TIFF 2009: Movies, People and Movie-People!

(This post can also be found on Mondo Magazine)

I love TIFF. First and foremost, I love the films. They’re the reason I give up my precious 8 hours of sleep a night and balance a 40-hour work week with 15+ movies on average. Movies are the reason I run solely on trail mix, granola bars, and fast food for ten malnourished days. The tabloid-driven gossip-lover in me adores the red carpet glamour and celebrities at film premieres. I’ll even show up at a premiere with other fans to get a glimpse of my favourite actors, but more than that, I love the people. People who love movies.

Not the media and industry types, but regular Joes who line up, excited to see film premieres and movies that may never get a wide release. Torontonians, whom for the rest of the year I ignore in public and scowl at on the TTC, are suddenly my closest friends, united by TIFF. These people are my fellow movie-goers, waiting in line and sitting next to me in crowded theatres, that I end up striking up a conversation with. And it’s not just the people of Toronto whom I trade stories with, but also those who have travelled from near and far — from the world beyond the GTA, Ontario, and even Canada. These people become my best friends for ten days. We may not exchange names or intimate details of our lives, but we exchange thoughts, opinions, and reviews on TIFF films.

Waiting in line isn’t so bad when you have someone to chat with. Like many others, I usually fly solo during TIFF, not so much by choice as by necessity. There are simply too many movies that I want to see to try coordinating with friends whose tastes greatly differ. It becomes like a long-lost reunion on those off chances that we do happen to meet up at a screening. My real-life friends are replaced by my friends in line. I’m normally not a chatty person (especially with strangers since I shun small talk) but I love talking TIFF with my fellow line-goers.


Gyllenhaal needs the jacket. His eyes are that cold.
Film buffs are never one to shy away from an opinion, and are even more vocal during TIFF. By opening up my ears in line, I’ve heard about films that I wouldn’t have given a second glance that have now become must-see. When the film talk runs out, it’s all about where to eat, the fastest route between theatres, and the best books to pass the time in line. TIFF gossip is also productive. Tune in and you will learn which celebrities are overly generous with their time on the red carpet and like to take pictures with fans (Eva Mendes and Eric Bana) and those who will barely acknowledge the gaggle of fans politely calling their name (Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Affleck are forever in my bad books).

It’s easy to suddenly find yourself in the middle of a raging film discussion since, when at TIFF, there is no such thing as a “private conversation.” Flipping through your TIFF schedule? Guaranteed your seat-neighbour is checking out your schedule and ready to offer an opinion. I have had someone literally reach over my seat from behind, point to a film, and tell me that “whatever you do, see this film!” And for the most part I value their opinions, because otherwise I wouldn’t have seen movies like The Hurt Locker and may have wasted my time with Married Life instead.

So when you find yourself killing time in a TIFF line, or in any number of Toronto’s film festival queues, nudge the person in front of you and ask how their festival is going, because you just might meet your new best friend for the next five minutes or find your new favourite film.