TIFF is like camping. It's supposed to be fun but if you're doing it right, you're hovering on the edge of barely surviving. Regular everyday things become shining beacons i.e. I wanted to hug the ground when I had a moment to stop for an iced coffee. That's not normal.

What I'm saying is that the TIFF experience is not comparable to your everyday life. If I only see two films and hit two parties (PER DAY) I feel wimpy. However, in regular sloth mode that would be about a month's worth of social activity. Don't get me wrong, I am having a sinful amount of fun. Mornings? Not so much, but you get the picture.

Because the weekend has arrived, line-ups snaked around corners outside movie theatres all afternoon. Trying to navigate the sidewalks in Yorkville was next to impossible. This is definitely Toronto at its most exciting moment of the year.

I started off with a screening of 'Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame,' a first-time feature for Iranian filmmaker Hana Makhmalbaf. Wow, this lady knows how to tell a story. She employs the most adorable little girl in Afghanistan (she uses non-actors) to tell an incredibly powerful story. Somehow, through the language and lens of children, through notebooks and pens and sticks and stones, she tells the story of the dehumanizing effect the Taliban has had on Afghanistan, especially for women. The narrative is deceptively simple but heavy with symbolism and she is such a masterful storyteller that the audience would collectively take a sharp audible breath for moments that involved mundane items like eggs or crumpled bits of paper. Hollywood directors have blown up buildings to less of a response.

I then made my way over to 'Nightwatching,' Peter Greenaway's latest film. It's about Rembrandt's Night Watch painting and it's told with a painterly touch for beautiful lighting and sets. However, I'll admit that I closed my eyes. For a little while. It had nothing to do with the film and everything to do with the fact that I woke up this morning and was out the door in half an hour (record time) having assessed my priorities (shower, yes, food and coffee, no) and the downtime in a darkened theater was getting to me. However, nap time only lasted a few minutes and anyone who knows me will say that it just wouldn't be like my narcoleptic self to stay awake for a 2+ hour film anyway (sorry, Mr. Greenaway - I really did like it). It stars an amazing actor named Martin Freeman and Emily Holmes, a Canadian actor whose resume conveys that I don't watch enough television because she obviously should be on my radar.

When it comes to the parties, there is something for everyone. You have to follow your nose. I went to the Hilary Duff party because it was thrown by a friend of mine but after a bride-to-be in a candy bra passed me by, I threw in the towel at waiting. Hilary was playing a show at the ACC in town and was coming to the club after. I waited for at least 30 minutes and knew I'd have to wait another 30. On a Saturday night, time is as good as money, or anything else you care about. So I left with nary a glimpse of the Duffster, who I actually really like for the cute and sweet factors.

Instead, I traveled west along Queen Street and headed to the Vice party for the film, 'Heavy Metal in Baghdad.' This was as different from Hilary Duff as you can get but it was more my speed. After the open bar kicked in, however, I needed some respite from the heavy metal the DJs were playing all night (the deliciously dark Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and my friend Dennis Chow, an all around good dude). We headed upstairs to the party Virgin was throwing in celebration of V-Fest which is happening on the Toronto island (does everything good that happens to Toronto have to happen in the same weekend?) There were some drunken dance moves to "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe (I won't lie and why should I? I love that track). Apparently, Sean Penn was on his way to the party but who could tell, what with seeing double and all. Viggo Mortensen had already come and gone and I do like him but if he isn't with that horse from 'The Lord of the Rings,' I'm not interested. My friend told me he saw Angelina Jolie (so she DID come to Toronto!) and Brad Pitt (obviously) with Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder (huh?) at the Four Seasons earlier.

Partying at night, however, is best done with eyes half-closed. It's no time for trying to spot celebs. It's a time to enjoy the 4 a.m. last call and open bar courtesy of...who knows? Good night to all - let's see how many screenings I make it to tomorrow.