Toronto has a lot of fun on offer this weekend. Here is a sample of what happens.
Toronto International Film Festival, September 8 to 18
The 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival is back, fully in-person, after going virtual and hybrid due to the pandemic for the past two years. In 11 days of screenings of international and Canadian cinema, the world-renowned film festival presents some of the biggest and soon-to-be biggest names in film.
There are more than 200 films on offer this year as the festival begins its march back to pre-pandemic form. At 9:45 p.m. Saturday at the Scotiabank Theatre, you can see director Tyler Evans’ chilling short film Diaspora, in which a black couple in a black neighborhood notices the disappearance of their neighbors while white replace them. That same night, Steven Spielberg’s movie about movies, The Fabelmans, is in the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theater at 9:15 p.m.
The festival will feature free screenings of fan favorites such as A League of Their Own on Saturday at 10pm on King Street West, or Festival Street. There are also free performances by artists such as Colombian-Canadian musician Lido Pimienta to help enthrall festival-goers, Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
Audiences watching movies in theaters or at home in the digital TIFF Bell Lightbox will be able to vote online this year for the People’s Choice Awards. All feature films in TIFF’s official selection are eligible. The winner will be announced on Sunday, September 18.
General admission tickets for Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theater and the Royal Alexandra Theater start at $20; $19 for TIFF Bell Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatre; and $11 for those under 25. Go to tiff.net to learn more and get tickets.
Rolling Loud, September 9 to 11
Toronto’s first ever Rolling Loud Festival is here on Friday. It’s a hip-hop festival with all the trimmings: Future, Dave, Nav, Lil Uzi Vert, Haviah Mighty, Central Cee, Roddy Ricch, Wizkid and many more. Fans have a fantastic way to get their hands on the stars they love as they see them stand side by side with local acts like AR Paisley and Why-G, showing that there’s more to Toronto than just earning a seat at the table.
At Ontario Place, hip-hop fans will finally have the chance to embrace Rolling Loud’s international expansion. With over 100 acts, it will be an endless ocean of choices. Since that choice can be paralyzing, I’ve broken down 10 of the must-see acts during the three-day extravaganza.
Currently, Rolling Loud Toronto only offers three-day passes starting at $399 for general admission to $849 for the VIP experience. Go to rollingloud.com/toronto to learn more.
CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, September 7 to 23
Wednesday marked the start of the 17th CaribbeanTales International Film Festival. Returning this year to celebrate the talents of filmmakers of Caribbean heritage, the festival presents a multi-ethnic lineup of exciting films that showcase interesting, dynamic stories from a plethora of cultures that are part of the Caribbean and African diaspora.
Screenings include Lavway, Our Story by Ryan Gibbons, Thursday at 7.30pm at the Carlton Cinema, along with shorts from Trinidad and Tobago; and “Steadfast – The Messenger and the Message,” a documentary by Fahim Hamid Ali celebrating the life of Jean Augustine, who was the first black woman in Parliament. It’s on Friday at 7:30pm at the Harbourfront Center Theatre.
Single CaribbeanTales tickets are $12 each while a $35 festival pass gives access to more than 50 films. Go to caribbeantalesfestival.com to learn more.
Celebrate Toronto, September 10th and 11th
Toronto has a festival of its own, Celebrate Toronto. Put on by the non-profit organization Celebrate Toronto, this year’s festival celebrates Toronto’s 188th birthday and this year is taking place in the middle of Nathan Phillips Square. You can browse the Toronto Made Market with over 125 local vendors; sip in the Steam Whistle Beer Garden or enjoy live entertainment, with DJ Lucie Tic on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8pm
Entry is free. Go to celebtoronto.ca to learn more.
Asianlicious Carnival, September 9 to 11
If you’re looking to eat over the weekend, the Asianlicious Carnival in Scarborough’s Woodside Square Shopping Center is a great place to start and finish. Inspired by Summerlicious and Winterlicious, Asianlicious is a celebration of Asian food and culture in Toronto. This year’s three-day carnival has a Hong Kong theme. Food lovers can sample hundreds of specialty items while taking in live dance and fireworks shows. There’s even a lantern workshop if you’re feeling crafty.
The festival runs from 5pm to 11pm on Friday, 11am to 11pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. Entry is free. Go to asialiciousto.com to learn more.
