Critical.

The 2008 Toronto International Film Festival is but a week away, and I’m getting excited.

Most of you that know me well are aware that TIFF-time in Toronto is my favorite time of year.

Armed with my press pass, I watch between 30-40 films, interview dozens of actors and filmmakers, and hang out at a few parties as well — all in a span of ten days.

Despite my obsession with film and the festival, I tend to stay away from reviewing the actual movies and instead cover industry news and filmmakers. There’s a part of me that shies away from trying to judge the passions and efforts of a fellow creator. There’s a fantastic quote in Ratatouille (one of the best films to be released this decade) that explains this sentiment well:

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.

I do, however, love exploring the work of new filmmakers, particularly those that make short film. Much of the excitement in that comes from the ability to discover new talent at its ground level, and to help foster that talent by telling the world about it. Yet again, a quote from Ratatouille comes to mind:

There are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends.

If you’re coming to TIFF this year, do me a favor and watch some Canadian short films and support our next generation of filmmakers. And if you haven’t watched Ratatouille just yet, do that now. Right now.

Are you coming to TIFF08? What are you excited to see at the festival?