The 2018 Toronto International Film Festival has ended, and here is my reports on the festival.

This is part 1, day 0 to day 2.
For part 2, day 3 to day 5, go HERE
For part 3, day 6 to day 8 go HERE

Day 0 was, as it usually is, pretty underwhelming. While lots of people came through, we had a pretty tough time being in the right place at the right time for them. A lot of missing happened day one, and at the end, there was only 3 successes for anyone.

Isabelle Huppert was the first name to be noticed coming in for her film "Greta". The French actress signed a considerable amount of photos for the handful of autograph hounds there with items for her. I did not have stuff for her, but did take a photo of the star taking the time to sign.

During the long gap between TIFF names, we stumbled across former NFL star Emmitt Smith coming thru the airport. While Mr. Smith seemed nice enough early on, he quickly got annoyed with the amount of attention he had garnered and soon cut off all requests for photos with after doing a couple.

Quite a bit later, we ran into the only 3 other people we'd see there for TIFF all within a few minutes.  First up was Amber Heard, who was there to promote "Her Smell". Amber signed quite a lot, in fact, she might go down as 1 of the top 10 signers of TIFF.

Shortly after she left, the final two to come in while I was there arrived. Sam Taylor Johnson and Aaron Taylor Johnson arrived. While a few fan girls got photos with Sam, most people asked Aaron to sign, and the former Kick Ass star did so willingly. The pair were there to promote "A Million Little Pieces".

My day 0 autograph total was - 5

A+ Amber Heard
A  Aaron Taylor Johnson
A  Sam Taylor Johnson
A- Isabelle Huppert
C  Emmitt Smith

My first actual day of my final TIFF started with me happening to stumble upon the hotel that the cast for The Predator was staying at. I first saw Jake Busey, he took the time to interact with everyone at the hotel. Shortly after we saw Boyd Holbrook. I managed to get 1 autograph out of him. Keegan Michael Key came out a bit later, before we saw the person getting the most attention from the cast for her work in calling out a registered sex offender who had gotten a role on the film, Olivia Munn. Having had met Olivia a few times in Vancouver while the film was shooting, I knew she would be terrific, and she didnt disappoint. Truly one of the sweetest stars there is right now. I managed a couple autographs from her before she left. While I was there, I also managed to run into "Suits" star Patrick J Adams, he had stopped by there to get some TIFF credentials/passes done, as he had a film later in the festival to do.

From there I moved on to the back of the Princess Of Wales Theatre for my first "officia' TIFF hounding event.

The cast for "Outlaw King" went to POW to introduce the movie before they moved across the street for their "official" premiere at Roy Thompson Hall. All I got there was 1 Chris Pine autograph as the others I needed from the film did not show. Aaron Taylor Johnson and his wife Sam Taylor Johnson showed up there, and signed for all those who asked. 

From there, I tried to see if I could get Mr. Pine again at the RTH premiere, but I was unlucky with that effort.

Next up was the 10 PM premiere of "Kursk" at POW. Unfortunately, this was a failure for me. The two people I went for, 1 did not come, and the other only signed on the opposite side of where I was. I managed 2 autographs from Matthias Schoenaerts, but I went there for Colin Firth and Lea Seydoux, and came away with nothing from them, as Mr.Firth did not come, and Ms. Seydoux only signed for `1/2 the carpet.

I tried to redeem my evening by seeing what I could get at The Predator premiere. Luckily, it was alright. I managed to get 5 cast members on 1 item, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera and Boyd Holbrook on it.  I also managed to snag two Thomas Jane solo signed photos, so this made the premiere not bad. I missed Olivia showing up, because she showed up so long after the rest of the cast, I thought I had somehow missed her coming in. One notable exclusion was Sterling K Brown and Yvonne Strahovski no showing the premiere. Really was hoping one or both would come. Would have been nice to substitute one of them for Shane Black, who was nothing short of an ass to the fans who asked him for a photo or to sign. Guess he was in a bad mood still for his registered sex offender friends news coming out.

Day 1 of TIFF total - 13 autographs
TIFF total - 18

A+ Olivia Munn
A  Keegan Michael Key
A Matthias Schoenaerts
A  Sam Taylor Johnson
A  David Mackenzie
A- Patrick J Adams
A- Chris Pine
A- Aaron Taylor Johnson
B+ Billy Howle
​B+ Sam Spruell
B+ Trevante Rhodes
B+ Augusto Aguilera
B  Jake Busey
B- Thomas Jane
C+ Lea Seydoux
C+ Boyd Holbrook
F  Shane Black

Day 2 started off with one of the "you know its going to be pointless, but you still have to try" type of events, as Vox Lux was having a premiere, which means fighting for placement to try in vain at getting 1 of Hollywoods least willing signers, Natalie Portman. I actually managed to get an "okay" spot, which still did me no good for the elusive Mars Attacks actress... but at least this time, after seeing her twice before at premieres, I saw Ms. Portman actually sign this time... a whole 6 autographs, before she scurried away.  Saving the event was Jude Law, who did sign more, and I managed to get 1 out of that at least.

I hurried over to the premiere of Teen Spirit. I managed to get director Max Minghella to sign 1 and got a couple Elle Fanning "autographs". It was a bit of a shock to see the "L loop" autographs Ms. Fanning was handing out considering just a year or two earlier, I got full first name & a few letters of her last name when she signed. Adding to the disappointment was to see no sign of Elizabeth Bennington or Jamie Bell there.

Next up was probably the biggest star name of the day at the same theatre, as Homecoming had its premiere next. Julia Roberts arrived and signed a fair amount, I managed to get two there. Sadly Sissy Spacek showed up pretty late & did not sign going in. Emmy Rossum showed up to the premiere, and completely snubbed all requests of her, whether for autographs or photos.

On the way out for Homecoming, again Rossum ignored all requests, while Julia understandably didnt sign as 1 side of the barricades came almost completely down just before she was coming out the door. Thankfully Sissy Spacek signed on the way out for everyone that needed her, I managed 2 autographs from the Carrie star before heading away from there.

My next event was still at the same theatre, with a 9 PM showing of White Boy Rick. Very few cast of note showed up, but I did manage 1 Matthew McConaughey autograph there. The always unwelcoming Bel Powley signed little, if anything at the premiere.

I then went to the last premiere red carpet of the nght for Nekrotronic. I managed to get aol 5 photos I brought there signed, although Monica Bellucci did make it a bit more difficult than it should have been, but I eventually got all of hers done, as well as my 1 Caroline Ford and my 1 Tess Haubrich.

On my way back to the bus, I passed by the back of a theatre to find out Patricia Clarkson had not yet left her premiere, so I stopped there for a few minutes, and managed to nab 1 from her before I headed off back to Hamilton.

Day 2 autographs - 20
Total for TIFF - 38

A  Patricia Clarkson
A  Max Minghella
A- Elle Fanning
A - Sissy Spacek
A- Caroline Ford
A - Tess Haubrich
B  Julia Roberts
B  Matthew McConaughey
B- Jude Law
C+ Monica Bellucci
D+ Natalie Portman
F  Emmy Rossum

Reports for Days 3 thru the end of my Festival will come later this month. Check back here for links to those portions. Or go directly to the blog section to find them, and previous TIFF posts HERE

Day 5 of TIFF started for me later than I wanted it to, but when I did get started, boy did it pay off.

I first made my way over for the premiere of Jim & Andy featuring Jim Carrey. In recent years, Carrey has become a major name that you just dont see around much, so this was a big one to go for. Thanks to some good position scouting from another Vancouver hound, I ended up with a great spot, and managed to get 2 autographs from the comedic legend.

From there, I momentarily went to the Ryerson Theatre before I realized I had something far bigger I wanted to go for than a premiere with notoriously fan unfriendly brie Larson at it. So I went right back to the venue I just left to try for the next premiere there.

I managed 1 autograph each from Travis Fimmel, Charlie Plummer & Steve Buscemi on the way in for Lean On Pete premiere. Shockingly Chloe Sevigny refused to even acknowledge the people waiting before she headed in.

Afterwards I went around back to try and get Mr. Carrey again, and I would have, if the autograph hound he told "no blue pens, just black" had actually handed him a black pen. Instead he handed him a blue, when Jim saw that, he signed 1 item & annoyingly tossed the pen back and left. Those on the far side were luckier, as he signed for everyone on that side.

The next premiere at that venue, Downsizing, unfortunately downsized their red carpet names. Only Christoph Waltz showed up out of the several people attached to it. I managed two autographs from the 2X Academy Award winner, but the no shows of Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig definitely left a bit of a disappointed feeling at that premiere.

Next up for me was a Javier Bardem sighting at his 1 on 1 conversation event. I managed two autographs from the Skyfall & most recent Pirates Of The Caribbean star. 

I then hurried over to the Princess Of Wales theatre to get a spot for the Hostiles premiere. While I managed 3 Christian Bale autographs there, the disappointment that Rosamund Pike avoided signing autographs for anyone with an item for her was a tad displeasing. I helped someone there get an autograph from Wes Studi, but I never brought anything for him myself.

I hurried back to the venue I spent most of my day at to get Alicia Vikander leaving the premiere of Euphoria. The new Tomb Raider star was nice enough to do two autographs for me as she left there.

I ended my evening going for what I assumed would be the easiest event of the day, and instead was the hardest. The Midnight Madness premiere for The Disaster Artist. It had a massive cast list, but only four names were on the confirmed list, and unfortunately only 3 of them showed. The massive 4-7 rows deep crowd that went all the way to the back door made it hard to get any of them, and I only managed 1 autograph from Alison Brie at almost the last possible moment, while the Franco brothers eluded me due to the density of the crowd.

GRADES
A+ Javier Bardem
A+ Christian Bale
A  Jim Carrey
A Alicia Vikander
B+ Christoph Waltz
B- Wes Studi
B- Alison Brie
C+ James Franco
C+ Dave Franco
C+ Travis Fimmel
D+ Rosamund Pike
F+ Brie Larson
F Chloe Sevigny

Day 5 Total Autographs - 16
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 80

​Day 6 got off to a late start for me, and I didnt do anything till the press conference for the new TV program Alias Grace, based on a Margaret Atwood novel. While I managed to get Canadian actress & director Sarah Polley on the way in to the event, much of the cast however, either didnt come, or didnt have to sign going in. On the way out, I managed an autograph from the surprisingly hard Edward Holcroft, as well, I got 1 from Margaret Atwood. Had I done my homework more efficiently, I would have made more for her, unfortunately I didnt know she was also attached to multiple Emmy Award winner, The Handmaids Tale.

After the presser, I made the foolish decision to go to the premiere of Racer & The Jailbird. While Matthias Schoenaerts was nice, and the director Michael Roskam was nice too, the actress in the movie, two time TIFF worst interaction list finalist Adele Exarchopoulos soured most that were there on ever giving this film a chance. Even with 1 of the other autograph hounds & myself being given tickets for free, we had little ot no interest in seeing it, and much of that decision was based off Exarchopoulos terrible attitude the last two years at TIFF.

I did the arrivals of In The Fade to get my 1 Diane Kruger photo I had with me signed. I got it, turned around and headed off to do the next premiere.

Midnight Madness premiere for Brawl In Cell Block 99 unfortunately only brought 3 cast. One was Udo Kier, who was nice enough. Unfortunately, longtime unhappy to see fans actor, Vince Vaughn was 1 of them, although to his credit he did put in a few minutes meeting fans...even if he did put "W"s on items he signed. The worst however, was former 1980s star Don Johnson. The mostly unknown in the last generation TV actor strutted the carpet like he was still in the 80s and treated requests for his autographs or photos with like he was handing out his own blood. Definitely one of the least classy examples shown in all of TIFF.

I salvaged the evening by making it back to Loving Pablo departures where I got two autographs from Javier Bardem before he walked on foot to his movies after party near by.

GRADES
A+ Margaret Atwood
A+ Javier Bardem
A  Matthias Schoenaerts
A- Sarah Polley
B+ Udo Kier
C+ Edward Holcroft
C+ Sarah Gadon
C  Diane Kruger
C  Vince Vaughn
F  Adele Exarchopoulos
F  Don Johnson

Day 6 Total autographs - 12
​TIFF 2017 total autographs - 92

Day 7 was unusually light compared to the final days. With only 5 potential events on the day, I chose to work 3 that were all close together.

First up was a 1 on 1 conversation with Glenn Close. I had gone for Ms. Close in the past and found her to be pretty unaccommodating, so this was an important one for me. This time, Glenn was quite good. Despite being late for the start of her event, she found the time to squeeze out about 4 autographs on the way in, and in that were my two items. I heard from many others, she was also quite good leaving as well.

Next for me was the premiere of Kings with Halle Berry, and another of the major TIFF no shows this year, Daniel Craig. Luckily I managed to get 1 autograph from Halle, which doesnt even come close to making up for the FIVE previous times I have seen her and never managed to get her...but at least this time she signed one for me.

Last event of the evening for me was The Tragically Hip documentary Long Time Running. With the absence of their lead singer Gord Downie, who is battling terminal brain cancer right now, the rest of the band showed up, and all four members Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair & Rob Baker signed some items­. Thankfully the two I needed the most signed near me and helped finished an item I started ten years ago. I managed three autographs from that premiere, which was a few less than I anticipated, but since I got the two I needed the most, I consider it a major win. Also seen at the premiere was Canadian TV personality Mike Holmes, who came across as a bit unfriendly and full of himself as he just zipped by most people asking him to stop for an autograph or a selfie.

GRADES
A- The Tragically Hip
B+ Glenn Close
B  Halle Berry
C- Mike Holmes

Day 7 Total autographs - 6
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 98

Day 8 was a bit busier, but only slightly. I started by going for the premiere of The Wife. Just getting Glenn Close the day earlier, I was really there for Christian Slater.... who surprise surprise, NO SHOWED. Luckily I had a photo for Annie Starke, or else I would have went away from that premiere shut out. Ms. Close was again terrific, signing anything she could physically get near.

Next was the premiere of Three Christs. Everyone had hopes of Peter Dinklage from Game Of Thrones there, and of course, like many others from this fest, no showed. Richard Gere arrived and signed a fair amount, but stopped literally 1 person short of me, and Walton Goggins signed but missed me by maybe 3 people. So I left that theatre with a whole zero autographs. 

I then dragged my mostly defeated self over to the back end of the Alias Grace premiere. I still had hopes there of 4 or 5 autographs, but with Zachary Levi no showing, it severely reduced my hopes to two. Rebecca Lilliard signed both items I had thankfully, minimizing the terrible day that I had. Both Sarahs, Polley & Gadon signed for most everyone there, but newcomer Edward Holcroft, like he did at his press conference, signed sparingly & missed many.

GRADES
A+ Glenn Close
A- Richard Gere
A  Annie Starke
B+ Sarah Polley
B- Walton Goggins

Day 8 Total Autographs - 3
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 101 (yay, finally limped over the 100 mark)

Day 9 of TIFF turned out to not be too bad for me. It actually outdid the last two days before it combined & then some.

I started with the premiere of 55 Steps. Helena Bonham Carter bucked the recent trend for TIFF and actually showed up...thankfully. I managed two autographs from the actress before getting ready for the next event.

The premiere of My Days Of Mercy was next, and I managed autographs from all 3 actresses that arrived. I got former The Killing actress Amy Seimetz to sign the 3 photos I had for her while the rest of the carpet was busy desperately trying to get Kate Mara and Ellen Page to come to them. Eventually Ms. page made her way to me and I got 1 on a photo I had previously signed by Drew Barrymore. Then Kate Mara came by and put a `K -`on my photo. Then I managed to salvage 1 more Page autograph after she did an interview on the stage they set up on the carpet. 

From there, I went to the departure of the premiere for Plonger. There I managed to get 4 autographs from Melanie Laurent, which really helped turn an òk`day into a `good day`.

My final event of TIFF would be the Midnight Madness showing of Downrange. With a cast full of people I didnt previously know, it was interesting to meet people still early in their careers. I managed to get all 3 photos I had for that premiere signed. First, getting Stephanie Pearson, then her cast mate, and my final autograph of TIFF 2017, Kelly Connaire, who was telling me and the other person asking her how she created the costume she was wearing in our photos herself. I then hung around a few minutes to see the other autograph hound there get autographs from Alexa Yeames, Jason Tobias & the director Ryuhei Kitamura. All in all, probably the nicest cast of TIFF was where my 2017 Toronto International Film Festival ended.

GRADES
A+ Melanie Laurent
A  Kelly Connaire
A Stephanie Pearson
A  Alexa Yeames
A  Jason Tobias
A  Ryuhei Kitamura
A  Helena Bonham Carter
A- Ellen Page
B+ Kate Mara
B+ Amy Seimetz
C+ Rebecca Lilliard
C- Edward Holcroft
C- Sarah Gadon

Day 9 total Autographs - 15
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 116 (3rd highest total for me ever)

​For Days 0 thru 4 go HERE