The first day! First day! It's here! It's here!

TIFF is officially in full swing and I am at bat. I began my day by trying to get into an afternoon press screening of 'Young People F***ing' (at the theatre: "Hello! I would like to see 'Young People F***ing'") but it was full. Who knew? It is obviously a hot Canadian ticket. That, or a bunch of people were as intrigued by the title as I was. Except they were more punctual.

Oh well!

I ran into friends who were also turned away so we just shuffled over to the line-up for Ang Lee's 'Lust, Caution.' We yammered away in line until we were ushered in. I can tell you that the first 40 minutes of the latest film from this Oscar-winning director (he won for 'Brokeback Mountain') are beautiful and riveting. However, not only did I not get to see 'Young People F***ing,' I didn't get to see Japanese-occupation-era Shanghai period-piece people f***ing because I had to duck out early and I missed all the titillating action. Subsequent Blackberry messages between friends intimated that they weren't impressed with the film but I reserve judgment for when I see it on my own.

Truth is, people are constantly walking out of press screenings early. Movie reviewers and industry people have a lot of ground to cover during TIFF and it gives them ADD. Sitting still for 2 hours is very difficult when there are so many places to be at once. For my part, I left Ang Lee's film to meet with an out-of-town acquaintance. Isn't that what TIFF is for? "Meetings"?

On my third try of the day, I finally got to see a film in its entirety and it was worth it. 'Control,' by celebrated music video director Anton Corbijn, is a beautiful, black and white portrait of influential British band Joy Division, and the struggles of its lead singer Ian Curtis. Corbijn used to shoot Joy Division shows as a photographer for NME back in the 70s and it's obvious that Corbijn has a real love for Joy Division. Ian Curtis is played movingly by Sam Riley, an actor so new that he doesn't even have a photo on IMDB (I know, I checked). Samantha Morton plays Deborah Curtis and the third lady in the love triangle is played by rising star Alexandra Maria Lara, who is in a real-life relationship with Sam Riley after the filming of this movie. 'Control' was very obviously directed by someone who has a real love for music and I loved it.

As the credits rolled, I caught a glimpse of a profile a few rows ahead that I would swear was Roger Ebert. I know he's here at the festival. Warning to Mr. Ebert: If I see you, I am going to corner you. I am stopping you to do my fan duty. See, there is an incident that has reached mythic proportions in my head that involves Ebert at a screening of 'Better Luck Tomorrow' at Sundance years ago, jumping into a loaded discussion on race politics in film. I saw actual footage of this moment in a screening of 'Hollywood Chinese' and it has enhanced my rabid ardour for the man with the thumbs. I tried to time my exit of the theatre with what I perceived to be the back of his head but it was dark and I lost him. If that was indeed him. There are still 9 days to go. Wish me luck! Ebert - if you want a high five from me (it's free!) meet me at the snack counter at the Varsity theatre tomorrow for $4 Cokes - I'm buying!).

As evening put a temperate cloak on what had been a smoggerrific day, I stepped out to a few parties. Because I don't like "BIG" unless we are talking about a rapper from New York (RIP), I avoided the opening night gala. Being at such huge parties are like trying to have a conversation and sip a drink while crossing a parade. Plus, it's spread out over about 5000 rooms. When it comes to fetes, I can only handle little guys.

Overheard on King Street West: "I'm like, so dehydrated from tanning."

I traipsed over to a fancy bar for a party thrown by a liquor company. There was definite celeb potential in the air as the place was swarming with paparazzi. However, the crowd mainly consisted of men in suits and women with very tall hair, plus the Designer Guys and the new 'Canada's Next Top Model' (the one with red hair and bangs). Very fashiony crowd, which makes sense as the party was hosted by a fashion magazine. I found a friend and we spent the better part of an hour scrutinizing a man I believed to be Giovanni Ribisi (it wasn't). (Did you know he's a Scientologist?)

I decided to split and head to the 'Young People F***ing' party, mainly to finally cross the doors of Toronto's infamous swingers club, Wicked. I pass by it on my bike every day, sometimes pausing to imagine the filthy goings-on inside. What I found out tonight is that there is "No Sex in the Jacuzzi" (there was a sign on the bar) but there is a huge shower. So I guess it isn't so dirty. Pole dancers gyrated on the bar and sushi was served on the bare, taut tummies of ladies lying on their back. The place was filled with film nerds, seemingly fully-clothed from chin to ankle, and titanium-bodied men and women with very round body parts, i.e. plastic mammaries, hard-won biceps. It was a fascinating study in the intersection of two very different worlds.

It's only been one day and I'm already falling into bed exhausted. I had one proper meal all day and I sweat enough getting from place to place that I really didn't think twice about not going to the gym. But I hope to go through it all again tomorrow and maybe cross off a name or two on my TIFF Run-In Wish List, which currently consists of two names: Clive Owen and Roger Ebert. Will Friday be the day?