By THE BKONTHESCENE TEAM
We started Day#2 with two screeners-first, we walked over to the Scotiabank theatre for The Reeds and then Homecoming.
It was the world premiere feature from Istanbul director, Cemil Ağacıkoğlu.The cinematography was captivating from the opening shot, throughout the movie. The screener is centered around the small village of Bolvadin in Turkey, where humble villagers depend on cutting reeds for survival. But greed, bullying, and threats are all part of the daily routine for these impoverished workers, where the underworld and selfish bosses control the fearful reed cutters.
The lead character from an Anatolian village, Ali and his wife Aysel live a simple farmer’s impoverished life. Ali is fed up with the gangsters controlling him and a chance altercation with one of the underworld hoods ends in a horrific tragedy. Ali must reflect on this event, compelling him and his wife try to get out of poverty.
The daily mundane life is changed forever after this; timidness, acceptance of this life and many changes are what defines Ali. Kudos to the actors and director Ağacıkoğlu for this film.
We had the opportunity to stop by the House Of Peroni on the streets of King St.by the TIFF Bell Lightbox.It was a short rest and we were off to our next location.
HOMECOMING
It was the world premiere from Finland, Norway from Suvi West and Anssi Kömi, about Sámi artifacts. An emotional ride for Suvi West, as she travels to museums in Germany and Sweden looking for her family’s property, often not a pleasant outcome.
The movie starts at the Helsinki museum, returning to Sápmi, the Sámi nation in northern Scandinavia and northwestern Russia. Sámi relics are housed in museums worldwide, many of the items that were seized or claimed over the centuries, including everyday things such as: shoes, clothing, kitchen items and tools… these collections also include drums, other musical instruments and human remains such as bones/skulls.
Great cinematography showing the heritage and capturing the emotions of indigenous culture while bringing artifacts back to their homeland.
We were invited to Goodmans 2023 Reception Celebrating TIFF at Goodmans LLP at The Bay Adelaide Centre. For a short visit.
Nickelback Day!! King Street West is closed to traffic from University Ave to Blue Jays Way/Peter Street Big TIFF signs at each end of the closed King Street where people love taking photos! Food trucks. Vendors. Big Stage set up on John Street – south of King Street – just north of Wellington in preparation for the night time Nickelback concert!
Red Carpet for Nickelback!
Bk on the Scene was photographing on the Red Carpet for film LOVE to HATE: NICKELBACK. Fans of the group were ecstatic when let into the Fan Zone in hopes of getting a glimpse of their favourite band! And they weren’t disappointed! Lead singer Chad Kroeger took the time to sign lots of memorabilia for the fans. Canada’s Nickelback band members Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Daniel Adair and Michael Kroeger arrived! Also director Leigh Brooks was there for the Premier screening of their film Love to Hate: Nickelback.
Nickelback film premier screening – Love to Hate:Nickelback film at Roy Thomson Hall– Audience loved the film. Lots of concert footage, a visit to Hanna, Alberta (birthplace of Nickelback boys), history of their first years as a band, concert tours, viewers got to know the band members – their beginnings, band member dynamics, their growth into beginning one of most successful bands in the world… let alone Canada. Why do people supposedly ‘hate or love’ Nickelback? … that’s for you to discover when watching the documentary film. Who should see this film? Nickelback fans, for sure! Concert fans. Musicians. Documentary film – goers. Nickeback band members in attendance for Q & A after screening and answered pending questions which added to the full Nickelback experience at Roy Thomson Hall.
Our next location was the Red Carpet photography session for Premier film screening of French film-LES INDISERABLES.
At Royal Alexandra Theatre In attendance Director Ladj Ly born in Mali and grew up in Paris. Directorial credits include documentaries 365 Days in Clichy-Montfermeil (07), 365 Days in Mali (14), and Speak Up (16). His debut narrative feature Les Misérables (19) was at TIFF. Les Indésirables (23) is his latest film at TIFF. Actors in attendance were Anta Diaw and Steve Tientcheu. More about this magnificent film on Day#3 Saturday when seen.
The Nickelback concert was an outdoors free at the Festival Stage on John Street – south of King Street. And the Nickelback fans were there in full force! Thousands of fans loving every minute of it. A fan-loving way of promoting their film Love to Hate: Nickelback. The guys from Alberta sang such hits as Photograph, Rockstar, Animals, If Everyone Cared, Someday, How You Remind Me and more. Fans new and old were happy. Very happy. Great experience for all.
After the great music experience for Nickleback,we were back viewing screeners with-Copa71.
Copa71 is the surprising infuriating emotional real life story of the suppressed history of the first Women’s World Cup in 1971 played before crowds of 110,000 in the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the Champion Denmark team winning the Goddess of Victory Trophy.
The 1991 Women’s World Cup was first officially sanctioned by FIFA, but the non-FIFA-sanctioned 1971 Women’s World Cup was missing in action due to the ban by FIFA and national football bodies.
Copa 71 utilizes unearthed footage from 1971 in Mexico City when teams from Argentina, Denmark, England, France, Italy, and Mexico, playing in front of over 110,000 adoring fans in historic Azteca Stadium. Despite being an unrivalled audience for women’s sports, memory of its existence was largely erased until this documentary.
We arrived at our next screen -Woman of the Hour.
Woman of the Hour is Ana Kendrick’s tour-de-force film, in her directorial debut while also being the main protagonist, revealing the true story of a conniving serial rapist-murderer, Rodney Alcala, in the 1970s, who was able to escape capture due to the authorities’ cavalier attitude towards female eyewitness testimony.
The suspense heightens during Kendrick’s character, Sheryl’s appearance in the 1970s on the TV program The Dating Game with Rodney Alcala, being one of the 3 bachelors to be chosen by the female contestant to spend an all-expenses out-of-town date with the winner.
We arrived at the Ontario Creates’ signature TIFF event Celebrate Ontario at The Carlu
Ontario Creates, a government agency, plays a pivotal role in boosting the economic growth of Ontario’s creative sectors, encompassing music, publishing, and film. They support job creation, business development, and international competitiveness through various programs and partnerships, contributing to the province’s cultural vitality and economic prosperity.
During TIFF23, Ontario Creates proudly supported seven remarkable films, including Seven Veils, The King Tide, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, Swan Song, Close To You, Fitting In and Backspot.
Celebrate Ontario was a prestigious international networking gathering that spotlights Ontario-funded films featured at the festival. This year’s event was held at the iconic Art Moderne-style venue, The Carlu, drawing guests and celebrities alike. The atmosphere was electric as attendees engaged in vibrant discussions, forged meaningful connections, and exchanged innovative ideas.
It was the first night at Marbl on King St. Previously,It was called Supper Suite last year, but whatever the label, this event never disappoints. This year, the Cinema Center was a great success during TIFF 2023 film festival in Toronto, and we would like to thank official TIFF Partners, MARBL for their hospitality, generous sponsor partners and great staff. The Cinema Center’s goal was to support the film and creative community with its usual brand of artistry, style, glamour and gala celebration at this year’s TIFF that brought on red-carpet festivities, even though the Writers and Actors strike was currently in effect.
The 2023 Cinema Center sponsor partners include Sommsation, Blue Moon, Collider, Tres Generaciones Tequila, and Belvedere Vodka.
Experiences included a combination of sponsored gala premiere parties, industry-networking events, and press junkets over the four-day and night period. Films and events that were celebrated at the Cinema Center included:
“UNICORNS” – Friday, 9/8/23
“BACKSPOT” – Friday, 9/8/23
“IRENA’s VOW” – Sunday 9/10/23
The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Soiree hosted by The Creative Coalition President, Tim Daly
“THE CRITIC” – Monday, 9/11/23
We looked forward to more days and nights at the amazing”Cinema Center”at Marbl.
Our final destination was a TIFF industry event at The Ballroom close by The Scotiabank Theatre.The great hospitality included:DJ music, special themed cocktails, patio and tacos/hamburgers.We ended Day#2 and we would rest up for Day#3.
BKonthescene 