Monica: Given Style Access

Betsy: TIFF Panache

Entertainment Tonight Canada's Kim D'Eon Igniting TIFF

TIFF 2010: Carrie Ng at the "Red Nights" North American Premiere

Last night Hong Kong actress Carrie Ng made a huge splash at her premiere of Red Nights, an erotic thriller that isn't for the faint of heart. In the film, she plays a femme fatale who dons 5-inch jade claws to peel the skin off her victims -- an act that she feels is expertly romanticized by French directors Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud.

Currently, Red Nights has no North American release dates.

Jasmin & Manuel

TIFF 2010: Wunmi Mosaku at the "I Am Slave" Screening

Based on the real life of Mende Nazer, I Am Slave centres on young Malia who is torn from her family and sold into slavery in Sudan. 6 years later, she ends up working for a family in London, where she desperately tries to escape her prison. Believe it or not, this story doesn't take place a 100 years ago. It takes place in present day.

Director Gabriel Range not only shines the light on the growing slave trade epidemic in England, he delivers one of the most heart wrenching films I've seen in recent memory. A big reason for that is actress Wunmi Mosaku (pictured above) whose portrayal of Malia is incredible.

Range arrived in Toronto with his producers to find a North American distributor and I hope they do. It would be a shame if I Am Slave doesn't find the audience that it deserves.

Kelsey's TIFF Shopping Spree

TIFF 2010: Director Richard Ayoade, Craig Roberts & Yasmin Paige at the "Submarine" Screening

There are few actors who have transitioned from the small screen to the big screen as director. Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, George Clooney and Zack Braff have done it. Now, The IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade has joined the exclusive club with the hugely entertaining Submarine, a romantic teen comedy starring Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige.

If you're a fan of Wes Anderson's Rushmore, then you're going to also love Submarine, which follows the exploits of 15 year old Oliver Tate who labours to win the love of his life while keeping his parents from separating. Ayoade's script brilliantly marries comedy and gravitas to create a complicated and heartwarming story of teen angst. John Hughes would be proud.

TIFF 2010: Patrick Wilson at the "Insidious" World Premiere

Patrick Wilson appeared at the Insidious World Premiere at the Ryerson theatre last night. In the film, Wilson stars as a tormented father who must come to terms with his wife (Rose Byrne) that their son is haunted by a vengeful ghost. Directed and produced by the Saw and Paranormal Activity team, the film is a wonderful scare-fest that is sure to win the hearts of horror fans.

Sony Pictures picked up Insidious just hours after its TIFF screening.

TIFF 2010: Kodi Smit-McPhee at the "Let Me In" Premiere

If the name Kodi Smit-McPhee doesn't ring a bell...well, it's only a matter of time. This young man co-stars in Let Me In, the controversial remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In. Based on the bestselling novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, the movie is about a 12 year old boy who befriends a young girl (Kick-Ass' Chloe Moretz) in his apartment building, but little does he know that underneath the shy girl exterior is a blood-thirsty vampire. After her secret is revealed and the body count steadily rises in the neighbourhood, the young man must finally decide where his loyalties lie.

I'm a fan of Let the Right One In and I was also in the camp that an American remake was unnecessary; however, after seeing the film, I'm glad that this update exists. As the original, Let Me In is tense-filled and engaging throughout. Director Matt Reeves does a fantastic job delivering a fresh perspective on the story. Fans of the original will not be disappointed and new audiences will fall in love with it. Both McPhee and Moretz are sensational in the 2 lead roles. I'm certain that we'll be seeing more fabulous work from both of them well into their adulthood.

Oh yeah...Kodi is quite the snappy dresser too.

Let Me In opens on October 1st.

TIFF 2010: Amber Heard at "John Carpenter's The Ward" Premiere

Sadly, director John Carpenter was called to jury duty and was not available to attend his premiere of The Ward at the Ryerson Theatre last night, but much to the delight of her male fans, Amber Heard did arrive. She stars as the psycho ward patient who may or may not be seeing a hideous ghost roaming the halls killing her fellow inmates. The film has a few scares to satisfy horror enthusiasts, but ultimately the payoff comes up short.

The Ward opens in October.

Heather Lighting Up the TIFF Block Party

After taking this photo of the lovely Heather, we couldn't help but notice a familiar couple in the background. Hmm...small world (or city).

The Bell Lightbox: TIFF's New Home

For over 30 years, TIFF has been hoteling all of its 300 films throughout various multiplexes across downtown, but now the world renowned festival can finally lay its cinematic hat and call the Bell Lightbox its home.

Yesterday, festival organizers held a massive block party at King and John to publicly unveil its new 5-storey headquarters, which houses 5 cinemas, 2 galleries, 2 restaurants, a lounge and several educational and film archive facilities (a 46-storey condominium known as the Festival Tower also sits on top of the building).

I was personally impressed with how bright and spacious the building is. The theatres are very comfortable with plenty of leg room, the gallery currently showcases an incredible array of international movie memorabilia both vintage and recent, and the restaurants and lounge are posh and cozy. Both cinephiles and casual film lovers can easily spend half a day at the unique complex.

If you're in the downtown core, be sure to visit the Bell Lightbox. It's another reason for Toronto to be proud of its extraordinary arts culture.

Nicki at the Bell Lightbox Grand Opening

TIFF 2010: Gemma Arterton at the "Tamara Drewe" Premiere

Gemma Arterton looked gorgeous in a chic black jumper at the Tamara Drewe screening at the Ryerson Theatre last night. The talented actress stars as the title character who returns to her hometown in the English countryside, where she becomes the object of desire of a pompous auteur, a jealous rocker and a handsome groundskeeper. Arterton holds her own well with the film's great ensemble cast. The breakout role will undoubtedly secure her leading lady status for years to come.

Rich with clever dialogue and plot twists, Tamara Drewe is an amusing romantic comedy that is sure to please.

The film opens wide on October 8th.

Andrea & Geoff

TIFF 2010: Josh Hartnett at the "Bunraku" World Premiere

Bunraku is a Samurai/Western pop-up comic book movie about a drifter who walks into town looking to kill Nicola the evil crime boss (Ron Perlman). At his side is a comic bartender played magnificently by Woody Harrelson and a Samurai warrior. The film is action packed and includes several elaborate fight sequences and dance numbers. Japan pop singer/actor Gackt steals the show in his North American screen debut as the Samurai Warrior. Not a small feat considering he's acting opposite Harrelson. Fans of the genre will love it -- others will find the 2 hour running time too long.

Bunraku does not have a release date yet, but will likely pop up in theatres next year.

TIFF 2010: Woody Harrelson at the "Bunraku" World Premiere

TIFF 2010: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon at "The Trip" World Premiere

Coogan and Brydon, the stars of Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, return in director Michael Winterbottom's The Trip - a hilarious film that is a cross between My Dinner With Andre and Sideways. In the film, the pair play their fictionalized selves touring North England taste-testing the menus of several restaurants along the way. Unfortunately, no brief synopsis will best capture how entertaining and funny this film is. The chemistry between the 2 actors is incredible and their impressions of actors -- Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Hugh Grant are hilarious.

So far, this is one of my stand out movies at TIFF. If Winterbottom shaved 20 minutes off the film, it would be perfect.

As a side note: Coogan and Winterbottom were gracious to sign my DVD copy of 24 Hour Party People - one of my favourite films. If you're a fan of new wave bands: Joy Division, Happy Mondays and New Order, then you'll love it as much as I do.

Shirin: Picture Perfect