Category Archives: Toronto film

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals, Toronto film

251. 36th International Film Festival

September 7, 2011 Heikki Walden

September 8, 2011

Lauded as one of the prestigious film festivals in the world (Time has noted that the festival has “grown from its place as the most influential fall film festival to the most influential film festival, period”), the 36th Toronto International Film Festival is finally here! Known as the festival from which the Oscar race begins, this annual film extravaganza brings celebrities from all over the world to our very own city.

With reasonably priced tickets and a variety of ticket packages, anybody can get in on all the TIFF action! Single tickets start at $19.69 and a 50-film pass will cost $524. Tickets have been on sale for a few days now so selection may be limited, but you can still get in on the TIFF action by bringing your camera for some “star-gazing!”

For more information on the Toronto International Film Festival, go to www.tiff.net/thefestival.

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247. Movies in the Mess Hall

September 3, 2011 Heikki Walden

September 4, 2011

Chow down on some “comfort” food then catch a favourite flick at the Drake Hotel’s “Movies in the Mess Hall.” Tonight’s presentation is Dirty Dancing, the beloved film about Baby and Johnny Castle’s relationship on and off the dance floor.

Dinner includes a foot-long veal cheese dog and a sprinkle donut for $15; for an additional $6 get a “P.D. Day Lavender Lemonade Juice Box’tail (Solieski vodka, lavender syrup and lemonade).

The fun gets started at 7pm at the Drake Hotel. For more information, go to www.thedrakehotel.ca.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film

235. Dancing in The Dark: A series of free films at Yonge-Dundas Square

August 23, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 23, 2011

Head over to Yonge-Dundas Square tonight at 6pm for a double-bill presentation of Chicago and All That Jazz! Dancing in the Dark presentations are completely free, and give you the opportunity to enjoy the last of the warm summer evenings while taking in some of the most beloved film musicals. Each Tuesday night you can enjoy a film (or two!) at sundown (double-bills start earlier in the evening to accommodate longer showing times).

For details about Dancing in the Dark, and for a full list of films being shown throughout the summer, go to www.ydsquare.ca.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film

232. TIFF Family Classics

August 20, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 20, 2011

Escape the heat and settle in for a film with the family! The TIFF Bell Lightbox features Family Classics, including Disney favourites, the Academy Award-nominated film Whale Rider, and several beloved musicals! Today’s film, The Rocketeer, tells the tale of a young flying ace who accidentally finds himself in possession of a top-secret rocket pack, making him the target of gangsters, the FBI, and even a Nazi spy, all looking to secure the amazing invention for themselves!

The Rocketeer starts at 2:00pm this afternoon; bring the whole family along for an afternoon of cinematic adventure! Regular admission is $12, seniors/students pay $9.50, while children and youth admission is $8.50. For more information on TIFF Family Classics, visit the TIFF website.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film, Toronto music

223. Open Roof Festival

August 11, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 11, 2011

In support of Toronto’s independent film community, the Open Roof Festival is “more than just a night at the movies.” With refreshments, a local band, and a feature indie film, this Festival is an outdoor summer party experience!

Tonight’s party presents Scarborough band Locomotive 8, with a feature showing of Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop. Co-presented by Hot Docs, this film promises not to disappoint!

The Open Roof Festival is held in the parking lot of Amsterdam Brewery at 21 Bathurst Street. You can purchase tickets onsite (cash only) – even if the website (www.openrooffestival.com) says that the event is sold out, a block of tickets will be reserved at the door. Doors open at 7:30pm tonight; the band plays at 8pm and the film begins at 9pm.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film

214. Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions

August 2, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 2, 2011

TIFF Bell Lightbox’s HSBC Gallery’s latest exhibition is Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions. Following Italian director Federico Fellini, you’ll have the opportunity to explore over four hundred works that explore the various obsessions that appear throughout his films and his life.

Known for his distinct film-making style, a blend of fantasy and baroque images, Fellini is considered one of the most influential film directors and script writers of the 20th century. Winning Oscars for La Strada (1954), Nights of Cabiria (1957), 8-1/2 (1963), and Amarcord (1974), Fellini also received an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1993. He is also well-known to have coined the term “paparazzi.”

The TIFF Bell Lightbox is open from 12pm until 8pm today. For more information on Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions, go to http://www.tiff.net/fellini.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film

208. TIFF in the Park: Classic Musicals

July 27, 2011 Heikki Walden

July 27, 2011

Every Wednesday this summer you can enjoy a free outdoor screening of a classic screen musical at David Pecaut Square, right next to Roy Thomson Hall! Presented by TIFF and the Toronto Entertainment District BIA, screenings start at 9:00pm in July and 8:30pm in August (as the sun starts to set earlier).

Tonight’s TIFF in the Park presents The Sound of Music, the classic tale of a nun who brings music, love and laughter back to a strict widower and his seven children. This is a film the entire family will enjoy, so pack some snacks and settle in for an evening of fun and film!

For more information on TIFF in the Park, go to http://tiff.net.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto film

206. From Page to Screen Film Festival

July 25, 2011 Heikki Walden

July 25, 2011

This summer, the Carlton Cinema will host the Toronto Film Society’s “From Page to Screen Film Festival” over seven Monday nights. Tonight’s program is the third of the summer, and includes The Horse’s Mouth (1953) and The Wrong Box (1966) with special guest speaker Risa Shuman, former executive producer of “Saturday Night at the Movies.”

The Horse’s Mouth is the tale of starving artist Gully Jimson as he searches for the “perfect” wall for his masterpiece. A British comedic masterpiece, this film is based on a novel by Joyce Cary. The Wrong Box is also a British comedy, based on Robert Louise Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne’s novel about inheritance and killing whoever is in the way of that inheritance!

The From Page to Screen Film Festival welcomes non-Toronto Film Society members; simply enquire at the Carlton Cinema box office for information on tickets. To learn more about the summer’s film line up at the Toronto Film Society, go to www.torontofilmsociety.com/.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals, Toronto film, Toronto music, Toronto theatre

161. Luminato

June 10, 2011 Heikki Walden

June 10, 2011

A multi-disciplinary celebration of the arts, Luminato fills Toronto’s streets, stages, and public spaces with creativity. Throughout the ten day festival, you can catch theatre and dance performances, witness stunning visual art and film, or enjoy fashion and magic as you’ve never seen them before. Luminato embraces artists from across the world, encouraging collaboration as creative expressions emerge from the partnership of artists from different mediums and different cultures.

Luminato includes free and ticketed performances, making it accessible no matter what your summer festival budget! Today’s free events include “The Luminato Reel” – a screening of short and feature-length films; “Sargasso” – an installation by a a visionary architect answering the question “could architecture come alive?” in the Allen Lambert Galleria; “Habit” – a collaboration of live theatre, reality TV and visual arts; “My Name is Raj” – a celebration of Indian film pioneer Raj Kapoor ; “Garden of Roses: Denis Gagnon Interprets Alice” – a line of fashion inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and much more! The fun is just getting started today – the festival continues until June 19th!

For more information, and a full listing of events throughout the whole festival, go to www.luminato.com!

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals, Toronto film

151. CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival

May 31, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 31, 2011

Presented by TELUS, the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival celebrates the creativity and quality of short films. Featuring shorts from more than 80 countries, 250 shorts are highlighted over the five days of the festival, which is accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Winners of the Best Animated Short and the Best Live-Action Short are eligible for the Academy Awards, and Canadian award winners are eligible for the Genie Awards. The Festival also includes the Short Films BIG IDEAS Symposium, which includes seminars, panels and workshops.

For more information on the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival and for a full schedule of short films screenings, go to www.worldwideshortfilmsfest.com/.