Another Turn of the Wheel

As we approach the end of a long, hot summer, we're presently simultaneously with the release of films that were shown at last year's TIFF ("Soul Kitchen" opened last weekend, a feel-good film from 2009) and the catalogue for this year.

I picked up the 2010 edition this morning and have been through it once to generate my traditional "long list" of possible titles for viewing. At this point, I've whittled down the 300-odd films to something like 100+. Next stage is to contemplate calendars for each of the 11 days of the festival to generate a reasonable schedule (so far, I've got 2 of a possible 50 films slotted in).

What's new this year?

Well, for starters, the festival is 11 days long again. In olden times, the Sunday after the closing gala was reserved for films that were well-received by audiences. This year, they've programmed a full day's worth of films on the 19th.

The new home of the Toronto International Film Festival Group is poised to move into it's new home at King & John Streets on the 12th of September. The Bell Lightbox will be a permanent home for the Cinematheque as well as providing museum space, the Film Reference Library and restaurant space. Programming for the Lightbox for the fall is starting to come out and they've got some exciting events planned. I may be spending a few evenings down there.

With the opening of the Lightbox, the shift of centre of the TIFF universe moves further south. The Cumberland has dropped off the list of theatres on the programme. While the Cumberland has some pretty programming during the year, it's showing its age as a venue and I don't think will be missed by TIFF patrons. That leaves the Varsity as the sole remnant of the "classic" TIFF theatre line-up.

WRT the films this year, early impressions are that this is a year for many veteran directors who have found a willing host in TIFF, for example Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, Woody Allen, Francois Ozon, Takashi Miike and John Sayles. As my own schedule takes shape, other themes and trends may emerge. Stay tuned...