Hello, FITI reader! Carsten here. I just wanted to let you know that on September 7 the 46th Toronto International Film Festival will launch, and this year I’ll be there.

I’ll be covering it as a film journalist, podcaster, broadcaster, and blogger, and I can tell you without fear of contradiction I’m psyched to be there, I’ve attended TIFF in the past, but this will be the first time covering it as a professional.

What a package they email you! It’s a huge collection of information, all designed to make you feel welcomed into the festival, and with it access to all kinds of resources. This is a level of engagement I’ve never seen before, and with a line-up of some of the year’s most anticipated films.

I just spent the better part of this weekend looking at the schedule of Press and Industry Screenings — which I can go and see any and all — and the Public Screenings, too, which I’ll have access to a limited number of passes to attend. It’s a cinema feast.

If you’d like to see all that’s on offer, here’s the TIFF website.

After 16 years of covering the FIN Atlantic Film Festival, I know this feeling well — that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to see everything you want to see. But take that feeling and increase it exponentially, with added workshops, performances, Midnight Madness screenings, and a Jason Reitman Live Read… it’s a little overwhelming.

Also a little overwhelming is the expense of staying in Toronto. I have a history in that town, and friends have kindly offered me spare bedrooms and couches. I’ve splurged for an AirBnB for a few days that I’ll be sharing with a friend. TIFF offered discounted room rates with partner hotels, but even those started at $400 a night, which seemed outrageous on the face of it. Unfortunately, what I’m realizing is that’s actually market value for hotel rooms in central Toronto these days.

The good news is I will be working. The fun part, seeing the movies, I’ll be sharing reviews with you here.

I’ve also started a Flaw In The Iris Instagram account to share daily photos and videos of what I’m seeing around town, as well to help promote new content on FITI. If you enjoy this blog and are on Insta, give me a follow here: https://www.instagram.com/flaw_in_the_iris/

In the days to come I’ll be sharing a list of films that I’ve got on my radar, and I’m sure it’ll be many more than I’ll actually get to see. Sigh.

 

Oh, and I haven’t forgotten that we’ve also arrived at festival season locally, too. The FIN Atlantic International Film Festival is also starting soon, from September 15th. Tickets go on sale Monday, and I’m hoping to be back in time to see at least some of what’s screening here.

You can go here for the full schedule of films.