32nd Toronto International Film Festival 2007

Too Commercial???

The 32nd annual Toronto International Film Festival was held September 6 to 15, 2007 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 a 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 32nd Toronto International Film Festival ended with the Awards Reception at the luxurious Royal York Hotel in Toronto. And the winners are:

SWAROVSKI CULTURAL INNOVATION AWARD: Encarnacion, Anahi Berneri

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: Eastern Provinces, David Cronenberg

DIESEL DISCOVERY AWARD: Cochochi, Israel Cardenas and Laura Amelia Guzman

PRIZE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRITICS (FIPRESCI PRIZE): La Zona, Rodrigo Pia

CITYTV AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM: Continental, Un Film Sans Fusil, Stephane LaLfeur

TORONTO-CITY AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM: My Winnipeg, Guy Maddin

SHORT CUTS CANADA AWARD: Pool, Chris Chong Fui. The Awards Reception was generously sponsored by the Royal York Hotel.

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 2008 for the 33rd Toronto International Film Festival 2008!