Jewison reappeared at odd intervals over the course of the event, his evangelical command of the crowd (which numbered into the thousands) reminding me, if for no other reason than this film's DVD is fresh in my memory, of Haven Hamilton's showmanship in Nashville. He means what he says, and few other Canadian filmmakers, if any, have lobbied so tirelessly for the national support of their industry.

Notable celebs (like Jeremy Piven and Samantha Mathis, to name two glimpsed in the media swarm) and fringe players (the cast and crew of Low Self Esteem Girl) alike attended the BBQ. Mingling was encouraged but not strictly enforced. Now and again, Pierre "Pete" Branconnier (amusingly, the winner of pricey women's apparel in the CFC's mid-afternoon draw), Chris Currie and I migrated from literally cool spot to literally cool spot, encountering several folks we knew as classmates or co-workers now making names for themselves in the business. Which attested to the intimacy between the needles of this particular haystack, the familial microcosm that is "Hollywood North"; the phrase "small world" could invariably be heard uttered throughout, between non-ironic adulations.

The best part: everybody smelled good. Co-sponsor Calvin Klein made damn sure nobody left empty-handed of a popular cologne or perfume.

*Source: http://www.cdnfilmcentre.com/