The next time you hear about the imminent death of film, think on the Toronto International Film Festival, which used to be known by the brash title The Festival of Festivals, and has grown over its 37-year history to become just that.
The event, which kicked off Sept. 5 and runs until Sept. 15, is a deal-making Mecca and a cultural force to rival the Academy Awards. In fact, the ovations that will greet many of this year’s 288 features also function as a kind of starter’s pistol for the race to the Oscars. They may be six months away, but the clock has started ticking.
The opening day features only a handful of films — screenings don’t start until 3:30 p.m., and half the venues remain dark until Friday — but even at quarter-speed, the power of the festival is astonishing.