“I was at the Drake last year for the Passchendaele party and a woman approached me to ask if TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey oils his head.”
How do you prepare for TIFF? Well, seeing as my non-work life goes out the window during TIFF, right now I’m frantically trying to get all of those pesky personal errands done before the behemoth is upon me! We’re talking laundry, bill paying and making sure the cat gets lots of love, because I don’t want a repeat performance of last year when he showed me quite clearly (on my pillow) how he felt about my long absences.
Where would we most likely find you during TIFF at 2PM? You’ll likely find me at my desk at our Sutton Place offices dealing with filmmaker and studio requests and putting out the odd fire. Otherwise I’ll be at one of our venues making sure everything is running smoothly and that directors and talent are getting in and out on time.
What has been your most memorable TIFF party? We hosted a Directors Dinner last year and were all very excited that a legendary filmmaker planned to attend. She arrived very early and after ordering a drink sat down and got comfortable on one of the couches near the bar. She soon proceeded to kick off her shoes, lie down and curl up with one of the decorative cushions. When she called me over to ask me to wake her up when the “party started.” It took everything I had to keep a straight face – it was just so cute! Needless to say, her presence and charming quirks made the evening one to remember.
What are the three things you need during TIFF to survive? COLD-FX, band-aids and booze.
If you are looking for a moment of peace and quiet within the ten days where do you go or what do you do? Seeing as 90% of the staff on my floor move offsite, the quiet spot I often go to take refuge in is our year-round office at 2 Carlton. It seriously looks like a bomb went off with empty desks and wires leading to nowhere, but is perfect for a quick nap, cry, or visit with my lone co-worker left behind in the rubble.
What has been the strangest interaction you’ve had during TIFF? I was at the Drake last year for the PASSCHENDAELE party and a woman approached me to ask if TIFF Co-Director Cameron Bailey (whom I work very closely with) oils his head. I wasn’t sure if she was looking for gossip or hair care advice but I smiled politely, said I have no idea what products Cameron uses, and made a quick exit out of there!
Which film are you most looking forward to this year? SO MANY! I’ve been hearing about some of these films since February so it’s really hard to pick. I’d say that if I had to choose then a few that I am excited to see are: ACCIDENT, a Hong Kong crime drama with lots of twists and turns, BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS directed by Werner Herzog and FISH TANK by Andrea Arnold who was at TIFF with RED ROAD in 2006.
What’s your best advice for someone who’s never attended TIFF before? Don’t panic. TIFF can seem like a beast to a newbie as there is just so much to see and do, but just hone in on what interests you most and you’ll have a great experience. There is also so much free stuff going on that you’ve really got nothing to lose! Oh, and don’t forget to try something new – maybe a silent film just for kicks?
Which celebrity run-in has been your favourite? Or had you the most awestruck? I’m hoping to have a great answer to this one after the Fest seeing as both George Clooney and Oprah will be in town…
If you could pick the brain of one filmmaker who would it be? Maybe Todd Solondz who is here with LIFE DURING WARTIME. I love his films and think he captures those awkward family moments so well. I also like Jean-Pierre Jeunet who directed AMELIE, and whose film MICMACS I am dying to see at TIFF this year.
Best SWAG ever? During my first Festival my boss gave me a swag bag she’d received from a party the night before and I was psyched to find a pair of adorable ballet flats. They didn’t quite fit so after much deliberation I decided not to keep them and put them back in the bag. The next day my boss mentioned that she’d accidentally left her shoes in the swag bag and I immediately looked down at my feet and cringed imagining what would have happened had I worn those charming flats to work that day. No great swag but a pretty good story.
What’s the first thing you’ll want to do once the insanity is over? Sleep is the first order of business. After that I plan to take a short vacation and then come back to work and start the whole process over again. Oh, and believe it or not, I’ll also be watching a ton of movies.