Fests, 9/22.

As the final loose ends of this year's Toronto International Film Festival are wrapped up, many of the same media outlets are prepping for the New York Film Festival, which opens tomorrow and runs through October 9. To start with the NYFF, then:

• If you've got to get oriented quickly yet expertly, Aaron Hillis's preview at Premiere is the one you're looking for.

• In the New York Observer, Sara Vikomerson talks to writers and editors, distributors and programmers about what sets NYFF apart from the noisier festivals. Also: Rex Reed's preview.

• At indieWIRE, Anthony Kaufman argues that the very difference so many tell Vikomerson about is what'll be working to the advantage of non-US films: "Even a handful of movies lost in the shuffle and superficiality of Toronto will get a second look in New York by micro-distribs."

• Karina Longworth fires up Cinematical's coverage.

Meanwhile, back in Toronto:

• In Twitch's "Big Toronto Film Festival Wrap Up," the team rates the zillion films they caught at the festival and offers super-brief verdicts on each "with instructions to be harsh."

• The Village Voice's "Festival Express": "Five years ago, Guy Maddin stole the festival with his six-minute The Heart of the World; this year, the Winnipeg Wonder did it again with the 16-minute My Dad Is 100 Years Old." Also: Anthony Kaufman on the acquisitions and J Hoberman and Dennis Lim's notes.

• B Ruby Rich on the new talent, the sociopolitics, the vets and the theme of the year in the San Francisco Bay Guardian: "Oh no, not sex again! Yup, sex." Also, Cheryl Eddy: "Toronto's slate of Asian films was crowded with directors whose work I consider essential viewing."

• Jessica Winter in the City Pages: "The unofficial theme song of TIFF '05 was indisputably 'Linda, Linda' by the Japanese '80s punk band the Blue Hearts."

• Marjorie Baumgarten shows us her TIFF diary in the Austin Chronicle.

• The Philadelphia City Paper's Sam Adams was disappointed to discover "one favorite director after another turning in subpar work."

• Jim Ridley strikes a similar note in the Nashville Scene, warning that if Toronto's a true barometer, the upcoming season may not be all that exciting.

• The Boston Phoenix's Gerald Peary's "three best features I saw at Toronto": The Proposition, C.R.A.Z.Y. and Paradise Now.

• Josef Braun for Vue Weekly: "Making the most of it comes down to financing and perseverance. Luckily, I had both."

• At the IFC Blog, Alison Willmore points to Roger Ebert's, David Poland's and more Toronto wrap-ups.

• More roundup-type notes: Darren Hughes and Girish and, once again, all these.

The Sundance 06 site is up; Cyndi Greening's got numbers.

Robert Avila previews San Francisco's Arab Film Festival in the SFBG. Tomorrow through October 2.

In the Independent, Alice Jones previews Bite the Mango, a festival of world cinema running from tomorrow through September 29 in Yorkshire.

To highlight in the Los Angeles Times, Kevin Thomas chooses one doc from the program of the New York Film and Video Festival, running in LA through September 29: Karen Blixen: Out of This World. And Susan King blurbs National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival, on through Sunday.

Chuck Tryon suggests planning ahead: The DC Underground Film Festival runs from September 30 through October 1.

Movie City News has the AFI Fest lineup. November 3 through 13.

October will be a "Month of Horror, Terror and General Mayhem" at the Pioneer Theater in NYC.

Peter Bowen is writing up the highlights of last week's Rome International Film Festival for Cinema Strikes Back. That's Rome, Georgia, by the way.

Got an idea for a music video? You might consider entering the Scion xPress Fest.

Posted by dwhudson at September 22, 2005 1:19 PM