It's only on paper that the Toronto Festival officially kicks off tomorrow.
In reality, for the last three weeks, there have been press screenings back-to-back;
in reality, most of those that attended the Montreal Festival segued directly
into Toronto: filmmakers from Latin America or Asia (who don't have a daily
flight back and forth) and filmgoers - press et al - who couldn't face
post-Labor Day madness in US airports and roads.
So luncheons, dinners, faux brunches and informal parties spring up almost
spontaneously. For the last two years, the quasi-official pre-opening pour
takes place at the Old Mill, on the edge of town.
A splendid place, that, and a landmark, run by the man who used to manage
the Sutton Place Hotel, the Festival's headquarters till last year. (It's
relocated to the Sheraton Hotel on Queen - not the wisest move: it's like
going from a cozy chateau to a super-mall).
Supposedly everyone is there - unfortunately not everyone is. True, this
is the Sponsors' Soiree, but the guest list has been so trimmed that whichever
way you turn, all you see is sponsors being corporate, whereas the miracle
of the Toronto Festival was, au contraire, its informal mixture of money
people and artists (filmmakers and programmers). "Is this a festival
gathering or a Wall Street meeting?" wondered a young kazillionnaire
- yes there is such a thing, Virginia, and this one had quite an Errol
Flynn-like dash.
Lets hope things improve when the Festival starts.
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