TIFF unspools 35th anniversary edition
Last Updated: Thursday, September 9, 2010 | 5:24 PM ET
CBC News
The red carpet is pulled into place at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Wednesday, as final preparations are made for Thursday's opening gala at the Toronto International Film Festival. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)A celebratory atmosphere surrounds this year's Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off its 35th annual edition Thursday with "one of the strongest lineups we've had in years," says co-director Cameron Bailey.
In addition to a varied and anticipated menu of more than 300 films — feature-length and shorts from more than 60 countries — will unspool over the festival's expanded, 11-day run.
"The hard part of the work is done," Bailey told CBC News. "We're just anxious for it to begin.
Clint Eastwood (Hereafter), Ken Loach (Route Irish), Mike Leigh (Another Year), Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams) and Danny Boyle (127 Hours) are among the celebrated filmmakers bringing their latest to Toronto.
Meanwhile a veritable pantheon of celebrities from the worlds of film, music, sports and activism will also descend on the city, including Nicole Kidman, Bruce Springsteen, Rinko Kikuchi, Freida Pinto, Steve Nash, Marion Cotillard and Javier Bardem.
'We are not just about high brow. We're a festival for everybody. There is always a film you can relate to in our line-up.'—Cameron Bailey
The opening night film, the unabashedly Canadian Score: A Hockey Musical, is one of 30 homegrown movies to land a coveted spot at TIFF.
Tapping Score for its high profile gala opening on Thursday evening has sparked debate, but Bailey defended the musical-romance.
"This is a film every Canadian can embrace," he said, describing the movie as "like Glee, but on a hockey rink."
"We are not just about high brow. We're a festival for everybody. There is always a film you can relate to in our lineup. This is a film that we think has a great, celebratory mood that fits with the spirit of this year’s event and has a great Canadian filmmaker [Michael McGowan]."
Organizers of the annual cinematic showcase — which has blossomed from the original grassroots Festival of Festivals into today's extravaganza of new domestic and international films — are also toasting the opening of its newly built, year-round home, TIFF Bell Lightbox.
The new facility, designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, sits in downtown Toronto's entertainment district and will officially open on Sunday with a block party, free screenings and exhibitions as well as a few concerts and other performances.
The 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 9-19.
