It's over.
When did it begin?
This year's Toronto International Film Festival deflated on the Tuesday, for obvious reasons, but I found it a subdued affair from the start. Maybe it was my commitment to the films themselves, the sidelines: no begging for PR-controlled interviews--no starfucking. I went in with my eyes pointed at the silver screen and my peripheral vision turned off; if that's not taking advantage of a press pass, I don't know what is. And in ten days, I didn't see a single film I despised.
At any rate, I didn't feel the scramble. A critic-friend told me yesterday that it was a ballroom blitz before the American tragedy occurred--he struggled to keep time like never before. But I don't buy it: I think licking stamps looks hairy compared to the post-attack limbo. The first few days of the Festival take patience and practice, and 2001 slammed to a stop, for all intents and purposes, instead of slowing down. It's all relative.
I suppose it is fortuitous that I was invited to the Opening party this year, which is unusual, and not the Closing bash, which was cancelled. I got to have my traditional hangover. I doubt, however, that whenever any of us reflects upon the 26th annual Toronto International Film Festival such words as "fortuitous" spring to mind first. Unspeakable horror happened to my neighbour America this week (click here to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund), and I only hope that my T.I.F.F. coverage, uncontrollably scant and unimportant though it is, will bring pleasure to those who seek it or need it.
Awards:
VOLKSWAGEN DISCOVERY AWARD:
CHICKEN RICE WAR
director: CheeK, Singapore
FIPRESCI AWARD:
INCH-ALLAH DIMANCHE
director: Yamina Benguigui, France
Special Mention: BE MY STAR by Valeska Grisebach (Austria/Germany)
Special Mention: KHALED by Asghar Massombagi (Canada)
NFB - JOHN SPOTTON AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM: FILM(DZAMA)
director: deco dawson, Canada
CITYTV AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM:
INERTIA
director: Sean Garrity, Canada
TORONTO - CITY AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM:
ATANARJUAT (THE FAST RUNNER)
director: Zacharias Kunuk, Canada
AGF PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:
LE FABULEUX DESTIN D'AMÉLIE POULAIN
director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, France (I missed it, dagnabbit! -Bill)
Runners Up:
2. MAYA Digvijay Singh, USA
3. MONSOON WEDDING Mira Nair, India
So longs:
It was a good year for the films themselves. To applicable publicists: hopefully next year's social climate will be more conducive to those interviews. Special thanks to Gabrielle, Philippe, Nobu, Debra G., Dana, Lloyd, Pete, et al. It's been (sur)real.
Good luck. -Bill Chambers
