Hello Dayton937!
It’s been 4 years since I’ve made the trip to Toronto for TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival), and my soul has truly missed it. I know that this year will be very different. Not only has COVID changed how festivals work, the ongoing writer & actor strikes will also likely change the energy at this year’s festival. Regardless, I’m anxious to go and submerge myself in multiple screenings of international cinema for 9 days.
The illuminated sign on King Street West indicates the start of the festival!
I’m feeling a little out of practice, but I hope to update you every day with details about the films I’m seeing, the Q&A’s I’m observing and the glitterati I’m spotting. I’m not sure how many parties will be happening this year, but I hope to pop in on a couple.
For industry folks, the fest works a little different. I will have an opportunity to see 10 films with the general public. These are the screenings where directors, producers and stars might walk the Red Carpet and be interviewed for television. When people think “glamorous film festivals,” these are the screenings that come to mind. That said, the majority of the films I screen will be in multiplex settings with other press and industry folks. I might get sandwiched between an international sales agent on one side and someone writing for HOLLYWOOD REPORTER on the other. It’s fun to rub elbows with a variety of people who make this industry tick.
Maya Hawke as Flannery O’Connor in WILDCAT
I already have a handful of tickets to screenings and events. In addition to the premiere of NORTH STAR on Opening Night (the directorial debut of Kristin Scott Thomas – starring Scarlett Johansson), Taika Waititi’s latest NEXT GOAL WINS and the anticipated feature WILDCAT (directed by Ethan Hawke and produced by Dayton’s own Karri O’Reilly), I’m so delighted that I scored a ticket to IN CONVERSATION WITH PEDRO ALMODOVAR – a sit down interview (Charlie Rose-style – but in front of an audience) with my favorite filmmaker of all time!
I’ll try to stay on top of updating this blog on a daily basis after my first day of movie watching. (Screenings start on Sept. 7 – and I’ll have a full day!) I’ll screen films through the 15th and head back to Dayton on the 16th.
Thanks for reading.
More soon,
Jonathan
