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TIFF ‘08 Dates

Chief Technical Officer

Mar

2008

Tiff 08 The highlight of last year for me was heading out to Toronto to catch Toronto After Dark. This year I’m planning farther in advance and this means that I should be at the Toronto International Film Festival. I just noticed that they have updated their logo and it includes the dates now. If you have some free time in September I suggest heading out to Toronto and meeting up with some of us from Row Three. The Festival runs September 4th through to the 13th this year. Hopefully we’ll see you there.

49 response about TIFF ‘08 Dates »

Just picked up a second job today. This means I will likely be able to make it out there for this – YES!

Better call your aunt now

Comment by Andrew James — March 12, 2008
I’ll be passing on the TIFF love for some TAD love instead. VIFF runs at the end of September and it seems to be getting better as of late (either that or I’m getting better at picking films and maneuvering through the festival circuit). But I’ll be in town for TAD.

Plus, there are only so many trips one can make to TO.

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 12, 2008
I’m actually thinking I’ll do the Hostel thing this year. I’m hoping to do Airmiles for the flight and birthday present for the movie pass so all I’ll have to pay for is room and food.

As much fun as it was last year I’d have more fun crashing at the hostel like you do… and 13-14 days would be a bit to much of an imposition on a relative in my mind.

One other thing I’m hoping will happen at this festival is that we can meet up with everyone who reads Row Three plus also the other movie bloggers. Last year Filmspotting had a meet up at the festival. It would be fun to go meet Adam and Matty.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
Its too bad you won’t be able to make it out Marina but I’m sure you’ll have a good time at TAD. It was a blast last year and if I could figure out a way to have enough holidays and enough money I’d be doing both festivals.

The nice thing about TAD also was that my afternoons were all free. I think I saw a total of 7 or so movies away from the festival and I still had enough time to wander Younge street and Chinatown more than a few times.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
If someone promises to feed me, shelter me, and pay my travel expenses I’m totally there.

Comment by Matt Gamble — March 12, 2008
I’ve got a ratty blanket, a box of crackers and I’ll pay for walking expenses.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
I just might be in for a couple of these days. We’ll have to see, too early to plan for me.

Comment by Jonathan — March 12, 2008
Hostel for me too. We should probably book it now and get our own room. That would be cool. It’s still WAY cheaper than a Hotel and we wouldn’t have to worry about other people messing with out shit.

The best Hostel in the area:
Canadian backpackers Inn.

I also plan on sitting in Kurt’s home theater at least one night.

Comment by Andrew James — March 12, 2008
Anyone else is willing to go in on it with us of course. Just watch out so no one puts a mickey in your drink and you wake up chained to a steel chair and someone cutting out your eye ball with a wire hanger or taking your knee caps off with a skill saw.

Comment by Andrew James — March 12, 2008
Yeah, The hostel costs between $27 and $30 a night for the cheap rooms. $75 for the Double and $65 for a single private. Its a couple bucks off if you get the Internet/Discount rate.

Its really nice and cheap and every morning is free pancakes.

…. I’ve never stayed in a hostel before so I’m actually looking forward to the steel chair bit. I’m really curious to see how realistic the movie actually was.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
I’m so there! Okay, I already live in Toronto, so I guess it’s kinda easy for me…

If anybody needs tourist info, hotels/hostels, maps, directions, restaurant recommendations, TIFF insider info (I know a lot of the staff and have volunteered myself for six years), I’m your girl!

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to the titles or ticket pre-sales. Oh how I wish I did!

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
Alright. The Hostel reference was somewhat unnecessary.

Lets just hope hubby doesn’t see that. He’ll start to worry before I even start planning the trip!

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 12, 2008
I was under the assumption that Canadian Hostels were a bit more American friendly then their European counterparts.

You know, they say please and thank you before they cut your genitals off.

Comment by Matt Gamble — March 12, 2008
Hahaha, I assure you Marina, no hostels like that in T.O. And I resent that anti-Toronto comment you made earlier. LOL!

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
@Ashley – How does Volunteering work?

From reading the TIFFG site they are just now receiving entries so I imagine it will be a while before anything is fully announced.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
Oh and Andrew we need to hit that same restaurant again this year. The steak was so good and you can try to pick up the waitress.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
Oh yes. Forgot about her. The Monica Bellucci looking chick. I don’t think the wife will mind since, again… different country. Let alone a different zip code.

Seriously – that Hostel is pretty decent. Clean rooms, free internet hook-ups, friendly people and yes, free pancakes every morning.

So if we start planning now, maybe we can get a few people together and all stay in the same room.

And Marina – we’ll see financially, but I’d love to make both TAD and TIFF. As of right now, that’s my plan. TAD is relatively cheap – especially now that I understand the transit system and I won’t be buying any DVDs. Just food and drink.

Comment by Andrew James — March 12, 2008
@ John

Volunteering is great! They have “recruitment sessions” in July and August, where you learn all the positions available, and can sign up for shifts. If you’re from out of town (SK, right?), you can probably submit a resume via email and ask for shifts that way. Most volunteering opportunities during the festival involve crowd management outside theatres, making sure people get in the correct lines (ticketholders vs. Rush, and for the right film, etc.), answering general questions, ripping tickets, that sort of thing. It’s pretty easy work.

For every 4-hour shift, you get a voucher for a free movie. Depending on the theatre you’re at, how busy it is, and who you’re working with, you may also get to see screenings while you volunteer, but this isn’t guaranteed (it’s more likely at smaller venues like R.O.M.).

You can sign up for the TIFF year-round newsletter and get more information here:
http://www.tiffg.ca/content/getinvolved/volunteerinfo.aspx

They usually announce the opening night film first, around the beginning of July, then they slowly announce a few a week all summer. The full list should be released this year on August 19 (it’s always the second-last Tuesday of the month), and the complete schedule August 26. Mark your calendars!

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
Which restaurant was Monica Belluci working at??? And don’t forget to mention that hostel, the Canadian Backpackers, is literally around the corner from one of TIFF’s main venues — ScotiaBank, formerly Paramount, affectionately known to TIFF staff as ParaScotia.

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
The TIFF volunteering bit sounds like that of VIFF. The reason I haven’t bothered is that between school, work, podcasting, travel time, sleeping and god knows what else, I just don’t have time to volunteer (plus they expect volunteers to work through the year to get the better jobs and I’m not into that).

All that said, still love me VIFF!

Ant the knock at TO isn’t anything personal. Just a friendly reminder that the Westcoast exists!

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 12, 2008
I was actually considering VIFF but since I knew Andrew was trying to go, Kurt should be going, plus it will be good to run into Mack, Todd and Serena and others that I met last year.

I think next year I might look at VIFF. I’ve also started to wonder why I don’t go to the Calgary or Edmonton film festivals.

Comment by John Allison — March 12, 2008
What? Canada has a west coast??? LOL! I promise I’ll get to Vancouver one day. You have a nice airport!

Yeah, the year-round volunteering is time consuming. I was trying to get into an event management career for awhile, and TIFF was impossible to deal with, I couldn’t even get an unpaid internship with them. But the during-the-festival shifts are still kinda fun, and totally worth it for a few free movies!

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
TIFF Dates already booked off here, actually starting to work on the festival dates here in T.O. and oh my it’s a gonna be busy.

It would be totally cool to do a meet up! (and/or crash Filmspotting – I missed it last time… was in a screening).

I think with volunteering you have to commit to a minimum # of shifts, 4 perhaps? I’m not entirely sure as I never volunteered but that was the impression I got when I was working there.

And Marina – so cool that you’ll be here for Toronto After Dark! I keep checking their site for dates. Last year was a blast.

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — March 12, 2008
They encourage you to volunteer for at least four shifts, but you don’t absolutely have to. As incentive, they only guarantee t-shirts and invitiations to the volunteer party to those who sign up for four shifts. However, I found a loophole a few years ago. I signed up for four and picked up my t-shirt, then when the schedule came out and my shifts conflicted with several movies I wanted to see, I cancelled three of my shifts. They didn’t ask for the t-shirt back, but I wasn’t invited to the party. Big loss, it’s not much of a party anyway. Shhhhh!!

Comment by Ashley Townsend — March 12, 2008
I’m applying for Press Cred again this year, which makes my TIFF viewing schedule a bit weird (I like the public screenings a lot better, but you can’t beat the access (as in walk in 10 minutes before the show) of a press pass.

Anyone (on the writing staff anyway) that is flying in, I live 10 minutes from the airport, and we like feeding guests, so let us know your arrival dates when you book flights.

Also, it’s highly possible that I can help with the ‘lotto’ process of getting advance tickets and you can avoid the expensive ‘remote’ fee (it’s like $150 or something insane)

TIFF is an unbelievable blast, so many folks attend the thing, it’s insane. I’m coming up on my 10th festival, so I’m looking to celebrate BIG TIME!

Comment by Kurt — March 12, 2008
I’m going to apply for press cred as well, but I think I might also go to Midnight Madness series because that you can’t beat that atmosphere.

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — March 13, 2008
I’m also really looking forward to the Midnight Madness movies. My goal is to see something like 30-40 movies in the 10 days.

I’m going to take you up on the food and lottery Kurt.

Comment by John Allison — March 13, 2008
This should be my first thorough TIFF experience, where I actually take time off of work and saturate in the experience. 30 would probably be the max.

Comment by rot — March 13, 2008
Yea, I’m always at 8-10 of the Midnight Madness shows.
Usually at the Imperial Pub prior to those shows, a number of us have been gathering there for three years running and shooting the shit for about an hour before the midnite show.

Comment by Kurt — March 13, 2008
I shouldn’t have posted this… now I’m all pumped and its still 150 some days still away.

Comment by John Allison — March 13, 2008
I tucked in for around 42 films last year and that was fun but brutal! The other years I did fitted as many I could before/after working which was more in the 10-15 range. It’s a wild ride, I just wish the Ryerson wasn’t so cold!

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — March 13, 2008
John – VIFF may not be quite as high profile but it’s a manageable festival and feels really intimate…mostly because it doesn’t get as much coverage as some of the other big fests – but it covers an AMAZING amount of Asian cinema (mostly because of the huge Asian community in the LM).

Oi. Now I’m looking forward to festival season!

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 13, 2008
Yeah but you have to put up with rain.

The Asian movies would be one thing that I would really enjoy… probably even more than the North American movies. I need to be a millionaire. I would go to all the festivals.

Comment by John Allison — March 13, 2008
You get used to it after a while. Plus, it doesn’t rain here ALL the time!

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 13, 2008
Oh no, now The Crow soundtrack is going to be stuck in my head!

This is totally getting me into the festival spirit! I’m going to have to post about upcoming ones in T.O.!

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — March 13, 2008
I think it only rain on 3 of the 9days I was downtown at VIFF. Plus if you do go to VIFF you have a couple of ringers that can tell you all the tricks to squeezing the most out of the festival… Like don’t see any movie at Pacific Cinematique if you can all help it (the seats are a form of medieval torture), or… Only schedule movies at the “Ridge” at the beginning or very end of your day (transit to that theatre is a bee..atch)!

Comment by Colleeny — March 13, 2008
VIFF is also dirt cheap ticket wise. $7.00 for shows that start before 6pm, $9.00 far the prime time flicks.

Comment by Colleeny — March 13, 2008
We’re so going to have to prepare a surviving VIFF event closer to the date. Should be fun (plus a good opportunity to spread the word…)

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 13, 2008
The TIFF thread has been hijacked by VIFF!

Comment by rot — March 13, 2008
Go figure a thread at Row Three gets hijacked.

I could always hijack the thread with a discussion about the Yorkton, Saskatchewan film festival. If you don’t believe me do a search on Google. Its Canada’s longest running film festival.

Comment by John Allison — March 13, 2008
A Saskatchewan film festival? Cool! I was researching recently and found there is a film fest in the Yukon!

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — March 13, 2008
It’s not hijacking….it’s more like natural progression.

Comment by Marina Antunes — March 13, 2008
Woot, I just booked my Holidays today for TIFF.

Comment by John Allison — April 8, 2008
That’s a good reminder. I should do that. I was aiming to get to Fantasia again this year (Montreal) but it looks like that may not be happening. TIFF is always my most anticipated film event on the calender though.

Comment by Kurt — April 8, 2008
So exciting! It’s gets closer everyday.

Toronto After Dark just put up there dates as well: Oct 17-24/08. 8 days this year, fun fun!

Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — April 8, 2008
There will be a number of us there at TAD. Adam has always been kind to us…

Comment by Kurt — April 8, 2008
I wish I could afford two trips, and yeah it was very hard to decide to go to TIFF instead of TAD this year. Last year TAD was a blast. I was quite happy that it was my first real film festival that I went to.

At the time I was writing for my own Film Grotto site and it was pretty small but it still felt like Adam treated me like I had a big site and the movies (except for a couple) were a total blast.

Comment by John Allison — April 9, 2008
I am marking off the days till Tad. Haven’t been this excited for an event, since the first time I was going to burningman….

Comment by Colleeny — April 9, 2008
I’m just looking forward to a trip East! Not sure I can stay for the entire run but definitely be there for a few days!

Comment by Marina Antunes — April 9, 2008

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