TIFF Today: September 4, 2008

I've been waiting for this day the whole year: the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today, bringing some of the best cinema and filmmakers to our city in a celebration of art, celebrity, and glamor.

The anticipation and excitement is high, as it would be on any festival opening day, but it wouldn't be a good festival if it didn't open with some controversy. Yesterday, Venice Film Festival artistic director Marco Mueller announced that as of 2009 the Venice fest will compete directly with Toronto's event. Venice is known to draw the bigger stars, but Toronto definitely draws the bigger business. How the competition will be resolved is yet to be seen.

But this year, Venice is wrapping up and Toronto has the international film spotlight, so let's enjoy TIFF for all its glory.

Looking for some more information about the festival today? Here are a few other TIFF headlines from around the web:

• Toronto film fest could offer surprises (CNN)
• Toronto film festival's must see films (LA Times)
• Toronto Film Festival Opens Amid Cautious Industry Climate (WSJ)
• Toronto's Most Wanted? Four Films Courting Oscar Buzz (EW)
• Toronto Sellers Hope Distribs Stock Up (Variety)
• Bright Lights, Big Expectations (Globe & Mail)

The stars are out in full force in Toronto. If you're deciding to skip the films and check out the celebs, here's a list of who's expecting to be arriving in town today:

• Olivier Assayas
• Deepa Mehta
• John Malkovich
• Queen Latifah
• Jennifer Hudson
• Jimmy Page
• The Edge
• Jack White
• Ed Harris
• Viggo Mortensen
• Renee Zellweger
• Mark Ruffalo
• Nandita Das
• Ricky Gervais
• Preity Zinta
• Zac Efron
• Claire Danes
• Michael Cera
• Guy Ritchie
• Gerard Butler

Finally, if you're looking to catch a screening some time today, here are three films that have been getting some good buzz but might have slipped under your radar. If you do decide to check any of them out, let us know what you think of them!

• Plus tard, tu comprendras : The trials of the past can all be locked away in memories.
• Acné: Thirteen-year-old Rafael gets all the sex he wants, but is looking for love.
• $9.99: An animated film where the meaning of life can be bought for one low price.

Happy festivaling! Keep checking blogTO over the next ten days for continuous coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

(Photo: Still from $9.99.)