The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) opens today, Thursday, September 9.  Though much of the action has moved south to the King/Spadina area, Yorkville is still abuzz.  TIFF-related displays have been going up throughout the area, ranging from film-related windows to actual sponsorships (a good handful of stores have eTalk posters).   However, it is a little quieter this year.

Torontonians looking to celebrity-sight have lots of places to go to.  From hanging out at area hotels (Four Seasons, The Hazelton, Windsor Arms, etc…) to cafes and even ice cream shops (Summer’s Ice Cream is a very popular spot), movie stars are going to be everywhere.  Stars expected to make an appearance at the festival this year, according to CANOE.ca include Jon Hamm, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman and of course, Matt Damon, who will be hosting the annual OneXOne Toronto Gala on September 11.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 9 to September 19.  Films slated for the festival include The King’s Speech (UK/Australia), a story about George VI, who engages the help of a speech therapist to help him wih his stutter;  Little Sister (US/China), which is based on one of the earliest versions of the Cinderella story; as well as Inside America (Austria), based on the director’s personal experience as an exchange student in a small Texas town right at the US/Mexico border.  The film festival has often been the launching ground of films which would later be nominated for Oscars.  These films have included Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Ray (2004) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001).