TIFF Programmes, Buzz and Best Bets

The Toronto International Film Festival is a massive and exciting event in the city. But with over 300 films screening every year the choices can be overwhelming, especially if it's your first festival. Here are some of the ways to find the films showing at TIFF 2009 that are right for you:

Find TIFF Films by Programme

All of the films are chosen and sorted by themed programmes. The theme might have to do with where the film was made, who made it, the content/intended audience or how it's being presented. If you find a programme that appeals to you it's easy to browse all the films in it on the Programmes Section of TIFF's Official website.

TIFF 2009 Programmes (& number of films this year)

• Canada First! (6)
  First festival appearances by Canadian filmmakers


• Canadian Open Vault (2)
  Restored Canadian classics.


• City to City - NEW (10)
  Exploration of the urban experience and a showcase of fiction and documentaries about a selected city - in 2009, Tel Aviv.


• Contemporary World Cinema (48)
  Best films from around the world.


• Dialogues: Talking with Pictures (4)
  Filmmakers present and discuss a work that influenced them.


• Discovery (31)
  Films by emerging international filmmakers


• Future Projections (13 exhibits)
  Film-related art installations.


• Gala Presentations (21)
  Major films, lots of premieres.


• Masters (15)
  The latest from well-respected filmmakers.


• Mavericks (3 films, 2 live events)
  Conversations with filmmakers.


• Midnight Madness (10)
  Cult-worthy films, late screenings... and a rabid fan-base.


• Real to Reel (22)
  Non-fiction films.


• Short Cuts Canada (5 sets)
  Short films by emerging and established Canadian filmmakers.


• Special Presentations (59)
  Big stars, big directors, big buzz.


• Sprockets Family Zone (4)
  Family films for kids and teens.


• Vanguard (15)
  "...irreverent, stylistically playful films..."


• Visions (13)
  Experimental features


• Wavelengths (6 sets)
  Avant-garde shorts


• Yonge-Dundas Square
  Free screenings of movies, performances and more throughout TIFF.
  • Learn more about TIFF's free events

Find Films by Date

If you only have a few windows of time to work with (meaning you aren't one of the many film lovers who book off vacation time to go the Toronto International Film Festival) you can easily find out what films are screening on a day to day basis on the official TIFF website or in the magazine-style printed schedule that was distributed in newspapers and may still be available at TIFF Box Offices.

Find Films by Ticket Availability

Just want to see something and maybe be surprised? The Film Festival provides a neat service called Best Bets in which they let you know every morning which films still have enough tickets available that you have a good chance of getting in. Visit the official TIFF website in the morning to see the front-page update, or you can subscribe on the site to get alerts by email.

Follow the Buzz (or Maybe Don't)

The easiest way to find the films everyone is talking about is to scan the Gala Presentations or Special Presentations programme lists (see above). Or you can open just about any newspaper or turn on any TV news in Toronto. But remember that many of the films getting special attention during the festival are exactly the same ones which will get wide release a short time later. So while it is fun to be the first to see the next big thing or to hear Q and A's with the big names in movies today, also keep an eye out for the smaller films that have a subject or style you might love on a very personal level - and may never get a chance to see again.