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Toronto International Film Festival 2009

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The Oprah effect: The press conference-turned-talk show taping

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Oprah ropes in her fans at the press conference for Precious

“It’s like the president is coming,” said one photographer looking back at the burly security guards at the entrance of the room.

“It’s bigger than that,” replied another. “It’s Oprah.

With our cameras slung over our shoulders, painfully weighed down by the giant lenses and flashes attached to them, 15 or so photographers negotiated spots and angles with each other so we all would have a clear shot at the mighty O behind the table she’d be sitting at for the morning press conference of the movie she co-produced: Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. (To see all photos from the Precious press conference, click here.)

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Toronto International Film Festival 2009

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The day TIFF stood still: the Oprah, er, Precious premiere

Precious moments: Oprah Winfrey clasps her hand to heart at the world premiere of Precious (Photo by Karon Liu)

Precious moments: Oprah Winfrey clasps her hand to heart at the world premiere of Precious (Photo by Karon Liu)

First the Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. Then Tim Hortons opened in New York. And now, Oprah Winfrey comes to Toronto.

We stood at the exact same spot for seven hours last night at Roy Thomson Hall to capture our red carpet photos of Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, Sherri Shepherd, Gayle King, Mary J. Blige and others. Still, we were latecomers; the girl beside us arrived at 8 a.m., and others started rolling in at 10 a.m. By six we could see a current copy of O Magazine in every direction (what else would Oprah sign?), which probably produced a spike in magazine sales and a possible solution to save the print industry.

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Toronto International Film Festival 2009

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PHOTO GALLERY: Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, Sherri Shepherd, Gayle King and Mary J. Blige arrive for the world premiere of Precious

Oprah Winfrey walks the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall for the world premiere of Precious at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2009 (Photo by Karon Liu)

Likely the biggest event of TIFF 2009, the premiere of Precious: Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire took place last night at Roy Thomson Hall. We were there to capture these 20 photos of Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, Sherri Shepherd, Gayle King, Mary J. Blige and others.

Want more Oprah? Check out our full report of the event here>>

Toronto International Film Festival 2009

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Today at TIFF: September 12, 2009

Our daily roundup of the most buzz-worthy opening galas, parties and screenings.

The Harder They Come free public screening, Yonge–Dundas Square, noon
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire showcase hosted by director Lee Daniels with a reading by the author, Yonge–Dundas Square, 4 p.m.
Up in the Air premiere, Ryerson Theatre, 6 p.m.
Get Low premiere, Roy Thomson Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Triage premiere, Winter Garden Theatre, 8:30 p.m.
A Serious Man premiere, Visa Screening Room, 9 p.m.
Solitary Man premiere, Varsity 8, 9 p.m.
I Don Giovanni premiere, Roy Thomson Hall, 9:30 p.m.
Harry Brown premiere party (guests include Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer), Lower Bay Station, 8 p.m.
Solitary Man post screening party (guests include Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Mary Louise Parker and Jenna Fischer), Brant House, 10 p.m.
Down for Life (guests include Danny Glover) post screening party, Maro, 10:30 p.m.
• Hello! Hollywood cocktail reception (guests may include Michael Douglas, Mary Louise Parker and Woody Harrelson), Birks on Bloor Street, 7 p.m.
• One X One concert (guests include Matt Damon and a performance by Mary J. Blige), Koolhaus
• Holt Renfrew party (guests include models Coco Rocha and Behati Prinsloo and a performance by The Stills), Burroughes Building

Toronto International Film Festival 2009

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Thank you, recession: this year’s free TIFF events are surprisingly wonderful

Young on Yonge: sideburned Canadian rockstar Neil Young appears for free during TIFF (Photo by Félix Antolín Hernández)

Rock star Neil Young gives a free performance (Photo by F.A. Hernández)

Synonymous with velvet ropes, lavish parties and celebrities whose annual income rivals the GDP of Palau, the Toronto International Film Festival has never been a particularly thrifty affair—until now. TIFF is getting recession friendly in ’09 by offering expanded free programming at Yonge-Dundas Square (the kind that so irked Rex Reed last year), not to mention some A-list celebrity appearances. “It’s been a tough year for everyone, so everyone deserves a bit of a break,” says festival managing director Michele Maheux. And judging by the press release, it’s good to see they’re not phoning it in with the freebies: planned events include appearances by Neil Young, George A. Romero, Joan Baez, Sapphire and many more. The full list, after the jump.

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