Moviepie was given a first-hand account this year's Toronto International Film Festival by guest writer and movie-fiend Vickie. The festival, which ran September 6th through 15th, is annually one of the benchmarks of the festival circuit, featuring hot premieres, star-studded extravaganzas, and early Oscar buzz.

But this year turned out to be a festival like no other. With the shocking and tragic events of the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and rural Pennsylvania, the Toronto fest actually went dark for a day. The festival did resume, but with galas and star-studded parties cancelled for the rest of the festival.

Despite the somber shadow that fell over the festival, many exciting (and some not so exciting) films premiered... many of which you will most definitely hear about in the future. So, take a peek into the future of films coming (hopefully) to a theater near you...!

FILM FESTIVAL DIARY:

9-7-2001: Clea Duvall's Thirteen Conversations About One Thing premiere
9-8-2001: Entertaining Japanese slapstick, and the less entertaining Prozac Nation
9-9-2001: Rose Troche's The Safety of Objects
9-10-2001: Steve Martin's Novocaine and the Kevin Kline weeper Life as a House
9-10-2001: A bitter (and hilarious) open letter to the makers of Carving Out Your Name
9-14-2001: The festival tries to move on after the tragedy in the US
9-16-2001: Lovely and Amazing with Catherine Keener, and festival wrap-up thoughts