Toronto is gearing for its annual tryst with flashbulbs and cameras. For ten days beginning September 9, the city will metamorphose into the film capital of North America, screening some of the best films from world over and hosting a multitude of film stars including Hollywood biggies at the 29th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) from September 9-18.
Though non-competitive, TIFF has come to be ranked next to Cannes and Venice in terms of prestige and is the only one of its kind in North America showcasing global cinematic talent. It is a reminder of the fact that there are visions of the world that cannot always be encapsulated into bite-sized ninety-minute blocks.
Festival co-director Noah Cowan says with obvious pleasure that a record 207 of the 253 features (that is 82 per cent) will be international or North American premieres. The number is an increase of 9 per cent over last year, which was a record of sorts. All in all, 328 films from 61 countries, (again an increase of six from last year) will be screened at the festival and almost 60 per cent of the features screen in a language other than English. Sixty eight features are directorial reinforcing the festival's image of providing a platform for new and emerging talent.
"What is wonderful and heartening is that most of the world premieres that have been granted to us come from returning directors and producers," says Cowan, who started out as a volunteer at the festival many years ago and was appointed co-director early this year.
The involvement of Toronto's movie-going audience (whom Cowan describes as "the most savvy, knowledgeable and appreciative in the world") has been a cornerstone of this festival and though TIFF is non-competitive, it does have a unique award: the People's choice award based on an audience vote, the only major festival to have one. The TIFF People's Choice award as festival organisers point out, are often an indicator of Academy Award nominations. Past winners that have won the Oscar include American Beauty, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Life is Beautiful. All of them had their North American premiere at Toronto.
This year, for the first time the TIFF held a public Press conference at Toronto's Nathan Philips Square where members of the public mingled with the Press to hear the organisers unveil the movie marathon that is scheduled to take place here.
The festival will have its share of the star galaxy too. More than 400 stars and directors will be here, paralleling Cannes and Academy Awards adding spice and glamour. Among those that will grace the city with their presence include Sean Penn and Chalize Theron (winners respectively of this year's Best Actor and Best Actress Academy awards), Al Pacino, Joan Allen, Joan Rivers, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Nick Nolte, Sandra Bullock, Dustin Hoffman (who is a festival regular), Jamie Fox, Colin Firth, Martin Short and many others.
There is also an interesting line-up of directors who will be in attendance here. They include Kevin Spacey (who would appear in two avatars as director and actor), Gus Van Sant, Terry Gilliam, John Waters, Wim Wenders, Danny Boyle, Guy Maddin, Sydney Pollack, Alexander Payne, David O Russell, Istvan Szabo, Agnes Varda, John Waters and the list goes on.
An important character of the festival is that parallel to the film screenings that are accessed by the public there is the industry facet which comprises seminars and discussions for members of the film industry.
Talking about the festival's road map, Cowan says, "What started out as a beachhead for films from other festivals - a festival of festivals - has become one of the most successful cinematic events in the world. Boasting a public eager for the best in contemporary film, as well as international attention from media, distributors, producers, and buyers, along with a galaxy of stars, the Toronto International Film Festival is considered the premiere film festival in North America, and the number one public film festival in the world."
The reason for the festival's growing stature, he says is because, "We obviously did something right. People see us as an international festival of discovery, which is how we've always wanted to be seen. And our more traditional roles as the most significant launch platform for award-destined films and as the home of Canadian cinema also remains intact. We also remain proud of that." Cowan’s claim is not unjustified as the festival has over the years acquired a reputation for providing a platform as much to Canadian as global talent.
Films at TIFF are showcased under various categories such as Galas, Masters, Special Presentations, Planet Africa, Contemporary World Cinema, Visions, National Cinema Programme, Reel to Real and Dialogues: Talking with pictures.
Twenty films will be part of the big-ticket Gala presentations. These include Mike Baker's Good Woman starring Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Spacey's Beyond the Sea, (both world premieres), Oliver Hirshbiegel's Downfall, John Stephenson's Five Children and It, world premiere of Jean-Paul Salome's Arsene Lupin, international premiere of Carlo Mazzacurati's An Italian Romance, Mick Davis's Modigliani starring Andy Garcia that recounts the untold story of the bitter rivalry between Modigliani and Picasso and Bille August’s Return To Sender (both world premieres), Walter Salles' The Motorcycle diaries and Sir Richard Eyre's Stage Beauty.
The Masters line-up includes 21 films from 19 countries including renowned Indian Filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Chased by Dreams. Planet Africa includes six features and seven short films. It begins on September 13 with the North American premiere of Moolaade, the latest from novelist and filmmaker Ousmane Sembene. The film confronts female circumcision through the dramatic and moving tale of a mother who challenges the established order to protect her daughter. Special presentations has 31 films from 14 countries, 29 of which make their world, international or North American premieres.
Contemporary world cinema presents a mosaic of world cinema, showcasing premieres and prize-winners from international directors. A total of 58 features and one short film will be screened of which 51 are world, international or North American premieres from 37 countries. According to Cowan, highlights of this year's selection include Carols Sorriness Bonbon-El Perry, Frittered Fountain's La Fame Die Guiles, Report Digitalin's Mon. Peer Est. Engineer, Panel My Summer of Love, and Bahamian Gobbed's Turtles Can Fly.
TIFF Director, Piers Handling attended the first year as a public filmmaker and recalls, "You could tell right away that this was something that was going to catch on. The first programme was really quite amazing with films by Toques Rivet, Aim Lenders, and Alexander Clued. The seeds were definitely there." The first year included 127 feature films from 30 countries - all Canadian premieres - and welcomed nine guests including Dino de Laurentiis, Jeanne Moreau, and young directors Barbara Kopple and Paul Bartel.
By the Festival's 20th anniversary in 1995, the Toronto International Film Festival was widely regarded by the international community as the North American launch pad for both international independent films, and Hollywood studio productions. The number of films shown each year had grown to approximately 300, and the guest list that year totalled 357.
The Festival makes an enormous economic impact on the city of Toronto and the province of Ontario. An economic and cultural survey conducted by an independent consultants (The Strategic Counsel) reported that the economic impact of the Toronto International Film Festival Group in 2002 was $67 million, more than double the 1993 figure of $30 million dollars. In addition, $22.2 million was generated in documented film sales for a total of $89 million. This increase, say festival organisers, is a testament to the increasing popularity of the Group's programming initiatives. The 2002 figure includes $33 million in tourism. Handling says, "The Festival's success is directly tied to Toronto. The city is very welcoming for guests, the audiences are informed, and have an insatiable appetite for first-rate programming. They crowd the cinemas from nine in the morning until well after midnight, and the filmmakers love them for it."
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