Hello Everyone,
My bags are mostly packed, a third draft of my “Must See” list has been deciphered from my scribbled notes, and I can hardly contain my excitement as I prepare to embark on my 13th Toronto International Film Festival.
Over the past several years of attending TIFF, I’ve seen almost everything I set out to see. I had a rhythm (which involved very little sleep), and I knew how early I needed to wake every morning in order to be one of the first dozen people in line (which helped to secure the really hot tickets). But this year, they’ve mixed it up. Instead of waiting in queue every day, I’ll have two small windows of opportunity to get on-line and request the tickets I desire for the entire festival…thus luck will have more to do with it than gumption. My fingers are crossed.
I’ll be keeping a daily log of all the films I see (and stars I encounter). Though I wish I could do all the festivals – like Berlin and Cannes and Sundance and NYFF and Telluride – I’m actually quite happy that TIFF is the one that fits so well with my schedule. I’ve loved going to the festival over the years, and I love being able to report my findings to all of you.
Here are a few films that I’m quite anxious to see:
SHAPE OF WATER – Sally Hawkins is divine. Here’s the trailer:
LEAN ON PETE – from the director of WEEKEND and 45 YEARS (and creator of HBO’s LOOKING). Here’s a clip:
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – from the director of I AM LOVE (one of my favorite films of the past decade). Here’s a trailer:
FACES AND PLACES – from the incomparable Agnes Varda and JR. (I’m pretty certain that JR. has been to Dayton!)
Stay tuned. I start screening movies Thursday morning!
Thanks for reading,
Jonathan
