blogTO | Posts by Sameer

blogTO | Posts by Sameer http://www.blogto.com/ Toronto blog Copyright 2009 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:19:26 PDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Last Call Poets with Shane Koyczan Tonight an awesome night of spoken word featuring Toronto's own Last Call Poets and a very special guest: Shane Koyczan.

You may have heard his name before &mdash most people interested in spoken word around the world have. Shane was the first Canadian to win the Individual World Poetry Slam and has performed with the likes of Ani DiFranco, the Violent Femmes, Saul Williams and many more.

The following video has Shane performing "This is My Voice," a poem particularly relevant in light of the upcoming election:

Special guest Shane Koyczan aside, tonight's performance by the Last Call Poets is one to look forward to. I spoke to That Brown Bastard, a member of the group, to tell us a bit more about spoken word in the city and what to expect tonight.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/arts/2008/09/last_call_poets_with_shane_koyczan_tonight http://www.blogto.com/arts/2008/09/last_call_poets_with_shane_koyczan_tonight Arts Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:10:10 PDT Arts Sameer 2008-09-15T10:10:10 TIFF Today: September 13, 2008 Photo: Kate Beckinsale on the red carpet by Ryan Coleman.

It's over. Almost.

Today is the last day of the Toronto International Film Festival, and honestly, I spent my night partying the festival away last night, so that's why this update is a little late. Apologies.

It has been a good festival for partying, I'll admit that. Whether it was a good festival for everything else has yet to be decided.

Eye Weekly's blog has an article asking if this year's TIFF was the "worst film festival ever" and Tim was interviewed by CTV asking if the festival has become too elitist. The verdict by most: a resounding yes.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_13_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_13_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:27:55 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-13T11:27:55 TIFF Today: September 12, 2008 Towards the end of the Toronto International Film Festival, festival-goers have a tendency to get tired, hungry, depressing, and extremely cranky. Something to do with staring at a screen for 16 hours a day for ten days straight, I guess.

That's why I can understand — not excuse, mind you, just understand — Lou Lumenick's mindset when he allegedly thwacked Roger Ebert with a binder. When your nerves are on edge and someone starts poking you, it's hard to keep your composure. (Of course, after this incident, I've lost whatever little respect I ever had for Lumenick. Tired as you are, you have to keep your cool.)

Today is the second-to-last day of the festival, so things are winding down slowly. For those of you that still have some energy and want to watch more movies, I've heard that you might still be able to get a seat for Soderbergh's 4.5-hour epic, Che. For those of you that are a bit tired of festivaling, get some rest and eat some homemade food — you need to be fresh for the last bit of TIFF fun tonight and tomorrow.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_12_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_12_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:09:09 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-12T09:09:09 Annie Bradley talks Pudge at TIFF Toronto International Film Festival is Pudge, a film that lets Toronto take centre stage. Director Annie Bradley took some time to talk to me about the film, about shooting in Toronto, and about playing at home at TIFF08.

(Apologies for the background noise. It gets a bit difficult finding quiet spaces at the Sutton Place Hotel during festival time.)

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/annie_bradley_talks_pudge_at_tiff http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/annie_bradley_talks_pudge_at_tiff Toronto Film Festival 2008 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:11:11 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-11T11:11:11 TIFF Today: September 11, 2008 It's the eighth day of the Toronto International Film Festival, and I have yet to mention the biggest stars at the festival in my TIFF Today posts. So I'm going to make up for it by talking about those stars today.

I am referring to, of course, the TIFF volunteers.

You've seen them out and about with their green shirts, showing you where to go, checking your tickets, and in general making the festival a much more pleasant experience for everyone. And it's not just your movie nerds that are donning the green shirts. Mary, a volunteer that has been helping out at TIFF for eight years now, told me that she's been having more fun this year than any other because of the diversity of both the audiences and the volunteers.

Jason, a first-time volunteer, was in awe of the sheer amount of work and organization that goes into making the festival happen: "I've always heard of TIFF, but I never realized just how big it really was until I decided to volunteer." His volunteer experiences as a theater usher have been nothing but positive: "I'm so glad I had the chance to volunteer. I've met people that I never would have met before, and everyone is really grateful of the work we're doing. And it's a lot of fun."

Fun aside, volunteers are the lifeblood of the festival. To Mary, Jason, and everyone else volunteering at the festival, thank you from all of us at blogTO.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_11_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_11_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:09:09 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-11T09:09:09 TIFF Today: September 10, 2008 There was a point during the screening of Lymelife at the Toronto International Film Festival last night when I looked at Derick Martini (the film's director who happened to be sitting next to me) and saw a look in his eyes that seemed to say, "I made that, and people like it." That look has been one of the highlights of this year's festival for me.

We tend to forget too often — as press or as the movie-watching public — that for many filmmakers, showing at TIFF is not just something they have to do in order to get a distribution deal. For many filmmakers, the festival gives them an opportunity to see and understand the impact that their films have on people from around the world.

Okay, that's enough sentimentality from me for today. (And if you haven't seen Lymelife yet, check out one of its final two screenings. It's a gem.)

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_10_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_10_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:14:22 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-10T09:14:22 TIFF: Reviewed - Part Five Didn't get to catch any screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival over the first week? Looking for some tips on what to watch this week, or just want to know enough to impress your co-workers?

In this edition of TIFF: Reviewed, five very special reviews by Tim and special guest critic Matthew Price: Hunger, The Real Shaolin, Lymelife, Slumdog Millionaire, and Me and Orson Welles.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_five http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_five Toronto Film Festival 2008 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:11:11 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-09T11:11:11 TIFF Today: September 9, 2008 Stop the presses. Paris Hilton is in town for the Toronto International Film Festival today. What? Not interested? There are reports that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had dinner together last night. Still not interested? Okay, well some reports are saying that Keira Knightley was looking too skinny on the red carpet last night.

And that, folks, is how silly celebrity spotting has become. Do people really care how skinny someone is? Apparently, they do. Because of the lack of Oscar-buzzworthy films at TIFF this year, most of the festival-related headlines around the web have more to do with celeb lifestyle than with film. Sad.

Entertainment Weekly has gone so far as saying that the Academy Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival have officially broken up. Now, most people might think that's a bad thing, but I think, in the long run, the decreased focus on Hollywood flicks will be good for cinephiles who will have better access to smaller, independent and foreign films.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_9_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_9_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:29:09 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-09T09:29:09 TIFF Today: September 8, 2008 I was talking to a friend at the CFC barbecue yesterday who said that the Toronto International Film Festival should be treated like the Olympics. Intrigued, I asked him to go on. He continued to say that every country should have a running tally of how many distribution deals their films have closed at the festival, and the success of that country would then be measured by some confusing ratio involving amount of money involved in distribution deals and budget of said films.

I'm no mathematician, but his idea seemed like another way to highlight American dominance and show how Canada was underperforming, until I realized that in his model, countries like Canada and Germany actually shine based on the business they've been doing at TIFF this year. Look out for France to make a late charge.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_8_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_8_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:09:09 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-08T09:09:09 TIFF: Reviewed - Part Three Didn't get to catch any screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival over the first week? Looking for some tips on what to watch this week, or just want to know enough to impress your co-workers?

Special guest critic Matthew Price chimes in once again with his amazing reviews. This time, he takes a look at A Film With Me In It, It Might Get Loud, Vinyan, and Religulous.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_three http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_three Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:47:05 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-07T21:47:05 TIFF Today: September 7, 2008 Darren Aranofsky's The Wrestler may have picked up the Golden Lion at Venice, but it was LeBron James that was on the minds of Toronto cinephiles yesterday.

In town to promote the More Than A Game — a film that tracks the trials, challenges, and successes of a high school basketball team from Akron, Ohio, and which also happens to be the team where LeBron James first received national attention before his NBA stint — James took some time out to host a slam dunk exhibition in Dundas Square before Youssou Ndour's performance.

While everyone loves a slam dunk expo, the movie itself was actually pretty good, garnering a standing ovation from the crowd and causing LeBron James himself to greet the audience in tears.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_7_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_7_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:41:38 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-07T10:41:38 TIFF: Reviewed - Part Two Looking for some tips on what to catch at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, or just looking to be kept in the loop on some of the big film-related talking points in the city this week?

Special guest critic Matthew Price will be chiming in from time to time to give you the scoop on some of the films playing at TIFF. Today, a review of Achilles & the Tortoise, C'est pas moi, je le jure, and The Sky Crawlers. (Plus my own quick review of O'Horten.)

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_two http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_two Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:53:54 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-06T17:53:54 TIFF in Three Minutes: Mark Van de Ven Short Cuts Canada programme kicks off at the Toronto International Film Festival later today, and one of the films playing tonight is Us Chickens by Toronto-based filmmaker Mark Van de Ven.

I had the chance to chat with Mark for a few minutes about his movie and what it means for him to be playing at TIFF this year. Here are his thoughts in three minutes:

(Yes, it was raining outside when we filmed this. Thanks to Mark for being a great sport and not minding a few raindrops on his head.)

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_in_three_minutes_mark_van_de_ven http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_in_three_minutes_mark_van_de_ven Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:13:13 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-06T13:13:13 TIFF Today: September 6, 2008 Day three, and the Toronto International Film Festival is already getting immense attention from local Torontonians. A big reason for that may have been the arrival of Brad Pitt yesterday for the screening of Burn After Reading. At the screening of the film, co-director Joel Coen thanked Pitt and the rest of the A-listers in his movie: "We'd like to thank the amazing cast for induging in our nonsense."

Nonsense or not, Burn After Reading was one of the most buzzworthy movies to screen yesterday — but it certainly wasn't the only story making waves.

Wednesday's gala presentation of Fifty Dead Men Walking is running in to some trouble because the former British spy who is the subject of the film has not waived his moral rights to the story. TIFF programmers are assuring the press and public that the screening will happen, and filmmakers have retained local legal counsel to make sure everything goes off without any glitches.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_6_2008 http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_today_september_6_2008 Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:33:54 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-06T08:33:54 TIFF: Reviewed - Part One

Looking for some tips on what to catch at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, or just looking to be kept in the loop on some of the big film-related talking points in the city this week?

Special guest critic Matthew Price will be chiming in from time to time to give you the scoop on some of the films playing at TIFF. Today, a review of $9.99 and Waltz with Bashir. (Plus my own quick review of Dioses.)

]]> http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_one http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/tiff_reviewed_-_part_one Toronto Film Festival 2008 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:18:18 PDT Toronto Film Festival 2008 Sameer 2008-09-05T18:18:18