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31st Toronto International Film Festival 2006
Too Commercial???
Articles & Photos (except last one) G.C. Eyre © 2006 All Rights Reserved
The 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival was held September 7 - 16, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario. TIFF not only showed 352 films from 61 countries -
it was organized into many programmes including Canadian Programming, Indie Film Lounge, Real to Reel, Dialogues: Talking with Pictures, African and Common Wealth Programmes (formerly Planet Africa but now spread throughout the other programmes), Midnight Madness as well as other programmes such as contemporary world cinema. Due to the timing of the Oscar awards which had been moved up a month, the Toronto International Film Festival is seen by Hollywood as an ideal launching pad for Oscar contenders which will increase revenue for cash starved Hollywood Producers. Product placements such as the 20 second placement of Tampax into the movie, Citizen Duane concerns TorontoArtsandEvents as advertising works its way into the script of the movie. Although we understand the economic pressures of film makers, we believe that product placement will turn off younger generations and have a negative effect on the quality of films. We encourage our readers to count product placements in films! Although TIFF shows many films that are not commercial, its seems much of the media attention is on major Hollywood films and their stars and hence the festival may be too commercial.
"Launched in September 2002 by Programming Manager Kirk Cooper, the Indie Film Lounge was conceived as a two-day symposium to open doors for emerging film makers from our many ethnic communities, while introducing them to established members of the Canadian and international film community" [2005 Indie Film Lounge guide] The Indie Film Lounge was launched with an elegant reception and IFL brunches in Yorkville.
The industry sections consists of services and programmes for the assistance and development of film makers and to provide opportunities for film makers to develop and promote their projects. The public section consists of a parallel schedule separate from the media and industry screening for the public to purchase tickets.
Although not as exciting and wild as those in Cannes, TIFF does have vibrant parties to network and to celebrate the films. More business may now be done at TIFF than any other film festival in the world!! Although it is possible to purchases tickets for the closing parties and some of the more expensive Patron programs include tickets to the opening and closing parties, most of the parties are private and by private invitation only - meaning it's who you know not how deserving you are for attending the parties and there are various sections of VIP - if you purchase a ticket don't expect to be chatting quietly over a glass of wine with your favorite Hollywood star! The opening party was at the Liberty Grand after the film, The Journal of Knud Rasmussen and the closing parties was held at Toronto's rather dull 55 John Street after the film, Amazing Grace. The Italian Trade Commission held its reception to celebrate Italian films at Toronto's historical Union Station which in our view is a new and great venue for events of these kinds.
As is tradition, TIFF opened with a Canadian film, The Journal of Knud Rasmussen (a joint Danish . Canadian production ) which told the story of Danish explores contact with Inuit from the point of view of the Inuit. While TorontoArtsandEvents agrees that this was a great film - it was slow moving for an opener for jet lagging international guests, many of whom slept through half of this film. Our recommendation: see this film on DVD! The closing night gala was the film, Amazing Grace which told the story of the British Parliamentarian, William Wilberforce who led the abolitionists in their crusade to end the slave trade in early 1800's England. Michael Apted's film is lush with period detail, the acting is superb and this was a fast moving film to end the festival! Our recommendation: see this film at the theatre.
The Harold Greenberg Fund held a reception for its 20th anniversary during TIFF. According to the fund, it was established in 1986 by Astral Media and has invested an estimated $ 48.9 million in film and TV projects to date and 2,327 projects have been financed by the English and French funds. At each quarterly session of the fund, approximately $200,000 is invested on scripts and additional amounts are spent on training, family projects and story options. This reception attracted the true VIP of Toronto's entertainment industry! Film makers are encouraged to apply.
The 2nd Annual POV: Presenting Our Vision Film Camp Celebration was held at the State Theatre to raise funds for this important program for inner-city youth. The camp program launches Summer 2007! This is the first such camp of its kind in Canada and is a Serve! project in partnership with macIDeas. The event consisted of the VIP reception, Supa-star kissing Booth, silent auction and other camp games, along with entertainment from DLM Hip-Hop dancers, Flirty Girl pole dancers, Jarvis Church, Elastocitizens phenomenal funk-band and DJ George Chaker
The 31st Toronto International Film Festival ended with the Awards Reception at the luxurious Hilton Hotel Toronto. And the winners are:
Honourable Mentions: first runner-up: Patrice Leconte's MON MEILLEUR AMI (France)
second runner-up: Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's DIXIE CHICKS: SHUT UP AND SING (USA).
Honourable mention: Reg Harkema's MONKEY WARFARE.
With the best recent films from Canada and around the globe, - this is the film festival in North America and perhaps it has now surpassed Cannes! How many of the films shown here will win Oscars? How will the independent films do? How many deals were struck? Check back here in September 2007 for the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival 2007!
Pakak Innukshuk, Star of Opening Night Gala, The Journals of the Knud Rasmussen @ Opening Party
Jane Ip @ TIFF Directors Bag Launch
Hussain Amarshi, President, Mongrel Media and Tonya Lee Williams, TV Star @ the Harold Greenberg Fund 20th
Andrea Bureau, Chairman, Astral Media & Mrs. & Mr. Ian Greenberg, President & CEO @ Harold Greenberg Fund 20th
A Friend, Actors Danny Glover and Tonya Lee Williams @ Reelworld Indie Film Lounge 2006 Launch
Miss India Canada 2006 at Reelworld Indie Film Lounge 2006 Launch
Jane Ip ( Pink Bedroom - see upcoming events) @ Closing Party
New Characters @ Christal Films Party
Ambrose Roche, Decade Distributors, Famed Film Director Albert Maysles & Joomee Park
Bon Cop Bad Cop Actor, Patrick Huard @ POV Party
Actor @ POV Party
People's Choice Award, Bella
People's Choice Award, Bella
People's Choice Award, Bella
Monkey Warfare @ Awards
Italian film director Nanni Moretti celebrates at Union Station
Photographer Credit: Paul Perrier © Italian Trade Commission 2006 All Rights Reserved