Getting A Lift From TIFF

Well, Gentle Readers, TIFF 2009, will soon be upon us and on Thursday it will be time to say: Gentlemen start your projectors...

I hope to be screening between 20-25 films myself and have daily reports for you right from the cinematic battlefield itself. The Festival is such a whirlwind, that I hope this blog will help me to crystallize the experience from myself and my fellow bloggites.

There is one thing that I do have to sound off on and that is the hue and cry over TIFF selecting Tel Aviv for its CITY to CITY program. Apparently, some filmmakers- John Greyson for one, have withdrawn their films from competition and others such as Ken Loach, and Jane Fonda have expressed their displeasure, that Tel Aviv was chosen for this accolade. They call Israel an 'apartheid' state and how dare it be highlighted at TIFF. This of course is complete 'hogwash,' what it really is, is another thinly-disguised example of anti-semitism, rearing its ugly head. It was Jimmy Carter- who was probably high on peanut fumes - who gave Israel, this moniker. He said that he knew this label would stir up a storm of controversey - no shit, Sherlock. The only 'apartheid' state that existed was in South Africa, which now thankfully is a thing of the past. Israel is no more 'apartheid,' than Mississauga is. Also, why is it that some Palestinian film-makers have not joined the boycott by pulling their films. This whole brouhaha has definitely put a damper on this years event.

But, on to happier thoughts. TIFF is just a few days away and by all indications it should be a banner year. See you at the movies.

T.T.F.N.