Toronto International Film Festival [2000]

Behind the Scenes

Intro. Once More, With Feeling "Your humble narrator's annual "Ludovico Treatment", a.k.a. the 25th anniversary edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, began with a senseless but senses-shattering hail of bullets, peaked with a punishing digital journey through the horrors of addiction, and ended with a poignant celebration of some of history's most important and indelible images. " [Read the full article] 25th Anniversary Special Events "In honour of the fest's silver anniversary, and inaugural 21st century showcase, Festival Director Piers Handling conceived several special celebratory programs. The first was a free public screening of Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 Russian epic "Alexander Nevsky", accompanied by a live-to-picture performance of Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky Cantata"" [Read the full article] Preludes "With the unique "Preludes" programme, Handling commissioned ten of Canada's most distinctive filmmakers--including Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, David Cronenberg and Patricia Rozema--to create an original five-minute short on just about anything they pleased. " [Read the full article] Special Presentations "TIFF 2000's "Special Presentation" line-up featured 22 features, including 17 world and North American premieres. Essentially a showcase for slightly offbeat American fare of the "non blockbuster" variety, the series offers familiar personalities experimenting on both sides of the lens." [Read the full article] Contemporary World Cinema "Contemporary World Cinema" embodies the very essence of the Toronto International Film Festival's unique character, screening films from every corner of the world... In short, this is the programme where you'll find that three-hour Tibetan yak herding allegory. As expected, I sought out the sicker thrills instead." [Read the full article] Perspective Canada "The most important showcase for Canadian cinema in the world screened premieres of new homegrown features, documentaries, and shorts. Dark relationship dramas dominated the 2000 programme" [Read the full article] Gala Presentations "Sticking to now-ancient 20th century tradition, the "Gala" series launched the Festival with a new feature from a prominent Canadian filmmaker. Quebec-based writer/director Deny Arcand" [Read the full article] Midnight Madness "Now in its twelfth year, TIFF's "Midnight Madness" has been your humble narrator's favorite after dark club. It was during the witching hours at the Bloor repertory cinema that I discovered Peter Jackson, Michel Soavi, adult anime, and met Dario Argento for the first of many times." [Read the full article] Award Winners " I won't tell you how I voted, but suffice to say, I was more than pleased with the People's Choice announcement <g>." [Read the full article]

Reports by RobertL