The only GOATS for GEORGE CLOONEY at Toronto Film Festival will be in the movie – Thank you very much.

The party to celebrate the Clooney starring THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS was held at a posh Bridle Path residence on Friday night. A pen full of real goats was assembled there to greet the guests outside. When it was suggested that Clooney and cast pose with the goats. George wanted none of that and sailed past the goats into the private party. We know Clooney is a great guy – But I guess even George knew that was one photo op to stay a mile away from.

What the Toronto streets look like outside a TIFF party Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are in as the cast from THE INFORMANT celebrate their TIFF premiere

(festivalinsider.ca) Matt Damon has come to the Toronto International Film Festival this year in support of Steven Soderbergh’s THE INFORMANT. After their Elgin red carpet premiere, Matt Damon and cast headed over to Sassafraz restaurant in the heart of Yorkville. Michael Douglas would later stop by to join the party. It didn’t take long for word to spread that A-list stars were in the building as hundreds lined the streets for a glimpse.

Jennifer Connelly overcome by tears thinking of her father’s death at 2009 TIFF press conference for Creation

The press conferences at TIFF always provide their share of surprises. And when Jennifer Connelly, took time in her CREATION presser to address remarks a media executive made about her and her husbands very brief pre-Gala party appearance it generally stunned the packed room of media.

A newspaper report had quoted Astral Media’s John Riley as being upset his family didn’t get a chance to personally meet Mrs. Connelly and husband Paul Bettany at an Astral Media TIFF launch event. Connelly took time in the press conference to explain the evening of her and husband’s Gala premiere, was also the 1st anniversary of her father’s death. and THAT was the reason she cut her party celebrations short. To their credit, Mr. Riley and Astral Media did release a statement.

Will TIFF be the most Tweeted Film Festival in history? Twitter has become the best place for Toronto Film Festival breaking news.

There is no doubt newspapers and television have traditionally been the go-to source for Toronto Film Festival news in years past. But the online world – and one place in particular – TWITTER, may have now become the best place for real-time TIFF news. For those in the twitter-know, there really is no better source of breaking TIFF news then the #tiff09 hashtag stream. (If your not familiar with Twitter or tags, think of hashtags as words to organize all news content around.)

If your looking for people tweeting about the festival, you can catch the individual thoughts of many from a few different perspectives of TIFF.

Official TIFF sources on Twitter:

@TIFF_NET
@InfoTIFFBell
@mmadnesstiff

Official people behind those official TIFF sources:

festival director @CAMERON_TIFF (and assistant to Mr. Bailey @ALEX_TIFF is tweeting.)
@jenbell_TIFF
@giovanna_tiff
@ChrisYDS_TIFF
@dc_comics
@kimberly_lyn

the TIFF film programmers

@thompowers
@colingeddes
@noahlightbox

Some cool people working the tiff scene

@ashley_bartlett

Unofficial (but still very good) sources:

@TOfilmfest
@TIFFReviews
@tifftalk
@TIFFblog
@Larry411
@RobertAMitchell
@inkcanada
@thesubstream

True film fans:

@pink_lolly
@canmark
@trinas1972

The major media people and reviewers:

@akstanwyck
@wellshwood
@amyverner
@shinangovani

The talent and stars coming to TIFF:

@JasonReitman
@diablocody
@mrskutcher
@KevinSpacey
@michaelsheen
@hughhefner

oh yeah, and there is us @tiffinsider

We want to make you feel like an INSIDER this TIFF – We got FREE SCREENING TICKETS and CADILLAC rides to give away – FOLLOW US on twitter for the details to win

The Cadillac TIFFinsider will be giving away FREE SCREENING TICKETS to many of the most popular films playing the Toronto festival this year. But your going to have to FOLLOW US on twitter (@tiffinsider) to really have the best chance to win.

Each day, we’ll be giving away FREE tickets at secret locations around Toronto. We’ll be revealing these locations and SECRET PASSWORDS exclusively on Twitter. SO YOU MUST BE FOLLOWING ALONG TO HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.

And it’s not just film tickets you can win. You’ll also have a chance to ride like that stars do and test drive a Cadillac.

(Sorry folks, you will have to be at least 19 years of age to win tickets and hold a valid drivers license if you want to cruise around in a Cadillac.)

Our first sets of complimentary tickets will be for screenings of JENNIFER’S BODY and ANTICHRIST on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH. Details to follow very soon at www.twitter.com/tiffinsider

Looking for lessons in fish sex? Isabella Rossellini and Green Porno kick off TIFF photo ops at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum

The powers at TIFF have been saying for years the Toronto Film Festival is NOT just about films. They are certainly proving that correct this year with many different art events happening during TIFF all over the city.

Internationally-renowned actress and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini has brought her popular GREEN PORNO: SCANDALOUS SEA to TIFF this year. The installation features Rossellini’s playful short films about the reproductive habits of marine creatures. The public has a chance to visit Rossellini’s installation FOR FREE in Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) from September 10 to 20.

Cadillac People’s Choice Award celebrates the best in film from TIFF – now expanded in 2009 for Documentary and Midnight Madness categories

The 34th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival brings about important change to the Cadillac People’s Choice Award. In addition to the main feature award (Slumdog Millionaire won last year) for 2009, there will be new Cadillac People’s Choice Awards presented in separate documentary and Midnight Madness categories. The awards are chosen by audiences through a voting process that takes place at screenings throughout the Festival.

TIFF’s Real to Reel program that showcases the documentaries has some especially thought provoking films this year. Early favorites might be Chris Smith’s COLLAPSE. A candid look at the media empire of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in VIDEOCRACY has been stirring buzz. We also hear great things about WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY, an insiders look at the Disney animation empire that recently wowed Telluride Film Festival audiences.

A Cadillac People’s Choice Award will also be presented to favorite Midnight Madness feature. An early favorite in this category could be the already much talked about JENNIFER’S BODY, featuring a demonically possessed Megan Fox and written by Oscar winning Juno scribe, Diablo Cody. But vampires from another Midnight Madness feature, DAYBREAKERS, led by Ethan Hawke could give JB a run. And of course, there are still eight other films in the Midnight Madness program for consideration.

One thing for sure, competition for the Cadillac People’s Choice Awards will be tight. We’ll just have to wait and see what the TIFF audiences decide when the awards are presented on September 19th.

Jason Reitman’s UP IN THE AIR flies into TIFF on strong reviews from Telluride Film Festival

Well, its safe to say director Jason Reitman will be having himself a very busy TIFF this year. Besides the highly anticipated George Clooney starring Up In The Air, Reitman is also in Toronto as producer on Jennifer’s Body. And if Jason can find the time, we’re sure he’ll be around to support his father Ivan Reitman’s Chloe, the Atom Egoyan directed film which Reitman Sr. produced and is also having a TIFF red carpet premiere.

Up In The Air had its first real showing at the Telluride Film Festival this past weekend. To say critics were blown away would be an understatement. The intimate showing of Up In The Air at Telluride gave a screening of the film to mostly American critics. Hailing Reitman’s latest as everything from “a triumph” to “sure-fire Oscar contender” should cement Up In The Air’s status as a TIFF must-see movie and where a much larger press pool will now have a chance to see the film.

Let the Awards campaign season officially begin!

Jennifer’s Body star MEGAN FOX and BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN arrive early in Toronto – the weekend BEFORE TIFF starts

Arriving early for TIFF? Jennifer’s Body star Megan Fox and boyfriend Brian Austin Green are in Toronto this weekend. The couple paid a visit to Holt Renfrew on Bloor St. and strolled Yorkville ave. on Friday. Probably a smart thing for the couple to do now. By next weekend, Yorkville will come alive with the Toronto Film Festival and the relatively unnoticed walk the couple made yesterday, will be impossible.

The Hollywood Reporter spotlights TIFF in annual Toronto Film Festival edition

The Hollywood Reporter puts a spotlight on the Toronto International Film Festival with it’s annual TIFF edition which hit newsstands today. Among the story features;
TIFF: Fest of Both Worlds – TIFF special report
The A List – 10 titles likely to generate buzz in Toronto
Toronto Survival Guide – Insider tips on where to go, what to see and how to get there