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has accommodated that need. That’s
what makes the festival what it is.
There is access to everything we need
and festival-goers need. Everything
has grown but it has been planned and
measured growth.
CIO:
What is your next step for the
festival?
PH:
We really want to take the festival
global, take our programming global.
CIO:
Top three films?
PH:
Top 3. Wow that’s a tough one.
But I would say
Pickpocket, Pierrot le
Fou and Sunrise.
CIO:
Do you have a most memorable
moment?
PH:
There have been so many. But one
of the best was when in 1989 Krzysz-
tof Kieslowski came to the festival as
our spotlight director. He was an un-
known Polish director and when we
announced him at our press conference
no one know his name. However, with
all the buzz of the festival by the time
the end of the festival approached he
was the hit of TIFF.
I will never forget walking him to the
final screening of his film. At the be-
ginning of the screenings there were
maybe 100 people in the theatre watch-
ing his film. But for the final screening
things were definitely different. As
we walked into the old showcase and
down the aisle for the final screening
everyone rose and gave him a standing
ovation. He became a North American
darling in 10-days time.
It is during moments like those that
make you realize the power of the To-
ronto International Film Festival.
Photo Credit: George Pimentel, WireImage Getty
for
TIFF
Credit: WireImage/Getty for TIFF
Credit: WireImage/Getty for TIFF
Credit: WireImage/Getty for TIFF
“
We really want
to take the festi-
val global, take
our program-
ming global.”
TIFF
