By Janet Grant

Has TIFF lost its way from a fan experience to only business and making a quick buck?

This year’s titles include biopics, documentaries, sweeping epics, intimate character studies, tear-jerking dramas, films based on music legends, and laugh-out-loud comedies.

Pros:

Diverse film lineup: This year’s TIFF highlighted 25 countries’ films, offering various genres and stories and promising a cinematic journey.

Star-studded events: The Gala Presentations drew major celebrities, making it a thrilling experience for fans.

Interactive sessions: Post-screening Q&A sessions and the ‘In Conversation With…’ series, which involved intimate discussions with filmmakers and stars like Cate Blanchett, Hyun Bin and Lee Dong-Wook, Zoe Saldana, and Steven Soderbergh, provided fans with unique opportunities to engage with the film industry.

Fan zones: Dedicated areas, known as ‘fan zones’ allowed fans to watch celebrities on the red carpet, enhancing the festival and fan experience.

Cons:

Crowd management: The large number of attendees sometimes led to overcrowded venues, making it challenging for fans to get good views or access to events.

Ticket availability: High demand for popular screenings meant tickets sold out quickly, disappointing some fans.

Graffers: The presence of autograph seekers (graffers/hounds) sometimes created tension, as they often competed with genuine fans to access celebrities. The graffers almost knowcked over Oscar-winning writer-director Francis Ford Coppola who walks with a cane.

Fans vs. Graffers:

Why do celebrities choose to sign pictures sold to fans in the comfort of their homes or offices?

Why do people buy photos of celebrities? It is not a picture of them with the star of their choice, so why?

Who are the people who will spend so much money without having the experience?

A true fan is just a boy or girl, a man or woman standing before a star and asking for a magical moment or memory.

Fans: They were there to immerse themselves in the films and the festival atmosphere. They cherished the diverse lineup and the opportunity to see their favourite stars up close, with the chance to capture a selfie with one or more of their idols. The fans shared experiences of obtaining the precious keepsake selfie with those around them created a sense of community and shared joy. Their smiles, reflecting the happiness of their fellow fans, were truly priceless. Fans were instrumental in helping each other capture that precious treasured selfie, making them an integral part of the festival’s success.

Graffers: Their focus on obtaining autographs sometimes disrupted the experience for other attendees, crowding around celebrities and creating bottlenecks. Their presence at times made celebrities and fans feel unsafe. After their autograph-hunting spree, they would leave the fans and celebrities in a daze, sometimes even causing celebrities to leave the area, leaving fans disappointed. Their sole focus on the number of autographs they got and the money they made from pushing and blocking fans from getting their treasured pic highlighted the need for better crowd management and a more fan-friendly environment.

Despite some logistical challenges, TIFF 2024 was a vibrant celebration of cinema. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is renowned for its strong connection with fans, who are the heart and soul of the event. It is one of the world’s largest publicly attended film festivals, drawing in a diverse audience of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and celebrities. The festival’s open and inclusive atmosphere allows fans to engage directly with filmmakers and actors, making it a unique and cherished event in the film community, a testament to its significant role in the film industry.