Toronto International Film Festival starts tonight
{{date|September 7, 2006}}
{{Canadian news}}
[[Image:2006poster.jpg|150px|left]]

The 31st annual [[w:2006 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] (TIFF) is starting tonight. The festival, runs until Sept. 16.  Hundreds of stars will be there. Including [[w:Reese Witherspoon|Reese Witherspoon]], [[w:Brad Pitt|Brad Pitt]], [[w:Russell Crowe|Russell Crowe]] and more.

"Even if the film isn't bought, it's just the industry [is] seeing your film, recognizing the name," festival director and CEO Piers Handling said. "Financiers, agents are all here. It's amazing the number of filmmakers who will get American agents out of being at the festival. Even a Canadian agent."

The festival has a 352-film lineup, and includes selections from 61 countries, ranging from dramas and horror movies to documentaries, independent features and short films.

"Toronto offers the widest breadth of any of the major festivals," said Tom Ortenberg, president of [[w:Lions Gate Entertainment|Lionsgate Films]].

Filmmakers like [[w:Michael Moore|Michael Moore]], [[w:John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]] and [[w:John Cameron Mitchell|John Cameron Mitchell]] will be among the participants of the festival's Maverick program, during which filmmakers discuss their latest works.

[[w:Winnipeg|Winnipeg]] filmmaker [[w:Guy Maddin|Guy Maddin]] will also screen his new silent film, ''[[w:The Brand Upon the Brain|The Brand Upon the Brain]]'', with accompaniment from the [[w:Toronto Symphony Orchestra|Toronto Symphony Orchestra]], two sound-effects artists, a narrator and a singer.

The world premiere of ''[[w:Amazing Grace (2006 film)|Amazing Grace]]'', based on the story of 18th-century British abolitionist, [[w:William Wilberforce|William Wilberforce]], and his campaign to end the slave trade will be shown on the last day.

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Film from Nunavut in Canada's north to open TIFF|date=August 29, 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2006/home/default.asp Toronto International Film Festival] official site

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tiff/story/2006/09/07/tiff-begins.html
|title=Curtain rises on 31st Toronto film festival 
|author=
|pub=CBC
|date=September 7, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=ddd5a6c2-e89a-406d-8341-5d6ba8a0c0c7&k=57063
|title=Stars shine bright in Toronto 
|author=John Kennedy
|pub=canada.com
|date=September 6, 2006}}

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{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:Toronto, Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Winnipeg, Manitoba]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Film]]
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The 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is starting tonight. The festival, runs until Sept. 16.  Hundreds of stars will be there. Including Reese Witherspoon, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe and more.

"Even if the film isn't bought, it's just the industry is seeing your film, recognizing the name," festival director and CEO Piers Handling said. "Financiers, agents are all here. It's amazing the number of filmmakers who will get American agents out of being at the festival. Even a Canadian agent."

The festival has a 352-film lineup, and includes selections from 61 countries, ranging from dramas and horror movies to documentaries, independent features and short films.

"Toronto offers the widest breadth of any of the major festivals," said Tom Ortenberg, president of Lionsgate Films.

Filmmakers like Michael Moore, John Waters and John Cameron Mitchell will be among the participants of the festival's Maverick program, during which filmmakers discuss their latest works.

Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin will also screen his new silent film, The Brand Upon the Brain, with accompaniment from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, two sound-effects artists, a narrator and a singer.

The world premiere of Amazing Grace, based on the story of 18th-century British abolitionist, William Wilberforce, and his campaign to end the slave trade will be shown on the last day.

*
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