The red carpet is pulled into place at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Wednesday September 8, 2010 as final preparations are made for Thursday's opening gala at the Toronto International Film Festival.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
With the bedbug frenzy behind us, TIFF will be a hotbed of tweets from celebrities and moviegoers talking about the best parties, coolest films, and Hollywood sightings. Search Twitter using the hashtag (keyword) #TIFF, #TIFF10, and #TIFF2010 to get an ongoing stream from the star-studded streets of Toronto.
Tweeters
As for top tweeters, film critic @jamesrocchi is posting 140-character reviews and blogger @LaineyGossip is the go-to girl for TIFF drama (but don't expect a follow, she doesn't follow a soul). There's even a "Twitter Showdown" with film critic Roger Ebert on Saturday, September 11th at 4 p.m. where he will engage in a tweet-off with famous Twitter fans including The Office actor @rainnwilson. Audiences will vote on the best tweet per round.
Blogs
The Globe & Mail TIFF Mob Blog is the go-to destination for festival stories, videos, and interviews. There are also plenty of independent TIFF blogs, including TIFF Talk, and eTalk has a mini site devoted to celebrity sightings and more.
Apps
The BlackBerry tiff app (free) is the official mobile download for the festival. Visa, another TIFF sponsor, has a free "insider" app for cardholders that is available on Android and BlackBerry phones (and an iPhone version is in the works, according to their @visainsiders Twitter feed).
Gadgets
The hottest festival devices will include the new iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch, and Samsuny Galaxy. These pocket-sized smart phones will help celebrities and filmgoers stay on top of the latest TIFF news, parties, and gossip. As for computers in coffee shops, expect to see numerous iPad sightings as celebrities (and wannabes) use cool tech to stay connected and look fashionable. If you're thinking of stalking the stars, you might want to invest in a pocket camcorder like the Flip to shoot HD video on the go.
Websites
To check out the films playing at TIFF, there is no better source than the official festival website. This site also includes an easy-to-follow schedule and, for visitors, there is a handy guide for exploring Toronto.