Good idea! LOL.
Ok- learn the faces of the programmers. They pick the films. My theory is, if they ever meet you and remember your face, it will be familiar when the movie gets submitted. Familiarity is good, no?
They introduce alot of their films, so try and catch them at one of those. They might be running between shows, so it's a narrow window. The festival sprawls the city at several chains- Steven Gravestock (programmer for contemporary Canadian films... he looks like Johnny Depp in 20 years) would always be running to the cinema so he'd have enough time to have a smoke (he always had a smoke). I'd talk to him during that time. Even though he won't remember my name, if he saw a movie I was in, he'd be like- I know that guy.
As for at the fest, most filmmakers had a publicist. A lot of publicists did multiple films, but I don't know if thier just picked up from the same companies, or if TIFF provides them. Either way, you want one of them. Make sure you have extra tickets- give them out to rush lines, to get movie-lovers into your seats, or give them to industry people. You'll notice them by the passes.
I'd stage a publicity stunt- something for the premiere screening intro. Have it use a theme from your film. Borat showed up being carried on a carriage drawn by work-women. It got a lot of press.
With the kind of movie I think you might be going for, you're programmer will most likely be Colin Geddes (Midnight Madness). Colin's a great guy, very knowledgable of cool underground flicks, and is impressed by content over quality of image, if you know what I mean. He'll see your viral film and go nuts. Those screenings attact young crowds mostly, fans of the cool and unique, so give them some sort of live payoff with some kind of stunt. The trick is not making it cheesy.
There are also advanced screenings for press and industry- the more buzz you have going in, the more interest. What I would do, is as soon as you get accepted, is hire a posting company to distribute posters around Toronto, with a cryptic and alluring ad. Follow it up right before the festival with the same ad, only now advertising your movie. Advertise on all the online Toronto forums (when you need a list, I know a few). You probably won't get a lot of people to come, but if one person is searching specifically for it, they'll find a lot of content, so it just makes your prescene in Toronto more widespread.
Then, I'd work my ass off to fill the seats before the film starts. Go outside, give tickets to Rush lines (try and allure them from whatever other movie to see yours, with a free ticket)- you can even give it to the rush staff person, and they'll do it for you (I was an outside rep, and had to do it a lot).
I've seen screenings where maybe we would admit 14 people, in a 9:00am block. And ten of them were with the filmmaker's party. I don't know how to not get shafted on the schedule though- I'd just be wary of any slot before Noon.
The Parties- go to them. They are fun. Me and my friend snuck into the VIP section through a back stairwell of the Liberty Grande (a lush palace-like lot) courtyard. Donivan Bailey was there! Maybe he was looking to land a role in a film? Apparantly Lance Bass was there too, but I didn't run into him. Thank god, I hate Nsync. BSB for life.
Either way, it's free booze, and you meet people. I talked at length with Colin Geddes at the closing night staff party, about the movie S&Man, but I was perhaps a little too drunk remember. I do remember dropping my entire stack of business cards on the ground, and not grabbing them because I didn't want to spill my beer. TIFF throws the best parties. I can't stress that enough because everybody goes to the parties, so you want to be at the parties. It's a very laid back and friendly festival. Being polite and nice here works more than the agressive Hollywood system.
Just come here, go to the events, movies, parties- have a good time, have a publicity plan and agent, and just meet people and bring up your film. That's exactly what you have to do at TIFF. I guess the real challenge is staying sober enough to sell yourself. But really, just have a good time- that's what life's all about, and that's the best uber advice one can give.
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