Friday Sept. 17 & Saturday Sept. 18

Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico MSN

Friday

Return to Sender
Directed by Bille August
Dark and troubling tale about an attorney (Aidan Quinn) who interviews inmates sentenced to die for books. But one such inmate (Connie Nielsen) is a child killer that takes hold of the lawyer's heart. Very intriguing. Director Bille August and stars Aidan Quinn, Tim Daly, Kelly Preston and Connie Nielsen will be present.

Arsene Lupin
Directed by Jean-Paul Salome
An entertaining and rollicking rendition of the famous French jewel thief's story. French star Romain Duris plays the 19th century thief who falls for a beautiful Countess (Kristin Scott Thomas) during one of his many "jobs." Lots of fun. Director Jean-Paul Salome will be present.

Los Muertos
Directed by Lisandro Alonso
Visually stunning Argentine feature about a man released from prison after several years. Venturing into the deep vegetation of the jungle, he attempts to find atonement for his crime. Beautiful. Director Lisandro Alonso will be present.

Quill
Directed by Yoichi Sai
Heartwarming tale about a Labrador puppy raised to be a seeing eye dog even though critics don't believe the pup has it in him. Smart, interesting and absolutely lovable. Director Yoichi Sai will be present.

Somersault
Directed by Cate Shortland
Exceptional performances make this difficult coming-of-age movie worth seeing. A 16-year-old Australian girl is so precocious it forces her run away from home and meet up with a kindly farm boy where she's forced to rethink her attitudes. Very nice. Director Cate Shortland and stars Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington will be present.

Vital
Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
Disturbing but well-written drama about a young Japanese man who survives a car crash where his suicidal girlfriend dies. When he wakes up he has no memory, but in medical school he comes across his ex's body and decides to dissect it in order to regain his memory. Odd stuff.

Primer
Directed by Shane Carruth
Complex but brilliant drama about two engineering friends who come up with a machine that creates doubles of them. This leads to complications in their "real" lives. Not easy to watch, but worth focusing on. Director Shane Carruth will be present.

Trauma
Directed by Marc Evans
After waking up from a week-long coma, Ben (Colin Firth) is traumatized to learn that his wife (Naomi Watts) was killed in the car crash. But he's haunted by thoughts and dreams, and soon becomes implicated in a celebrity murder that unravels a disturbing truth. Tense and exciting thriller. Director Marc Evans and star Colin Firth will be present.

Ladies in Lavender
Directed by Charles Dance
Wonderful performances make Charles Dance's directorial debut a must-see. Maggie Smith and Judi Dench star as sisters living in Cornwall who rescue a young man from drowning. Soon they find themselves at odds regarding their feelings for the person, especially after he falls for a young pretty thing (Natasha McElhone). Director Charles Dance and star Natasha McElhone will be present.

Isn't This A Time! A Tribute Concert for Harold Leventhal
Directed by Jim Brown
Fans of American folk music will find this documentary priceless. The concert in question features Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert, Erik Darling, Arlo Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary, Theodore Bikel, and Leon Bibb who pay tribute to Harold Leventhal, an active supporter of folk music for 50 years and the promoter who made their careers possible. Director Jim Brown and stars Harold Leventhal, Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert, and Erik Darling will be present.

Celebrity watch

The festival is almost over, and there are very few stars hanging around. Those still here will be on the patio at the Intercontinental Hotel where doing press interviews; or at the Four Seasons Hotel and Windsor Arms where many of them are staying.

New stars in town today include: Zeze Gamboa, Jim Brown, Harold Leventhal, Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert, Erik Darling, Vadim Jean, Jan Hooks, Martin Short, Charles Dance, and Natasha McElhone.

There are two galas tonight at Roy Thomson Hall. If you line up near the red carpet at around 6 p.m. for the premiere of "Return to Sender" you'll see director Bille August and stars Aidan Quinn, Tim Daly, Kelly Preston and Connie Nielsen.

At around 9 p.m., it's time for "Arsene Lupin", and attending is director Jean-Paul Salome.

Saturday

Jiminy Glick in Lalawood
Directed by Vadim Jean
Martin Short is hilarious as the movie critic who takes his wife and kids to the Toronto International Film Festival in the hopes of interviewing some stars. Watch for cameos by real-life actors Kiefer Sutherland, Kurt Russell, Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin. Very funny. Director Vadim Jean and stars Martin Short, Jan Hooks, and Janeane Garofalo will be present.

Saw
Directed by James Wan
Very scary thriller about two people who find themselves captive in a room. A tape recording says that one must murder the other or his family will be killed. Stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover and Monica Potter. Terrifying. Director James Wan and stars Danny Glover and Leigh Whannell will be present.

The General
Directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman.
A rare opportunity to see Buster Keaton's 1927 masterpiece on a big screen. Picture about a Civil War soldier is restored and features a new score by Joe Hisaishi. Bring the kids.

Today's the last day of the festival and there are very few stars left. Those still in town (mostly Canadian) include: Andre Forcier, Maury Chaykin, Jerry Ciccoritti, Emily Hampshire, Jacob Tierney, Quanita Adams, Don McKellar, Mark Rendall, Kristen Adams, Chantal Akerman, Fabrizio Filippo, Kristen Thomson, John Callander, Paul Campbell, Peter Outerbridge, John Parker, Mike Wilmot, Maya Sansa, Jan Hooks, Martin Short, Charles Dance, Natasha McElhone, Clark Johnson, Julian Richings, Peter Stebbings, Jackie Burroughs, Bruce McDonald, Joely Collins, Hugh Dillon, Cindy Wolfe, James Allodi, Rob Stefaniuk, Nicole Deboer, Joe Flaherty, Bruce Hunter, Graham Greene, Bruce LaBruce, Bille August, Aidan Quinn, Tim Daly, Kelly Preston, Connie Nielsen, Gordon Pinsent, Adam Butcher, Shauna Macdonald, Leigh Whannell, Jonas Chernick, Alex Campbell, Martha Burns, Guy Maddin, Abbie Cornish, Sam Worthington, Ken Burns and Paul Gross.

Tonight's closing-night gala is "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood" at 7:15 p.m. at the Ryerson Theatre. If you line up near the red carpet you'll see director Vadim Jean and stars Martin Short, Jan Hooks, and Janeane Garofalo.