Free Programming Schedule

September 1, 2009

NEWS RELEASE #35 THE 2009 FESTIVAL EXPANDS ITS FREE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE More performers and events added to Yonge-Dundas Square outdoor lineup and announcement of free screening of Cadillac People’s Choice Award winner Toronto – The 34th Toronto International Film Festival is proud to announce the full lineup of free outdoor events taking place at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) and that it will present a free screening of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award-winning film on closing night in the Visa Screening Room at the Elgin Theatre. “The free programming at Yonge-Dundas Square and the free screening of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award are gifts back to the city of Toronto,” said Festival Co-Director Cameron Bailey. “They’re a big thank you to our audiences for their ongoing support and commitment to the Festival, because it’s this devotion that continues to make it one of the best in the world.” The complete YDS 2009 schedule, listed below and covering the duration of the Festival from September 10 to 19, has something for everyone. Additions to the lineup include Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman, who will host the Opening Night concert by DJ Champion; rapper Chuck D, who will host and perform at the Closing Night Festival Wrap Party; and the National Ballet of Canada, which will perform a preview presentation of its latest production from Aszure Barton in celebration of the Festival’s screening of Mao’s Last Dancer. Taking the Festival experience beyond the cinema, the planned events at YDS offer a diverse and dynamic array of free programming that will create a new street-level hub of Festival activity in the heart of Toronto. The YDS 2009 Schedule includes daily events like the TIFF In Concert film series, featuring an eclectic mix of music-themed films preceded by a selection of short films from the National Film Board of Canada and musically charged shorts by Canadian filmmakers. The TIFF Shhh! series is another regular slot that will see classics from the silent film era screened to live musical accompaniment, and the TIFF YDS Spotlight series offers a host of free events, including movie spotlights, concerts, a roller-derby exhibition, a ballet presentation, swing-dancing lessons, the Toronto Zombie Walk and much more. All of this will be capped off by the Festival Wrap Party on Saturday, September 19. In addition to checking out these free events, all are invited to drop by the MeTV booth to record a quick message about their experience with the 2009 Festival, or whatever else comes to mind. For more about YDS programming, visit tiff.net/yds. Voted on by Festival audiences, the Cadillac People’s Choice Award winner will be announced on the afternoon of September 19. Last year’s Cadillac People's Choice Award winner was Danny Boyle’s multiple Academy Award®-winning Slumdog Millionaire. Previous People’s Choice Award winners include Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg, TIFF 2007), Bella (Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, TIFF 2006), Tsotsi (Gavin Hood, TIFF 2005) and Hotel Rwanda (Terry George, TIFF 2004). Tickets for the free screening of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award-winning film will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 p.m. on September 19 at the box office for the Visa Screening Room at the Elgin Theatre. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF Live from Yonge-Dundas Square 2009 Schedule Opening Night: Thursday, September 10 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: I’m Your Man Preceded by shorts: POEN, Tony Dekker at Spadina Subway Station and The Poet’s Home

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Steamboat Bill Jr.

7 p.m.

Live satellite feed from the Roy Thomson Hall red carpet for the Opening Night Gala Presentation of Creation

9 p.m.

TIFF YDS Spotlight: Opening Night concert by DJ Champion, hosted by Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman

Friday, September 11 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Shut Up & Sing Preceded by shorts: Neighbours, Serena Ryder at the Dakota Tavern and Crickets

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

6:30 p.m.

Suck Spotlight featuring The Burning Brides and Canadian legends Blue Peter with guest appearances from stars of the rock’n’roll vampire comedy screening as part of the 2009 Festival

9 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Preceded by shorts: Juke – Bar, Danko Jones at Maple Leaf Gardens and Jaffawiye

Saturday, September 12 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: The Harder They Come Preceded by shorts: Getting Started, Divine Brown at the Rex and Bleach

2 p.m.

TIFF Kids Zone – offering fun for children of all ages, including face-painting, green-screen activities and more

4 p.m.

Precious Spotlight featuring American author and poet Sapphire reading from her body of work at an event hosted by Lee Daniels, director of the film, which is screening at the Festival as a Gala Presentation

6 p.m.

Toronto Zombie Walk with George A. Romero in attendance to celebrate the premiere of George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead, screening as part of the Festival’s Midnight Madness programme; the evening’s ghoulish festivities conclude with a free screening of his 1968 classic, Night of the Living Dead

Sunday, September 13 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Woodstock Preceded by shorts: Street Musique, Geddy Lee at Massey Hall and Washing Machine, Sewing Machine

4 p.m.

Whip It Spotlight roller-derby exhibition featuring stars from the film and the Toronto Roller Derby League

9 p.m.

The Topp Twins Spotlight, hosted by comedian Elvira Kurt

Monday, September 14 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Stop Making Sense Preceded by shorts: Lonely Boy, Woodhands at the Brick Works and From the City to the Forest

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: The Busher

9 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: North American premiere of The Neil Young Trunk Show featuring an appearance by Neil Young, hosted by director Jonathan Demme

Tuesday, September 15 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Monterey Pop Preceded by shorts: Toronto Jazz, Sarah Slean at the Rivoli and Questions of a Dead Worker

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Robin Hood

7 p.m.

Hipsters Spotlight: swing-dance lessons followed by a concert at 9 p.m. featuring Aelita with the Galaxy All-Star Orchestra in honour of the Russian musical screening as part of the Festival’s Vanguard programme

Wednesday, September 16 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: The Last Waltz Preceded by shorts: Ready When You Are, Laura Barrett with Martin Tielli at the AGO and Bloomfield or a Memory Bank

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Tillie’s Punctured Romance

9 p.m.

The National Ballet of Canada’s preview presentation of the latest production from Aszure Barton in celebration of the Festival’s screening of Mao’s Last Dancer

Thursday, September 17 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: U2: Rattle and Hum Preceded by shorts: cNote, Lioness at the Masonic Temple and Gershon

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: It

9 p.m.

Performance, rock show, installation and film screening: BAND, by cutting-edge New York artist Adam Pendleton, refashions Sympathy for the Devil, Jean-Luc Godard’s 1968 cinematic paean to the Rolling Stones and the Black Panthers, into a contemporary art happening that places the celebrated indie art-rock/post-punk band Deerhoof at the centre of the action. This event is presented as part of Future Projections.

Friday, September 18 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Don’t Look Back Preceded by shorts: Glenn Gould – On the Record, Jason Collett at Paul’s Boutique and Weitzman #10

3 p.m.

TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Grandma’s Boy

6 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: world premiere of American Masters featuring Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound, followed by an appearance and short concert by Joan Baez herself

Closing Night: Saturday, September 19 12 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Truth or Dare Preceded by shorts: Meet Gisele, Care Failure at 102.1 The Edge and Killer Babe

7 p.m.

TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: world premiere of Copyright Criminals

9 p.m.

The Festival Wrap Party, presented in association with Future Projections and hosted by Chuck D, featuring the infectious improvised audiovisual mashups of Eclectic Method. The renowned trio will thrill film and music lovers with a video remix set incorporating clips from the films included in Essential 100, the opening show of TIFF Bell Lightbox. With special guest Clyde Stubblefield. TIFF Live from Yonge-Dundas Square is supported by the Government of Canada, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and the City of Toronto. The Cadillac People’s Choice Awards are made possible through the generous sponsorship of Cadillac.

About TIFF: TIFF is a charitable, not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. TIFF generates an annual economic impact of $135 million CAD and currently employs more than 100 full-time staff and 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and counts upon the largesse of over 2,000 volunteers year-round. About TIFF Bell Lightbox: Currently under construction, TIFF Bell Lightbox, a breathtaking five-storey complex located in downtown Toronto, will provide a permanent home for film lovers to celebrate cinema from around the world and will propel TIFF forward as an international leader in film culture. Designed by innovative architecture firm KPMB, TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fluid structure encourages exploration, movement and play. The campaign to build TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by founding sponsor Bell, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, the King and John Festival Corporation – consisting of the Reitman family and the Daniels Corporation – RBC as major sponsor and official bank, Visa†, the Copyright Collective of Canada, NBC Universal Canada, the Allan Slaight Family, the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and CIBC. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals and corporations have also contributed to the campaign. For more information on the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign, visit belllightbox.ca.

-30For further information contact Daniela Syrovy at 416-319-3511 or by email at [email protected], or contact the Communications Department at 416-934-3200 or email [email protected].