Our reviewer in…Maysa Moncao will hit the film festival junket next week, this time in Toronto. She will be sending you exclusive, sneaky-peak reviews of the best of yet-to-be-released indie cinema. Keep your eyes peeled here and on our social media sites for the updates:

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As you all know, TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) kicks off next week, on the 10th. Preparing for the festival is an exciting but somewhat bombastic experience. Every day I receive loads of emails, from film publicists and film industry people, inviting me for this or that event or screening. These numbers can give you an idea of our warming-up coverage.

There are 289 features, 110 shorts from 71 countries and 6 installations as part of Wavelengths section. The most interesting one is about Andy Warhol. The exhibition consists of archival material of Warhol’s childhood scrapbook, as well as photographs of Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo and Kim Novak, and polaroids of Farrah Fawcett and Grace Jones among others.

TIFF contaminates the whole of Toronto and its venues are in various locations. That means I would have to calculate well how many minutes I would have to piss per day, as well as keep my lipstick ready to use after swallowing sandwiches and brushing my teeth. I will have to choose between Galas, Masters, Special Presentations, Special Events, TIFF Docs, Vanguard and Midnight Madness. I have already cut off of my to-do list the TIFF kids.

Some of my most anticipated movies and events are:

• Wim Wender’s Everything Will Be Fine. I did a whole semester at University on German filmmakers and I really cannot miss it
• Hitchcock/Truffaut, a documentary on how this book changed filmmaker’s and star’s lives. It did change mine
• In conversation with Julianne Moore and Salma Hayk. Well, because since Patricia Arquette made her speech at the Oscars, it seems now women in films are being heard. At least, should be
• Get in the queue for The Lobster and The Assassin. They both hit on Cannes, but they seem so weird!! Are they movies to feel or to think? Should I have a pint before the screening?
• Go to the obvious The Martian and Black mass. They will be distributed and everyone will have an opinion on them, which they might hide or highlight for marketing reasons. I like to watch what people are watching sometimes
• Check some Brazilians features. Bull Neon, about the Vaquejada rodeo, is a good option — and its poster is a curious piece on graphic design
• Follow the polemical Michael Moore. I believe I will sense with accuracy how do Canadian audience receive another doc on North-American war policy. Remember to behave well towards powerful neighbours
• Explore the bloody disgusting Wes Craven as an executive horror movie producer at Midnight Madness. I am glad the subway (ha, they do not say “tube”) works all night
• Yes, go to the parties and free events to network. That is part of the fun of a film festival
• Be flexible enough to change all of my schedule if Johnny Depp invites me for a test. Who knows? Anything can happen!

Maysa Moncao