TIFF - explain the allure of it

[JamesDouglas]

TIFF is going on right now, but what's the big allure of it?

I looked online for tickets to movies and it's about $20 per film, for that $20 do the theatre chairs massage your butt? Or is that $20 really just to see a movie?

I know that all the big stars are in town, but do you just go there and wait in line for 8 hours to have a glimpse at them, or after the 8 hour line-up do you get to have sex with Sofia Vergara?

 

[Buick Mackane]

Zero allure, it's all disposable crap that no-one will care about in 2 years. If I saw a celebrity, I'd cross the road to avoid them.

 

[Don Draper]

Either you consider yourself a Cineast or you don't.

Salles, Tornatore, Jeunet, Del Toro, Wong Kar Wai are everyday words to you. If not, TIFF is not your oeuvre.

This is an international gathering for pundits who see film as the art form that it is, not as entertainment.

Just as you would pay $$$ to get into the Picasso exhibition at the AGO, or an aspiring chef would attend a cooking show/forum, the same appeal applies.

Clearly, JamesDouglas has no love for film as an Art Form. That's fine. The audience attending TIFF does and more so for films in any other language than English.

 

[fun-guy]

There's no allure, that's why I've never, or will ever, go. Highly over rated IMO.

 

[Don Draper]

There's no allure, that's why I've never, or will ever, go. Highly over rated IMO.

Good.

You're not the audience for it. That's precisely who TIFF doesn't want there. Please keep your word.

Thousands of people are counting on it.

 

[MattRoxx]

Yes it's around $20 but some of these movies will not be in theatres for weeks or months...or ever, in the case of some of the foreign films, docs and shorts.

There's also added value, interest and energy when watching a movie with an audience full of people who are into it for various reasons. And many of the movies are shown with the director in attendance, and a Q and A session afterwards.

There is some fun to be had, too, such as the Midnight Madness series. There's nothing quite like seeing a new horror movie at midnight in a theatre packed with knowledgeable and enthusiastic horror film fans.

 

[JamesDouglas]

Are any of the celebrity parties open to the public?

 

[Don Draper]

Are any of the celebrity parties open to the public?

Who cares?

It's not the Toronto Celebrity Party Festival.

It's the Toronto International Film Festival.

 

[Prophet]

Either you consider yourself a Cineast or you don't.

Come on Don. You must know it is spelled Cineaste. Try to keep up appearances.

 

[JamesDouglas]

Who cares?

It's not the Toronto Celebrity Party Festival.

It's the Toronto International Film Festival.

Look Don, I love movies just as much as the next person, but have no interest in the snobbery that comes along with the film festival and those that have a holier than thou attitude about films. A movie is meant to entertain, that's why I pay $12 every week to go to the theatre, but I don't see what the big allure is of paying $20 to see a movie in advance.

I care about the celebrity parties, not because I care about celebrities, but because I care about women. With celebrities comes ridiculously gorgeous women that flock to them in the hopes of becoming rich and famous, and I enjoy being in the company of ridiculously gorgeous women, hence my question.

 

[Toke]

Not trying to be a troll, but I also asked myself the OP's question.

Personally, I have no interest in it (aside from the extra work), nor the 'celebrities' that show up. I find it a gathering and celebration of something that is at above the highest 'needs' of Maslow's hierarchy; therefore it is the concern of people(s) who have many of their individual needs otherwise fulfilled and can dedicate thier time to somethng relatively 'unimportant'.

 

[Tangwhich]

Who cares?

Apparently he does, hence the question.

 

[afterhours]

Are any of the celebrity parties open to the public?

yeah, celebrities can't wait to come to Toronto to hang out with undesirables

 

[JamesDouglas]

yeah, celebrities can't wait to come to Toronto to hang out with undesirables

You mean celebrities aren't in awe of regular people in the way that regular people are in awe of them? Shocking.

 

[Toke]

I thought celebrities love riff raff, no?

If celebrity is defined by Brittany Spears, then yes they do. JK

 

[Don Draper]

Look Don, I love movies just as much as the next person, but have no interest in the snobbery that comes along with the film festival and those that have a holier than thou attitude about films. A movie is meant to entertain, that's why I pay $12 every week to go to the theatre, but I don't see what the big allure is of paying $20 to see a movie in advance.

I care about the celebrity parties, not because I care about celebrities, but because I care about women. With celebrities comes ridiculously gorgeous women that flock to them in the hopes of becoming rich and famous, and I enjoy being in the company of ridiculously gorgeous women, hence my question.

I also have no interest in the disinterested snobbery that comes along with TIFF. I have no time or patience for those that only want to cheaply enhance their low self esteem by saying that were at a some place with 'so and so' or saw whoever at whatever it was. These parasites have no place at any film festival since they're taking up the space a true film aficionado should have.

If a film entertains, that's a great thing. That is not it's prime mandate. A film should educate, enlighten and mostly: it should induce reflection. Whether it be social, cultural, racial or political, whatever theme it chooses. To say that a film should only 'entertain' is to put Cinema in a very small box. Other than travel, the most accessible way to experience another place, language or culture is through film. It's a truly great thing.

It's also a great thing to see an authentic, genuine World Class event happen in our city. Toronto wants to claim 'World Class' Status in many things that simply are not. Well, here is one occasion that truly is. It's homegrown and handmade. Torontonians should be very proud of a huge event that goes off every year without a hitch. No one gets hurt, no one gets robbed, people unite in a common love for film and get to see something of true artistic value to remember. The world watches us for 10 days every year and wish they were here. We are here. Good for us.

As per the women, you know I adore women as well.

I have no interest in the dumb tarts that think Santoro, Clooney or Kaneshiro will spot them and bed them therefore make them feel better about their already compromised self esteem. Those guys are already there with someone else.

I'd rather pay attention to the girl I'm attending with since we're both there to get a kick out of the film we're both going to see.

 

[fun-guy]

Good.

You're not the audience for it. That's precisely who TIFF doesn't want there. Please keep your word.

Thousands of people are counting on it.

You can sleep well, I am a man of my word.

 

[Butler1000]

The festival has several positive things about it.
It is a tourist attraction bringing in mucho dinaro
Due to toronto's diversity films and what many of the filmakers say it a savvy audience international films can be tested here. What may not work in North America will work in international markets.
Cannes and Venice are considered to be more "vacation" fests for the players. TIFF is where the deals get signed. A lot of them. It is also considered the Oscar Gateway. So it is taken more seriously.
The larger city means a bigger festival too.
It is a great showcase for our city as a place to make films.
It showcases the city internationally as a cosmopolitan tourist destination.

Quite simply it is by far a winner for its citizens even if your not a big film goer.

And ya, for some its their chance to see their favorite star live. Having worked Tiff for now this my 8th year I'm quite jaded about meeting the celebs. But just because it isn't a thrill for one doesn't take away for the thrill for another. If it brings joy, why denigrate it?

 

[Don Draper]

The festival has several positive things about it.
It is a tourist attraction bringing in mucho dinaro
Due to toronto's diversity films and what many of the filmakers say it a savvy audience international films can be tested here. What may not work in North America will work in international markets.
Cannes and Venice are considered to be more "vacation" fests for the players. TIFF is where the deals get signed. A lot of them. It is also considered the Oscar Gateway. So it is taken more seriously.
The larger city means a bigger festival too.
It is a great showcase for our city as a place to make films.
It showcases the city internationally as a cosmopolitan tourist destination.

Quite simply it is by far a winner for its citizens even if your not a big film goer.

And ya, for some its their chance to see their favorite star live. Having worked Tiff for now this my 8th year I'm quite jaded about meeting the celebs. But just because it isn't a thrill for one doesn't take away for the thrill for another. If it brings joy, why denigrate it?

[SIZE=+6]+1!!!![/SIZE]​

 

[JamesDouglas]

Don and Butler, those were some good responses, I have no rebuttals. It's nice to see some people who go to TIFF who are not celebrity obsessed snobs with low self esteems who like to name drop at every opportunity they get. I tip my hat off to you two gentlemen.