Of Town it will continue a tradition of the Toronto festival being able to attract not just the biggest movie actors in the world – but also in recent years, some huge icons from the music world too.

During the 2008 Toronto festival guitar gods Jack White, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and The Edge (U2) all came to Toronto in support of the documentary, IT MIGHT GET LOUD. Last year, we saw U2′s Bono and Edge turn up on a TIFF red carpet in support of fellow Irish director Neil Jordan’s new film.

And It won’t just be at the Roy Thomson Hall Gala on September 14th where we’ll see Springsteen. Earlier in the day, Bruce will sit down with actor / friend Ed Norton for a rare in-depth live interview at the new Bell Lightbox building.

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Cadillac Festival Insider chats with film critic Richard Crouse on TIFF 2010 picks – Emma Stone in Easy A, Woody Allen’s latest and THE BOSS

Why PRECIOUS: Based on the Novel Push by SAPPHIRE is an important film to see – press conference for Cadillac People’s Choice Award winner in Toronto

Jack White talks acting and new music, Meg White says nothing during press for Toronto premiere of THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT NORTHERN LIGHTS documentary

Meg and Jack White of The White Stripes made a rare appearance together at the Toronto Film Festival red carpet premiere of the documentary The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights. Jack White also appeared earlier in the day at a press conference. Meg White, being her notoriously shy shelf did not talk to the media, but did appear briefly at the docs premiere for photo op with Jack. The film is a bit of a triumph for director Emmett Malloy who managed to convince the usually private band to allow cameras to follow The White Stripes unique 2007 tour of small northern Canadian cities. During the press conference for the film, Jack White touched upon a number of subjects including the difficulties of filmmaking, his passion for acting and what new music he is working on these days.

(on acting in film) “The time that it takes is the hardest part for me. To give up three months to act… there is so much I could be doing.. I could be doing three or four 7″ vinyl records out in Nashville…It really comes down to choices.” – JACK WHITE