Monday morning began early at a packed 9 am screening of 'Battle for Haditha' directed by Nick Broomfield. If you are the type of person who is inspired by current events, inspired to know the flesh and blood stories of people beyond the terse facts of hard news, this film is a must-see. It is about a 2005 bloodbath in Iraq at the hands of the US marines. It's Broomfield's ('Kurt and Courtney,' 'Biggie and Tupac') re-telling that makes the story about humans, lovers and families rather than statistics in 24-hour news station ticker along the bottom of the screen.

Iraq is a theme today as the gala of 'In the Valley of Elah' also screened tonight, with major fanfare. There was a fancy party at Casa Loma, which was lit up beautifully and surrounded by lots of made-up women in short, satin cocktail dresses. ET Canada was hosting the party and there was a stage complete with lights, camera and host (Cheryl Hickey) on the front lawn, plus of course, a red carpet.

Paul Haggis, celebrated Canadian screenwriter and director, and the film's stars were there. I was there, too, eating fruit dipped in the chocolate fountain. I love chocolate fountains. Guess who else loves them? Yasmine Hanani, one of the stars of this morning's 'Battle for Haditha.' I had to tell her how much I loved the film. It was surreal to see her, an American, at a party with music blasting and tons of flowing cocktails, when this morning she was very real to me as an Iraqi woman wearing an abaya as a victim of war. She's a very powerful actor.

If you're into "themes" the two of the above-mentioned movies would be good to screen together as would the two Joy Division films, the doc and Anton Corbijn's 'Control.' Speaking of Joy Division, I chatted with my next-seat neighbour (he was a production coordinator on the 'Joy Divison' doc) at a screening of Noah Baumbach's latest, 'Margot at the Wedding,' starring Nicole Kidman and her unbelievable plastinated face, and found out that his film was only finished a week before it came to TIFF. Imagine the craziest deadline you've ever had and then times it by a zillion, stamp it, no erasies. Argh, the horror! I've pulled all-night editing sessions and trust me, there's nothing quite like it in terms of bringing on the crazy.

This afternoon, I braved the throngs of people outside the Hotel Intercontinental. The entire sidewalk is swarmed and getting in and out of the front entrance is a harrowing experience. Smart, these people, as they hedge their bets with the most celebrities per square foot as the hotel is packed with celebrities doing press junkets all day long. I was there to meet with David Schwimmer (Ross from 'Friends') and the impossibly gorgeous Thandie Newton.

When I met David, he was texting his mom who had just arrived in town for his film, 'Run, Fatboy, Run.' Thandie told me all about pranks she pulled on the set, involving super-sized Mars bars, Saran wrap and Simon Pegg's toilet in his trailer. I know. She is so beautiful and refined - who would believe it? But she said so with her own perfectly lipstick-ed mouth and David confirmed. She is a total prankster. She even said that she wanted to show up at the 'Atonement' party tonight wearing the little 'Run, Fatboy, Run' red shorts they were given as cast and crew, with David and Simon in tow as a threesome. David just laughed and said that the shorts were much shorter and smaller on the men than they are on Thandie.

I didn't make it to the 'Atonement' party tonight but if anyone has photographic evidence of their three pert bums in red shorts, I will give you a prize. A Mars bar?

After my third screening of the day was out of the way, I had lunch for dinner and then made the evening rounds. First up was the aforementioned party at Casa Loma. Why is it that open bar always means super-sugary drinks that are impossible to down? I mean, really now. Is there anything that wrong with a nice clean vodka soda and lemon? Maybe you could ask Rachel Leigh Cook, since she was there at the party, not talking to anyone but just sullenly standing around with her middle-aged manager. Too bad. She should have come to where the young' uns were...

The Aritzia party! There was a party at the store on Bloor Street and, sure, it probably has absolutely nothing to do with TIFF except that the drinks were flowing and it was jam packed with short skirts. The DJ cranked it and, impressively for a Monday night, they managed to turn it into uber-hipster central. It was like every Canadian indie-rock god and goddess was there (all four members of Metric, the Stars, plus Jena Malone, Gus Van Sant, a gaggle of MTV Canada VJs, a posse from MuchMusic, some guy from 'Entourage' and the young blond from 'Seventh Heaven' who isn't Jessica Biel) as well as all of Toronto's pretty young things (and eyebrow-raisingly, the older suits they attract).

Three movies, 2 interviews, 1 meal, 1 red carpet and 2 parties in one 19-hour day. Et voila! Ceci est le TIFF experience. Don't talk to me tomorrow morning unless you are offering me a huge glass of water, a greasy breakfast, shades and speaking in hushed tones. Stay tuned, friends.