Introduction

TIFF [2000]

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. After largely ho-hum summer servings (too many leftovers), the TIFF 2000 satisfied all of the major food groups of my celluloid diet, and of course, left me starved for more.

I've come to expect nothing less from the 10 day cinematic blitzkrieg that began in 1976 as the "Festival Of Festivals" (literally, a collection of movies from other festivals), and has grown quietly to become THE world-class celebration of new cinema, eclipsed only by the opulent bacchanalia at Cannes. Unlike its more elitist competition, the non-competitive TIFF has remained accessible to the public and pros equally, allowing a casual moviegoer to share a row with John Hurt (as I did, at Bernard Rose' "Ivansxtc"), and forcing a household name like Roger Ebert to stand in line with the rest of us when he can't prove his media credentials (a true story, folks). Holding no grudge, Ebert has since deemed Toronto "more useful and more important" than the French le colosse.

TIFF ' 00 Facts · 329 films (253 features, 76 shorts) screened in total, representing 36 countries · 2500 industry honchos in attendance · I was one of 800 accredited media hacks · $6.1 billion budget (40% from corporate sponsors) · 250,000 thousand admissions over a handful of theatres, with films screening from as early as 8:30 am to as late as midnight · 26,706 minutes of movies in all, 445 hours, or 18.5 days of continuous movies · 1000 unpaid volunteers (some that go on to become filmmakers, like Don McKellar).

Sure, the "lottery process" for ticket selection is still unfair, I never fail to screw up the "yellow highlighter"/"green highlighter" process for filling out the selection book, the published running times are often inaccurate, and of course, that half hour delay that keeps you standing for an extra half hour on Cumberland Avenue always coincides with a downpour of Biblical proportions. But why gripe, when such minor inconveniences provide the rare opportunity to converse with neighboring film buffs outside of a chat room? While awaiting admission to "Pollock", I conversed with a visiting film buff from British Columbia on Fellini's use of MOS audio, and convinced her of the merits of "The Blair Witch Project" (I think).

Hollywood looks to Toronto

Toronto audiences have become renowned internationally as "cinematically literate", that is, diverse in tastes and adventurous in subject matter. Thus, the TIFF has become a favorite Hollywood barometer for the Next Big Thing, especially those out of left field. Insiders believe that the risky "American Beauty" was prepped for its Oscar® coming-out-party here, having been programmed as a prestigious gala, and then winning the audience-chosen "People's Choice Award" (repeating the pattern of 1980's "Chariots Of Fire").The local buzz this year pegged Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous" and Rod Lurie's "The Contender" (both Galas) as front-running Oscar® hopefuls, although those finicky, unpredictable Toronto audiences cheered loudest for a whimsical sword and sandals fantasy set in imperial China.

I'd like to think my sampling of this year's Festival fare reflects that eclectic sensibility, although you'll have to forgive me for indulging in my usual macabre tastes. I certainly didn't have to look very hard, because if TIFF 2000's vast array of features showed me anything, it's that the malignant spirit of Midnight Madness has crept into the mainstream, leaving what's left of the "cutting edge" in a desperate panic to shock and offend. After all, what could be stranger than Dan Aykroyd and Gillian Anderson in a Terence Davies film, or Joel Schumacher praising the virtues of Von Triers' "Dogma" manifesto? Keep reading, for all will be revealed...

[25th Anniversary Special Events]

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Features:Intro 25th AnniversaryPreludesSpecial Presentations World Cinema Perspective Canada Gala Presentations Midnight Madness Award Winners