By CJ Ramsaran
In the City of Toronto, the month of September not only marks the unofficial end to summer and back-to-school; it also marks the unofficial beginning of the Toronto International Film Festival, more affectionately known as TIFF!
There is no denial the City goes through an overall transformation, giving new meaning to the term Hollywood North. The air is filled with buzz and bravado of the red carpet; satisfaction in securing that much coveted spot for celebrity watching; the chance to meet those same celebrities and filmmakers; ample photo ops; exclusive screenings for film lovers; and of course a platform for industry professionals to come together as one.
My dear friends, welcome to Toronto and welcome to TIFF!
No matter your taste in film, there is bound to be something for every viewer and audience - documentaries, thrillers, love and romance, live cinema, silent film – you name it, it is included in this year’s offerings. Be sure to make your selections and ticket purchases from the onset, or you are sure to be disappointed. Reports indicate tickets are moving very quickly, with many screenings are already sold out.
The ten day festival promises appearances from some of the most renowned actors and actresses including: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Clive Owen, Gerard Butler; Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Rachael Weisz , Ryan Gosling, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, and many more.
Filmmakers taking centre stage with their world premiers include: Davis Guggenheim, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Agnieszka Holland, Guy Maddin, Luc Besson, Bill Duke, Oren Moverman, Malgoska Szumowska, Bennett Miller, Darrell Roodt, Sarah Polley, Jessica Yu, Michael Winterbottom and Werner Herzog. Countless others will also be in attendance.
Like many star-studded events, TIFF wouldn’t be complete without everyone partying like rock stars in the presence of U2, Pearl Jam, and Neil Young. Harry Connick JR, Lupe Fiasco, Melanie Fiona, and Kardinal Official will also be in town performing at special musical events September 9th and 10th in support of OneXOne Foundation – a registered charity committed to supporting, preserving, and improving the lives of children.
2011 marks the 36th anniversary of the festival. Festival organizers continue to out-do themselves. Each year, baring witness to more pageantry and pomp and circumstance than the last.
As originally called in 1976, TIFF truly is “The Festival of Festivals”.
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ABOUT
CJ Ramsaran is a Toronto-based Freelance Writer, Publicist, Communications Specialist, and the founder of CJ & CO – Creative Writing & Design. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Women Entrepreneur, Fox Business, The Media Huddle, various Corporate Publications, and she is also the author of the CJ & CO Blog. CJ has a profound passion for the written word, and believes that writing is an art which should inspire, and be inspired…
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