TIFF 2015: 5 cool things about this year's film fest

The movie world spotlight shifts north of the border today with the kickoff of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival kicks. Here are five things to knowabout the latest edition of the cinema celebration.

The opening film

Quebec filmmaker Jean-Marc Valle landed TIFF's coveted opening gala slot with Demolition, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper.

Billed as an offbeat butheartfelt film, Demolition revolves aroundan investment banker (Gyllenhaal) struggling to rebuild his life after the sudden death of his wife.The comedy-drama is a primeexample of a recurring theme at TIFF in recent years:in-demand Canadian filmmakers making high-profile films with Hollywood A-listers.

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Valle earned widespread accolades and Oscar nominations for his 2013 film, the Matthew McConaughey-led Dallas Buyers Club. His reputationimproved furtherwith hisfollow-up, 2014's Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon.

Gyllenhaal has previously starred in two films for another Canadian filmmaker, Denis Villeneuve: 2013's Prisoners and Enemy.

Star spotting

TIFF has come a long way since Henry (The Fonz) Winkler was the biggest star to grace the red carpet (way back in 1977).

Celebrated moviemakers and stars from around the globe are touching down in Toronto this year.

Here's just a taste of the celeb-packed guest list: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Christopher Plummer, Arcade Fire, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Salma Hayek, Eddie Redmayne, Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore, Penelope Cruz, Ridley Scott, Yo Yo Ma, Irrfan Khan, Elisabeth Moss, Idris Elba, Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Sarah Silverman, Gael Garcial Bernal, Nanni Moretti, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Moore, Deepa Mehta, Michael Nyqvist, Dev Patel, Geoffrey Rush and Donald, Kiefer and Rossif Sutherland.

What's the buzz?

Movie buzz can build or vanishin an instant, but for the moment, must-seechatter is centred on severaltitles and key performances, including:

• AnalmostunrecognizableJohnnyDeppin the gangster storyBlack Mass.
• The Oscar-pedigreed1920s-eratransgendertaleThe Danish Girl.
• Astronaut-approved 3D space taleThe Martian(starring MattDamon).
• Captivity sagaRoom,based on Canadian EmmaDonoghue'sbestsellingnovel.

A feast of film

Altogether, festival organizers have programmed a massive 2015 lineup, with 399 films (including features and shorts) from 71 countries tounspool on Toronto's movie screens.

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Festival on the street

For TIFF'sperenniallywhirlwind firstweekend (Sept. 10-13), organizers will once again take over several blocks of prime downtown Toronto real estate around its Lightbox headquarters for a sprawling, free, pedestrian-only celebration.

Festival Street will include a host of interactive installations and activities, onstage presentations, musical showcases, pop-up shops, a village of food trucks and a family-friendly zone.