Thoughts on TIFF Day 1 & 2

Goro Miyazaki after the premiere of FROM UP ON POPPY HILL

I’ve been easing into things so far with TIFF 2011: one screening on day one, followed by a pair on day two. But today, my friends, the training wheels come off. Day three comes with four screenings on tap – plus a little extracurricular activity in the middle to make things even more interesting.

We’re running the gamut today gang – a doc, a mainstream film, an animated piece and a thriller. It all begins at 11 this morning and I won’t be home until sometime close to 2 am. It’s all part of the fun, believe me, and if nothing else, a light schedule on Monday will help me regain my composure.

Free little do-dad given out to URBANIZED ticketholders.

One little switch this year – for me anyway – is the use of Twitter. It’s been an odd presence for me as a festival-goer. Funny thing, I actually remember wondering to myself in 2003 how anyone was ever able to rally up with fellow patrons before the age of cellular phones. Now I’d wager there are people who wouldn’t be able to find each other if not for their Twitter feeds.

But what truly interests me about it is the overload of activity – both in small bits and in one place. Minute after minute, someone I know is chiming in about another title, and another title, and another title. Keeping my blinders on and making my own mind up will be pretty darned tricky to say the least this year. But Twitter has been pretty handy to read about happenings…things like the standing ovation for Herzog, or the perils of trying to navigate the P&I end of the festival.

Gary Hustwit introduces URBANIZED

But by far, the biggest difference this year as compared to the previous ten festivals I’ve attended is the sheer volume of people I know taking it all in. In past years, I’ve mostly gone with the odd friend here and there, Lindsay of course, and little brother Shane. Last year, things took a turn as it was the first year I was able to rally up with all those fellow film bloggers I’d met. This meant that for 75% of my slate, I had company.

This year, it feels like every screening I’m attending I gather up with at least one other person – sometimes clusters of three, fours, or fives. What’s more, is that the people I know introduce me to more people, and I end up seeing films with them! Craziness I tell you.

Note: All Photos in This Post Taken by Yours Truly.