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

Richard Budman — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:38:08 +0000

[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

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

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

Richard Budman — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:01:25 +0000

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

Richard Budman — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:20:15 +0000

[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

Richard Budman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:20:09 +0000

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

Richard Budman — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:53:33 +0000

(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

Richard Budman — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:30:28 +0000

[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

Richard Budman — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:35:50 +0000

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.

Richard Budman — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:52:57 +0000

(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

Richard Budman — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:29:18 +0000

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.