TIFF 2011: Here we go again!

Well hello to the four of you who read this blog. I know, I know, another year went by and I wrote nothing at all in between film festivals.

To summarize the last twelve months in a nutshell, they were pretty great. Travelled to Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas to dive (first night dive! hammerhead sharks!), New York (3 times), Chicago, Paris and the cottage. Saw some wonderful theatre, attended a movie premiere with the fabulous Alan Cumming (he. was. awesome.), read about 150 books and watched entirely too much television. Met a few new babies, spoiled my adorable nephew and celebrated my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. And now we're all caught up.

It's time for TIFF again! My favourite week (or so) of the year in Toronto and the best thing for alleviating the end of summer depression.

First for the sucky news, not to rehash my rant from last year but the powers that be at TIFF have made even *more* of the first screenings of movies "Premium" which means that not only are they twice the price of the regular screening but that they are ineligible for the advance order process. Basically, all the evening first run screenings at Roy Thompson, Elgin, Ryerson, Princess of Wales, and the Bader are now premium. Or, said another way, pretty much any screening that you can expect to have the stars attend.

Now, what bothers me isn't so much the price (well, that bothers me a little) but the fact that these movies can't be included in my order form. I think that maybe next year I need to reduce the amount of movies I try to preorder and try my luck at buying tickets for a few of those screenings when they go on sale. Or, they need to introduce a 10 ticket premium pack so that people can include those screenings in the order process. I don't know, I'm sure the pre-order process is incredibly complicated. I was just having a discussion last night about how it's possible that they haven't moved it online yet but imagining the disaster that would accompany that attempt.

Anyway, all that aside, I'm getting excited for this year's festival like I always do. What movie will emerge as the universally loved, heard about in every line, breakthrough? Which stars will be entertaining the paparazzi flitting about the city? What movie will I fall in love with that doesn't get the recognition it deserves?

And most importantly, when will I get my order confirmation email so that I can stop worrying about my schedule?

Time will tell!!