Ready for TIFF and TUFF

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) tickets went on sale Monday, July 7 and I've bought my 10-ticket package for $167 (and one for Ivana when she gets back). This year, they're telling us we can't use our tickets to bid for VISA Screening Room movies, even though we've done that every year since 2002. VISA Screening Tickets are $45 (the 8-film package is already sold out at $350+GST) and I paid that last year for 2 individual VISA tickets but we will have to see how they lay everything out in the order form in August.

Every year TIFF increases its prices and adds more rules. Visit haikugirlmovies for my latest RANT about TIFF. I don't think the TIFF founders wanted this "people's festival" to become out of reach for the average Toronto filmlover. They are offering student and senior pricing this year and a new student daypass but what about the diehard non-students like haikugirl & friends who've been going and supporting this festival for years?

I also submitted my TIFF for TUFF 1 minute movie into the Toronto Urban Film Festival. It's a photo montage of the stars I've seen at TIFF through the years. Cross your fingers for me! If I'm a finalist you'll see my movie on the ONESTOP screens in most subway stations - over 1 million people can view it during TIFF in September and vote online!

HBC Run for Canada

Ran 10K on July 1st in the HBC Run for Canada. I really like this event - it's a great way to spend Canada Day running along the lakeshore and we had gorgeous weather. After taking 1 hour and 20 minutes to do my 10K with Mary, I watched Tomas and Luisa run a swift 1K in the Kids Fun Run. After the races we headed into Ontario Place for a bagel and fruit then left Dori and her kids on the waterslides. Looked like fun but R and I headed home to chill and get ready for the BBQ.

Click this link to search race times. Richard finished in under an hour and I ran nearly 5 minutes faster than last year's HBC (2007 Chip time: 1:24:40, 2008 Chip time: 1:20:15). THANK YOU MARY for getting me through! Jean (founder of JeansMarines) and Jan (our coach from last year) were 1st and 2nd in the Womens 60-69 age group and my race partner Mary was 9th out of 17. WAY TO GO! Congratulations to everyone who finished and got the beautiful silver medals from the Royal Canadian Mint. Even the kids got medals with their T-shirts (so worth it for the $24 registration fee). Will post photos soon!