TIFF18: Wrap-Up

The Toronto International Film Festival is always the type of event that you make it out to be. Some people come purely for the galas and stars, some people focus only on Midnight Madness, and some people try to do a mix. I would like to think that I fit in the latter category, even at least half the films I saw this year were either Midnight Madness or some other genre film. In fact, I broke my previous record of midnight screenings this year, by attending 7 out of 10 late night screenings. As I am writing this, I’m exhausted by a busy 11 days and I look forward to a well-deserved rest.

So, without further ado, here is my wrap-up of the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

Top Ten Favourite Films of TIFF18

1. 22 July (Special Presentations)
2. In Fabric (Midnight Madness)
3. Green Book (Gala Presentations)
4. Sharkwater: Extinction (Special Events)
5. Hold the Dark (Special Presentations)
6. Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (TIFF Docs)
7. The Man Who Feels No Pain (Midnight Madness)
8. Endzeit – Ever After (Discovery)
9. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (Midnight Madness)
10. Non-Fiction (Special Presentations)
    

Top Five Midnight Madness Films

1. In Fabric
2. The Man Who Feels No Pain
3. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek 
4. Assassination Nation
5. Diamantino

Top Three Canadian Films

1. Sharkwater: Extinction (Special Events)
2. The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (Special Presentations)
3. Freaks (Discovery)

Vanguard Memorial Top Three Non-Midnight Madness Genre Films

1. Hold the Dark (Special Presentations)
2. Endzeit – Ever After (Discovery)
3. Folklore: A Mother’s Love & Pob (Primetime)

Top Three Special Presentations

1. 22 July 
2. Hold the Dark
3. Hold the Dark

Top Three TIFF Docs

1. Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema
2. The Truth About Killer Robots
3. Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz

Honorable Mentions

• Teen Spirit (Special Presentations)

Least Favourite Films

• Jessica Forver (Platform)
• Climax (Midnight Madness)

Films I Wish I Saw

• The Wind (Midnight Madness)

Number of Films Seen

• 25 Feature Films
• 1 TV Series

Programme Tally

• Midnight Madness – 7
• Special Presentations – 6
  
• TIFF Docs – 3
• Discovery – 3
• Gala Presentations – 2
• Platform – 2
• Contemporary World Cinema – 1
• Special Events – 1
• Primetime – 1
  

Theatre Tally

• Ryerson Theatre – 11
• Scotiabank Theatre – 8
  
• Winter Garden Theatre – 2
• Princess of Wales Theatre – 1
• TIFF Bell Lightbox – 1

Plus, three films seen prior to the festival.