TIFF12: Wrap-Up

Another edition of the Toronto International Film Festival has come to a close.  This was my tenth time going to TIFF and it still remains one of my favourite events of the year.  Seeing 25 films in 10 days (combined with a number of volunteer shifts) can definitely take a toll on one’s body and I was quite zombified with fatigue by the time the festival ended. That said, I would never try to change anything. There seems to be a theme around the films I see at TIFF every year.  Last year, it was all about embracing the documentaries, to the point that I chose one as my favourite film.  This year, it was all about the Midnight Madness and Vanguard programmes.  Combined, they made up 40% of my TIFF line-up this year and, as it turns out, 3/5 of my Top 5 films from the festival are from those two programmes (including the Top 2).  So, without further ado, here is my full TIFF12 Wrap-Up.  Enjoy. Top 5 Favourite Films of TIFF12

1. Berberian Sound Studio (Vanguard Programme)
2. I Declare War (Vanguard Programme)
3. Tower (Discovery Programme)
4. Frances Ha (Special Presentations Programme)
5. The Bay (Midnight Madness Programme)

Top 3 Midnight Madness Films

1. The Bay
2. The ABCs of Death
3. Dredd 3D

Top 3 Vanguard Films

1. Berberian Sound Studio
2. I Declare War
3. Room 237

Top 3 Special Presentations

1. Frances Ha
2. The Iceman
3. The Suicide Shop

Top 3 TIFF Docs

1. Storm Surfers 3D
2. The Act of Killing
3. Reincarnated

Honourable Mention

• Smashed (Contemporary World Cinema Programme)

Top 3 Least Favourite Films

1. In the Fog (Contemporary World Cinema Programme)
2. Crimes of Mike Recket (Contemporary World Cinema Programme)
3. Byzantium (Special Presentations Programme)

(Note: While these are technically my least favourite films, there are none in this list that I absolutely disliked) Films I Wish I Saw

• Seven Psychopaths (Midnight Madness)
• Silver Linings Playbook (Gala Presentations)
• Ghost Graduation (Contemporary World Cinema)
• The Brass Teapot (Discovery)
• Artifact (TIFF Docs)
• Here Comes the Devil (Vanguard)

Favourite Moment

• During the Storm Surfers 3D Q&A when the director decided to call the film’s subjects (in Australia) and only got their answering machines. One of them called back.
• I also enjoyed that this was my most social film festival, with me frequently running into the other Toronto film folk.

Final Number of Films Seen

• 25 (26 if you count pre-fest screening)

Programme Tally

• Special Presentations – 6 (7 if you count pre-fest screening)
• Midnight Madness – 6
• Vanguard – 4
• TIFF Docs – 4
• Contemporary World Cinema – 4
• Discovery – 1

Theatre Tally

• Ryerson Theatre – 8
• Cineplex Yonge and Dundas – 7
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema – 4
• TIFF Bell Lightbox – 4
• Scotiabank Theatre – 2

TIFF12 Photos