Brave Films, Wild Nights: 25 Years of Festival FeverA retrospective look at one of the world's premier film festivals. The Toronto International Film Festival was created 25 years ago by a bunch of high-rolling Canadian impresarios. Since then it has grown from a rude upstart to one of the world's largest and most influential film festivals -- second in importance only to Cannes. The Toronto International Film Festival has a deliriously split personality, playing host both to Hollywood stars -- from Warren Beatty to Tom Cruise -- and to the renegades of independent cinema. And its own flamboyant history mirrors that of the art it has showcased. This is a story of a volatile marriage between the counter-culture and the mainstream. From the fabled battles with Canadian censors to near riots outside cinemas, excitement and controversy have always been integral to the Festival. The Festival was famous for its parties. And in the early years it underwent a turbulent rite of passage, with tales of sex, drugs, and rock 'n 'roll involving such guests as Robbie Robertson, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro. But as the Festival matured, it became famous for its films. Among the landmark features launched at the Festival are "The Big Chill, Diva, Chariots of Fire, Reservoir Dogs, Dead Ringers, Boogie Nights, Leaving Las Vegas, To Die For and "Life is Beautiful. The Festival has also discovered hit documentaries, such as Michael Moore's "Roger and Me, and found a North American audience for international directors such as Krzysztof Kieslowski and Wong Kar-Wai. "Brave Films, Wild Nights will chronicle the 25 years of the Toronto International Film Festival, and will feature numerous photographs and fresh interviews with stars anddirectors who have made it the extraordinary cirque of cinema that it is today. |
Common terms and phrases
actor actress Anne Mackenzie Armatage Atom Egoyan audience Award became become Big Chill Bill Marshall Boogie Nights camera Canadian cinema Canadian film Cannes celebrity censors Cohl critics Cronenberg Crying Game David Cronenberg David Overbey director distributors documentary Don McKellar Dowd drama feature debut festival's film festival filmmakers French friends gala girl Godard going guests Harvey Weinstein Helga Stephenson Hollywood independent film Jay Scott Jewison John Kolk later launched Lauzon Léolo looking MacLeod McKellar Miramax Montreal movie never North American Ontario opening-night Oscar party Perspective Canada PHOTO Piers Handling played Praise of Older premiere producer programme Puttnam Quebec Quentin Quentin Tarantino recalls remember Reservoir Dogs Robert Lantos Roger Ebert says Scorsese screening stars story studio talk Tarantino theatre There's thing thought told Toronto festival tribute trying walked wanted Warren Beatty watching Wayne Clarkson Weinstein woman women