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{{short description|2008 film festival edition}}
{{short description|2008 film festival edition}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox Film Festival
{{Infobox Film Festival
| name = 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
| name = 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
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}}
}}


The '''2008 [[Toronto International Film Festival]]''', (TIFF) was held in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada. This 33rd annual festival was from September 4 to September 13, 2008. The opening night gala was the World War I romantic epic ''[[Passchendaele (film)|Passchendaele]]'' from Canadian director [[Paul Gross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/pdfs/TIFF2008AnnualReport.pdf|title=2008 Toronto International Film Festival Annual report|access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="OpenVar">[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988985 Brendan Kelly, Variety: "Toronto unveils Canadian selection" (July 15, 2008)] Retrieved 2012-07-11</ref>
The '''2008 Toronto International Film Festival''' (TIFF) was held in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada. This 33rd annual festival was from September 4 to September 13, 2008. The opening night gala was the World War I romantic epic ''[[Passchendaele (film)|Passchendaele]]'' from Canadian director [[Paul Gross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/pdfs/TIFF2008AnnualReport.pdf|title=2008 Toronto International Film Festival Annual report|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-date=May 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507164431/http://tiff.net/pdfs/TIFF2008AnnualReport.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="OpenVar">[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988985 Brendan Kelly, Variety: "Toronto unveils Canadian selection" (July 15, 2008)] Retrieved July 11, 2012</ref>


==About the 2008 Festival==
==About the 2008 Festival==
The 2008 festival was heavy on Canadian fare as well as featuring prominent indie films and worldwide as well as North American debuts including: ''[[Adoration (2008 film)|Adoration]]'' directed by Canada's own [[Atom Egoyan]], ''[[Appaloosa (film)|Appaloosa]]'' the second film from [[Ed Harris]] (who directed ''[[Pollock (film)|Pollock]]''), ''[[Blindness (2008 film)|Blindness]]'' from screenwriter-director, [[Fernando Meirelles]], Iraq war thriller ''[[The Hurt Locker]]'' directed by [[Kathryn Bigelow]], and veteran filmmaker [[Barbet Schroeder]]'s ''[[Inju, la bête dans l'ombre]]''.<ref name="Lee">[https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117988411 "Toronto believes in Lee's 'Miracle'" Variety, by Jennie Punter, Jul. 2, 2008]</ref><ref name="Destiny">[https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1450600220080814 "Toronto film festival finds its Destiny" Aug 14, 2008 Reuters/Hollywood Reporter]</ref><ref name="TorontoAdds">[http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/ "Toronto Adds Premieres for 'Che', 'Porno', 'Bloom', 'Synecdoche', Others" Cinematical, by William Goss, Aug 13th 2008]</ref> Scheduled is ''[[The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond]]'' (directed by [[Jodie Markell]]), based on a "rediscovered" [[Tennessee Williams]] screenplay. TIFF screened 312 films from 64 countries. These include 249 features, most of which were North American and/or world premieres.<ref name="DanceCard">[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i11533547aab0683e3b14f1a93a107cc9 "Toronto's dance card complete Sept. 4–13 festival includes 249 features" By Etan Vlessing, Hollywood Reporter, Aug 19, 2008]</ref>
The 2008 festival was heavy on Canadian fare as well as featuring prominent indie films and worldwide as well as North American debuts including: ''[[Adoration (2008 film)|Adoration]]'' directed by Canada's own [[Atom Egoyan]], ''[[Appaloosa (film)|Appaloosa]]'' the second film from [[Ed Harris]] (who directed ''[[Pollock (film)|Pollock]]''), ''[[Blindness (2008 film)|Blindness]]'' from screenwriter-director, [[Fernando Meirelles]], Iraq war thriller ''[[The Hurt Locker]]'' directed by [[Kathryn Bigelow]], and veteran filmmaker [[Barbet Schroeder]]'s ''[[Inju, la bête dans l'ombre]]''.<ref name="Lee">{{Cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117988411 |title="Toronto believes in Lee's 'Miracle'" Variety, by Jennie Punter, Jul. 2, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922141511/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117988411 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Destiny">{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1450600220080814 |title="Toronto film festival finds its Destiny" Aug 14, 2008 Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |access-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121164314/https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1450600220080814 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TorontoAdds">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/ |title="Toronto Adds Premieres for 'Che', 'Porno', 'Bloom', 'Synecdoche', Others" Cinematical, by William Goss, Aug 13th 2008 |access-date=August 15, 2008 |archive-date=August 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814224625/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Scheduled is ''[[The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond]]'' (directed by [[Jodie Markell]]), based on a "rediscovered" [[Tennessee Williams]] screenplay. TIFF screened 312 films from 64 countries. These include 249 features, most of which were North American and/or world premieres.<ref name="DanceCard">{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i11533547aab0683e3b14f1a93a107cc9 |title="Toronto's dance card complete Sept. 4–13 festival includes 249 features" By Etan Vlessing, Hollywood Reporter, Aug 19, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922222025/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i11533547aab0683e3b14f1a93a107cc9 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


[[Neil Burger]] (director of ''[[The Illusionist (2006 film)|The Illusionist]]'') world premiered ''[[The Lucky Ones (film)|The Lucky Ones]]'' a character study of U.S. soldiers on an unplanned road trip, starring [[Tim Robbins]].<ref name="DanceCard"/><ref name="Celebretants">[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990766.html?categoryId=19&cs=1 Variety "Toronto Film Festival unveils lineup Event boasts 500-plus guest list", by Jennie Punter, Aug. 19, 2008]</ref>
[[Neil Burger]] (director of ''[[The Illusionist (2006 film)|The Illusionist]]'') world premiered ''[[The Lucky Ones (film)|The Lucky Ones]]'' a character study of U.S. soldiers on an unplanned road trip, starring [[Tim Robbins]].<ref name="DanceCard"/><ref name="Celebretants">{{Cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990766.html?categoryId=19&cs=1 |title=Variety "Toronto Film Festival unveils lineup Event boasts 500-plus guest list", by Jennie Punter, Aug. 19, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924023205/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990766.html?categoryId=19&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Also featured was ''[[Me and Orson Welles]]'' helmed by American "slacker" [[Richard Linklater]], the [[Spike Lee]]-directed World War II film, ''[[Miracle at St. Anna]]'' as well as the [[Jonathan Demme]] directed film ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''. Other festival highlights are screenwriter [[Charlie Kaufman]]'s first film, ''[[Synecdoche, New York (film)|Synecdoche, New York]]'', a slice of experimental filmmaker [[James Benning (film director)|James Benning]]'s Americana ''[[RR (film)|RR]]'' was featured in the "Wavelengths" avant-garde showcase, the four-hour-long [[Steven Soderbergh]] epic ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'' (playing in two parts), as well as ''[[The Wrestler (2009 film)|The Wrestler]]'' lensed by [[Darren Aronofsky]]. The Brits are also well represented with ''[[Happy-Go-Lucky (2008 film)|Happy-Go-Lucky]]'' directed by [[Mike Leigh]] and ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' directed by [[Danny Boyle]].<ref name="Lee"/><ref name="Destiny"/><ref name="TorontoAdds"/>
Also featured was ''[[Me and Orson Welles]]'' helmed by American "slacker" [[Richard Linklater]], the [[Spike Lee]]-directed World War II film, ''[[Miracle at St. Anna]]'' as well as the [[Jonathan Demme]] directed film ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''. Other festival highlights are screenwriter [[Charlie Kaufman]]'s first film, ''[[Synecdoche, New York (film)|Synecdoche, New York]]'', a slice of experimental filmmaker [[James Benning (film director)|James Benning]]'s Americana ''[[RR (film)|RR]]'' was featured in the "Wavelengths" avant-garde showcase, the four-hour-long [[Steven Soderbergh]] epic ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'' (playing in two parts), as well as ''[[The Wrestler (2008 film)|The Wrestler]]'' lensed by [[Darren Aronofsky]]. The Brits are also well represented with ''[[Happy-Go-Lucky (2008 film)|Happy-Go-Lucky]]'' directed by [[Mike Leigh]] and ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' directed by [[Danny Boyle]].<ref name="Lee"/><ref name="Destiny"/><ref name="TorontoAdds"/>


Despite showing fewer films than last year, among the 249 features, 116 are premieres and 61 are first features.<ref name="DanceCard"/><ref name="Reuters819">[https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1928499520080819 "Toronto film festival promises lighter touch" Reuters, Aug 19, 2008]</ref> Films from as many as 64 countries were screened, with more than 340,000 admissions expected.<ref name="Reuters819"/>
Despite showing fewer films than last year, among the 249 features, 116 are premieres and 61 are first features.<ref name="DanceCard"/><ref name="Reuters819">{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1928499520080819 |title="Toronto film festival promises lighter touch" Reuters, Aug 19, 2008 |access-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120221152/https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1928499520080819 |url-status=live }}</ref> Films from as many as 64 countries were screened, with more than 340,000 admissions expected.<ref name="Reuters819"/>


"Canadian Open Vault", which always highlights a restored Canadian film, focused on [[Quebec]] filmmaker [[François Girard]]'s ''[[32 Short Films About Glenn Gould]]'' made in 1993.<ref name="OpenVar"/>
"Canadian Open Vault", which always highlights a restored Canadian film, focused on [[Quebec]] filmmaker [[François Girard]]'s ''[[32 Short Films About Glenn Gould]]'' made in 1993.<ref name="OpenVar"/>
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Actors [[Brad Pitt]], [[Edward Norton]], [[Benicio del Toro]], [[Ethan Hawke]], [[Laura Linney]] and film directors [[Julian Schnabel]], [[Kathryn Bigelow]] and [[Steven Soderbergh]] are among the celebs the festival has invited on its 500-plus guest list, thus completing its lineup.<ref name="Celebretants"/>
Actors [[Brad Pitt]], [[Edward Norton]], [[Benicio del Toro]], [[Ethan Hawke]], [[Laura Linney]] and film directors [[Julian Schnabel]], [[Kathryn Bigelow]] and [[Steven Soderbergh]] are among the celebs the festival has invited on its 500-plus guest list, thus completing its lineup.<ref name="Celebretants"/>


The festival closed on September 13, 2008 with the North American premiere of ''[[Stone of Destiny (film)|Stone of Destiny]]'' written and directed by [[Charles Martin Smith]], the true story of four [[Glasgow, Scotland|Glasgow]] university students who try to restore the 300-pound [[Stone of Scone]] to its rightful Scottish home.<ref name="Twenty">[https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117990479 "Toronto fest adds 20 films to lineup" Variety, by Anne Thompson, Aug. 13, 2008]</ref>
The festival closed on September 13, 2008 with the North American premiere of ''[[Stone of Destiny (film)|Stone of Destiny]]'' written and directed by [[Charles Martin Smith]], the true story of four [[Glasgow, Scotland|Glasgow]] university students who try to restore the 300-pound [[Stone of Scone]] to its rightful Scottish home.<ref name="Twenty">{{Cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117990479 |title="Toronto fest adds 20 films to lineup" Variety, by Anne Thompson, Aug. 13, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924023706/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=2652&articleid=VR1117990479 |url-status=live }}</ref>


With the film ''[[Fifty Dead Men Walking]]'', [[Rose McGowan]] expressed support for the cause of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), with the reports of her comments being released into the media on September 11, 2008. After starring in ''[[Fifty Dead Men Walking]]'', she was quoted as saying "I imagine had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it." Her comments were attacked by the original author Martin McCartlend. McCartland had general objections against the film, but approved of an out of court settlement, believed to be in the region of £20,000 (US$35,000 in summer 2008).
With the film ''[[Fifty Dead Men Walking]]'', [[Rose McGowan]] expressed support for the cause of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), with the reports of her comments being released into the media on September 11, 2008. After starring in ''[[Fifty Dead Men Walking]]'', she was quoted as saying "I imagine had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it." Her comments were attacked by the original author Martin McCartlend. McCartland had general objections against the film, but approved of an out of court settlement, believed to be in the region of £20,000 (US$35,000 in summer 2008).
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Award<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/movies/awards-put-the-wrap-on-toronto-film-festival-410334/ "Awards put the wrap on Toronto Film Festival"]. ''post-gazette'', October 10, 2013.</ref>
! Award<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/movies/awards-put-the-wrap-on-toronto-film-festival-410334/ "Awards put the wrap on Toronto Film Festival"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017194148/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/movies/awards-put-the-wrap-on-toronto-film-festival-410334/ |date=October 17, 2012 }}. ''post-gazette'', October 10, 2013.</ref>
! Film
! Film
! Director
! Director
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* ''[[Stone of Destiny (film)|Stone of Destiny]]'' by [[Charles Martin Smith]]
* ''[[Stone of Destiny (film)|Stone of Destiny]]'' by [[Charles Martin Smith]]
* ''[[Synecdoche, New York (film)|Synecdoche, New York]]'' by [[Charlie Kaufman]]
* ''[[Synecdoche, New York (film)|Synecdoche, New York]]'' by [[Charlie Kaufman]]
* ''[[The Wrestler (2009 film)|The Wrestler]]'' by [[Darren Aronofsky]]
* ''[[The Wrestler (2008 film)|The Wrestler]]'' by [[Darren Aronofsky]]
* ''[[Zack and Miri Make a Porno]]'' by [[Kevin Smith]]
* ''[[Zack and Miri Make a Porno]]'' by [[Kevin Smith]]


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==Other films to be screened==
==Other films to be screened==
* ''[[$9.99]]'' by [[Tatia Rosenthal]]
* ''[[$9.99]]'' by [[Tatia Rosenthal]]
⚫
* ''[[Before Tomorrow]] (Le Jour avant le lendemain)'' by [[Marie-Hélène Cousineau]] and [[Madeline Ivalu]]
* ''[[Burn After Reading]]'' by [[Coen brothers]]
* ''[[Burn After Reading]]'' by [[Coen brothers]]
* ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'' by [[Steven Soderbergh]]
* ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'' by [[Steven Soderbergh]]
* ''[[Entre les murs|The Class]]'' by [[Laurent Cantet]]
* ''[[Entre les murs|The Class]]'' by [[Laurent Cantet]]
* ''[[Cooper's Camera]]'' by [[Warren Sonada]]
* ''[[Daytime Drinking]]'' by Young-seok Noh
* ''[[Daytime Drinking]]'' by [[Young-seok Noh]]
* ''[[Dean Spanley]]'' by [[Toa Fraser]]
* ''[[Dean Spanley]]'' by [[Toa Fraser]]
⚫
* ''[[Edison and Leo]]'' by [[Neil Burns]]
* ''[[Gigantic (film)|Gigantic]]'' by [[Matt Aselton]]
* ''[[Gigantic (film)|Gigantic]]'' by [[Matt Aselton]]
* ''[[Hunger (2008 film)|Hunger]]'' by [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]]
* ''[[Hunger (2008 film)|Hunger]]'' by [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]]
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* ''[[Nothing but the Truth (2008 American film)|Nothing But the Truth]]'' by [[Rod Lurie]]
* ''[[Nothing but the Truth (2008 American film)|Nothing But the Truth]]'' by [[Rod Lurie]]
* ''[[Public Enemy No. One]]'' by [[Jean-François Richet]]
* ''[[Public Enemy No. One]]'' by [[Jean-François Richet]]
⚫
* ''[[Real Time (film)|Real Time]]'' by [[Randall Cole]]
* ''[[Singh Is Kinng]]'' by [[Anees Bazmee]]
* ''[[Singh Is Kinng]]'' by [[Anees Bazmee]]
* ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' by [[Danny Boyle]]
* ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' by [[Danny Boyle]]
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* ''[[Of Time and the City]]'' by [[Terence Davies]]
* ''[[Of Time and the City]]'' by [[Terence Davies]]
* ''[[Lorna's Silence]]'' by [[Dardenne brothers]]
* ''[[Lorna's Silence]]'' by [[Dardenne brothers]]
* ''[[Three Monkeys]]'' by [[Nuri Bilge Ceylan]]
* ''[[Three Monkeys (film)|Three Monkeys]]'' by [[Nuri Bilge Ceylan]]
* ''[[Tokyo Sonata]]'' by [[Kiyoshi Kurosawa]]
* ''[[Tokyo Sonata]]'' by [[Kiyoshi Kurosawa]]


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==Sprockets (family fare)==
==Sprockets (family fare)==
* ''[[Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)|Bridge to Terabithia]]'' by [[Gábor Csupó]]
* ''[[Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)|Bridge to Terabithia]]'' by [[Gábor Csupó]]
⚫
* ''[[Disco Worms]]'' by [[Thomas Borch Nielsen]]
* ''[[Krabat (film)|Krabat]]'' by [[Marco Kreuzpaintner]]
* ''[[Krabat (film)|Krabat]]'' by [[Marco Kreuzpaintner]]
* ''[[Mia et le Migou]]'' by [[Remy Girerd]]
* ''[[Mia and the Migoo]] (Mia et le Migou)'' by [[Jacques-Rémy Girerd]]
* ''[[The Secret of Moonacre]]'' by [[Gábor Csupó]]
* ''[[The Secret of Moonacre]]'' by [[Gábor Csupó]]
⚫
* ''[[Disco Worms]]'' by [[Thomas Borch Nielsen]]


==Wavelengths (avant-garde showcase)==
==Wavelengths (avant-garde showcase)==
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* ''[[When It Was Blue]]'' by [[Jennifer Reeves]]
* ''[[When It Was Blue]]'' by [[Jennifer Reeves]]
* ''[[Winter (2007 film)|Winter]]'' by [[Nathaniel Dorsky]]
* ''[[Winter (2007 film)|Winter]]'' by [[Nathaniel Dorsky]]
* ''[[Sarabande]]'' by [[Nathaniel Dorsky]]
* ''Sarabande'' by [[Nathaniel Dorsky]]
* ''[[Horizontal Boundaries]]'' by [[Pat O' Neill]]
* ''[[Horizontal Boundaries]]'' by [[Pat O' Neill]]
* ''Dig'' by [[Robert Todd (filmmaker)|Robert Todd]]
* ''Dig'' by [[Robert Todd (filmmaker)|Robert Todd]]
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* ''[[A No-Hit No-Run Summer]] (Un été sans point ni coup sûr)'' by [[Francis Leclerc]]
* ''[[A No-Hit No-Run Summer]] (Un été sans point ni coup sûr)'' by [[Francis Leclerc]]
* ''[[Patrik, Age 1.5]]'' by [[Ella Lemhagen]]
* ''[[Patrik, Age 1.5]]'' by [[Ella Lemhagen]]
* ''[[Pandora's Box]]'' by [[Yeşim Ustaoğlu]]
* ''[[Pandora's Box (2008 film)|Pandora's Box]]'' by [[Yeşim Ustaoğlu]]
* ''[[Restless (2008 film)|Restless]]'' by [[Amos Kollek]]
* ''[[Restless (2008 film)|Restless]]'' by [[Amos Kollek]]
* ''[[Revanche (film)|Revanche]]'' by [[Götz Spielmann]]
* ''[[Revanche (film)|Revanche]]'' by [[Götz Spielmann]]
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*''[[Borderline (2008 film)|Borderline]]'' by [[Lyne Charlebois]]
*''[[Borderline (2008 film)|Borderline]]'' by [[Lyne Charlebois]]
*''[[Control Alt Delete (film)|Control Alt Delete]]'' by Cameron Labine
*''[[Control Alt Delete (film)|Control Alt Delete]]'' by Cameron Labine
*''[[Cooper's Camera]]'' by Warren P. Sonoda
*''[[Coopers' Camera]]'' by [[Warren P. Sonoda]]
*''[[Down to the Dirt]]'' by [[Justin Simms]]
*''[[Down to the Dirt]]'' by [[Justin Simms]]
*''[[Edison and Leo]]'' by Neil Burns
*''[[Edison and Leo]]'' by Neil Burns
*''[[Nurse.Fighter.Boy]]'' by [[Charles Officer]]
*''[[Nurse.Fighter.Boy]]'' by [[Charles Officer]]
*''Only'' by [[Ingrid Veninger]] and Simon Reynolds
*''Only'' by [[Ingrid Veninger]] and Simon Reynolds
*''[[Real Time (film)|Real Time]]'' by Randall Cole
*''[[Real Time (film)|Real Time]]'' by [[Randall Cole]]
*''When Life Was Good'' by Terry Miles
*''When Life Was Good'' by Terry Miles


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*''[[Beyond the Walls (2008 film)|Beyond the Walls]] (La Battue)'' by [[Guy Édoin]]
*''[[Beyond the Walls (2008 film)|Beyond the Walls]] (La Battue)'' by [[Guy Édoin]]
*''Forty Men for the Yukon'' by Tony Massil
*''Forty Men for the Yukon'' by Tony Massil
⚫
*''[[Green Door (film)|Green Door]]'' by [[Semi Chellas]]
*''Hers at Last'' by Helen Lee
*''Hers at Last'' by Helen Lee
*''How Are You?'' by [[Susan Coyne]] and [[Martha Burns]]
*''How Are You?'' by [[Susan Coyne]] and [[Martha Burns]]
*''[[Next Floor]]'' by Denis Villeneuve
*''[[Next Floor]]'' by [[Denis Villeneuve]]
*''[[Passages (2008 film)|Passages]]'' by [[Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre]]
*''[[Passages (2008 film)|Passages]]'' by [[Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre]]
*''Pat's First Kiss'' by [[Pat Mills (director)|Pat Mills]]
*''Pat's First Kiss'' by [[Pat Mills (director)|Pat Mills]]
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* ''[[Under Rich Earth]]'' by [[Malcolm Rogge]]
* ''[[Under Rich Earth]]'' by [[Malcolm Rogge]]
* ''[[7915 KM]]'' by [[Nikolaus Geyrhalter]]
* ''[[7915 KM]]'' by [[Nikolaus Geyrhalter]]

==Canada's Top Ten==
TIFF's annual [[Canada's Top Ten]] list, its national critics and festival programmers poll of the ten best feature and short films of the year, was released in December 2008.<ref name=cinematheque>"TIFF's Top Ten". ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', December 17, 2008.</ref>

===Feature films===
*''[[Adoration (2008 film)|Adoration]]'' — [[Atom Egoyan]]
⚫
*''[[Before Tomorrow]] (Le jour avant le lendemain)'' — [[Marie-Hélène Cousineau]], [[Madeline Ivalu]]
*''[[Fifty Dead Men Walking]]'' — [[Kari Skogland]]
*''[[Heaven on Earth (2008 film)|Heaven on Earth]]'' — [[Deepa Mehta]]
*''[[It's Not Me, I Swear!]] (C'est pas moi, je le jure)'' — [[Philippe Falardeau]]
*''[[Lost Song (film)|Lost Song]]'' — [[Rodrigue Jean]]
*''[[Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's]] (Maman est chez le coiffeur)'' — [[Léa Pool]]
*''[[The Memories of Angels]] (La Memoire des anges)'' — [[Luc Bourdon (filmmaker)|Luc Bourdon]]
*''[[The Necessities of Life]] (Ce qu'il faut pour vivre)'' — [[Benoît Pilon]]
*''[[Pontypool (film)|Pontypool]]'' — [[Bruce McDonald (director)|Bruce McDonald]]

===Short films===
*''[[Beyond the Walls (2008 film)|Beyond the Walls]] (La Battue)'' — [[Guy Édoin]]
*''[[Block B (film)|Block B]]'' — [[Chris Chong Chan Fui]]
*''[[Drux Flux]]'' — [[Theodore Ushev]]
⚫
*''[[Ghosts and Gravel Roads]]'' — [[Mike Rollo]]
*''[[Green Door (film)|Green Door]]'' — [[Semi Chellas]]
*''[[My Name Is Victor Gazon]] (Mon nom est Victor Gazon)'' — [[Patrick Gazé]]
*''[[Next Floor]]'' — [[Denis Villeneuve]]
*''[[Nikamowin (Song)]]'' — [[Kevin Lee Burton]]
*''[[Passages (2008 film)|Passages]]'' — [[Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre]]
*''[[Princess Margaret Blvd.]]'' — [[Kazik Radwanski]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:2008 in Toronto]]
[[Category:2008 in Toronto]]
[[Category:2008 festivals in North America]]
[[Category:2008 festivals in North America]]
[[Category:September 2008 events in Canada]]

Latest revision as of 12:19, 29 March 2024

2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Festival poster
Opening filmPasschendaele
LocationToronto, Canada
Hosted byToronto International Film Festival Group
No. of films312 films
Festival dateSeptember 4, 2008 (2008-09-04)–September 13, 2008 (2008-09-13)
LanguageEnglish
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20080918014646/http://tiff08.ca/default2.aspx

The 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This 33rd annual festival was from September 4 to September 13, 2008. The opening night gala was the World War I romantic epic Passchendaele from Canadian director Paul Gross.[1][2]

About the 2008 Festival[edit]

The 2008 festival was heavy on Canadian fare as well as featuring prominent indie films and worldwide as well as North American debuts including: Adoration directed by Canada's own Atom Egoyan, Appaloosa the second film from Ed Harris (who directed Pollock), Blindness from screenwriter-director, Fernando Meirelles, Iraq war thriller The Hurt Locker directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and veteran filmmaker Barbet Schroeder's Inju, la bête dans l'ombre.[3][4][5] Scheduled is The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (directed by Jodie Markell), based on a "rediscovered" Tennessee Williams screenplay. TIFF screened 312 films from 64 countries. These include 249 features, most of which were North American and/or world premieres.[6]

Neil Burger (director of The Illusionist) world premiered The Lucky Ones a character study of U.S. soldiers on an unplanned road trip, starring Tim Robbins.[6][7]

Also featured was Me and Orson Welles helmed by American "slacker" Richard Linklater, the Spike Lee-directed World War II film, Miracle at St. Anna as well as the Jonathan Demme directed film Rachel Getting Married. Other festival highlights are screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's first film, Synecdoche, New York, a slice of experimental filmmaker James Benning's Americana RR was featured in the "Wavelengths" avant-garde showcase, the four-hour-long Steven Soderbergh epic Che (playing in two parts), as well as The Wrestler lensed by Darren Aronofsky. The Brits are also well represented with Happy-Go-Lucky directed by Mike Leigh and Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle.[3][4][5]

Despite showing fewer films than last year, among the 249 features, 116 are premieres and 61 are first features.[6][8] Films from as many as 64 countries were screened, with more than 340,000 admissions expected.[8]

"Canadian Open Vault", which always highlights a restored Canadian film, focused on Quebec filmmaker François Girard's 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould made in 1993.[2]

Actors Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Benicio del Toro, Ethan Hawke, Laura Linney and film directors Julian Schnabel, Kathryn Bigelow and Steven Soderbergh are among the celebs the festival has invited on its 500-plus guest list, thus completing its lineup.[7]

The festival closed on September 13, 2008 with the North American premiere of Stone of Destiny written and directed by Charles Martin Smith, the true story of four Glasgow university students who try to restore the 300-pound Stone of Scone to its rightful Scottish home.[9]

With the film Fifty Dead Men Walking, Rose McGowan expressed support for the cause of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), with the reports of her comments being released into the media on September 11, 2008. After starring in Fifty Dead Men Walking, she was quoted as saying "I imagine had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it." Her comments were attacked by the original author Martin McCartlend. McCartland had general objections against the film, but approved of an out of court settlement, believed to be in the region of £20,000 (US$35,000 in summer 2008).

Awards[edit]

Award[10] Film Director
People's Choice Award Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle
People's Choice Award First Runner Up More Than a Game Kristopher Belman
People's Choice Award Second Runner Up The Stoning of Soraya M. Cyrus Nowrasteh
Discovery Award Hunger Steve McQueen
Best Canadian Feature Film Lost Song Rodrigue Jean
Best Canadian Feature Film – Special Jury Citation Adoration Atom Egoyan
Best Canadian First Feature Film Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain) Madeline Ivalu & Marie-Hélène Cousineau
Best Canadian First Feature Film – Special Jury Citation Borderline Lyne Charlebois
Best Canadian Short Film Block B Chris Chong Chan Fui
Best Canadian Short Film – Special Jury Citation Next Floor Denis Villeneuve
FIPRESCI Discovery Lymelife Derick Martini
FIPRESCI Special Presentations Disgrace Steve Jacobs

North American premieres[edit]

Special presentations[edit]

Other films to be screened[edit]

Masters program[edit]

Vanguard and visions[edit]

Midnight Madness[edit]

[11]

Sprockets (family fare)[edit]

Wavelengths (avant-garde showcase)[edit]

Contemporary world cinema[edit]

Canada First[edit]

Short Cuts Canada[edit]

The Real to Reel (docu program)[edit]

Canada's Top Ten[edit]

TIFF's annual Canada's Top Ten list, its national critics and festival programmers poll of the ten best feature and short films of the year, was released in December 2008.[12]

Feature films[edit]

Short films[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2008 Toronto International Film Festival Annual report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Brendan Kelly, Variety: "Toronto unveils Canadian selection" (July 15, 2008) Retrieved July 11, 2012
  3. ^ a b ""Toronto believes in Lee's 'Miracle'" Variety, by Jennie Punter, Jul. 2, 2008". Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  4. ^ a b ""Toronto film festival finds its Destiny" Aug 14, 2008 Reuters/Hollywood Reporter". Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  5. ^ a b ""Toronto Adds Premieres for 'Che', 'Porno', 'Bloom', 'Synecdoche', Others" Cinematical, by William Goss, Aug 13th 2008". Archived from the original on August 14, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c ""Toronto's dance card complete Sept. 4–13 festival includes 249 features" By Etan Vlessing, Hollywood Reporter, Aug 19, 2008". Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Variety "Toronto Film Festival unveils lineup Event boasts 500-plus guest list", by Jennie Punter, Aug. 19, 2008". Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  8. ^ a b ""Toronto film festival promises lighter touch" Reuters, Aug 19, 2008". Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  9. ^ ""Toronto fest adds 20 films to lineup" Variety, by Anne Thompson, Aug. 13, 2008". Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "Awards put the wrap on Toronto Film Festival" Archived October 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. post-gazette, October 10, 2013.
  11. ^ "History of the Toronto International Film Festival's MIDNIGHT MADNESS Programme". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "TIFF's Top Ten". Vancouver Sun, December 17, 2008.

External links[edit]

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