Festival poster | |
| Opening film | In Praise of Older Women [1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Hosted by | Toronto International Film Festival Group |
| No. of films | 85 feature films |
| Festival date | September 14, 1978–September 21, 1978 |
| Language | English |
| Website | tiff |
The 3rd Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 14 and September 21, 1978. It showcased 85 films, the lowest number of films in the festival's history. [2] [3] In Praise of Older Women directed by George Kaczender was selected as the opening film. [1] When the Ontario Film Review Board objected to a 40-second scene between Marilyn Lightstone and Tom Berenger, co-producer of the film Robert Lantos cut the scene for the theatrical run. Despite that, some of the TIFF staff managed to smuggle original uncut version of the film and run it into the theatre. The news was well publicised, increasing interest in the film, in turn boosting ticket sales. Difficulties arose when audiences waiting outside the theatre noticed that each ticket admitted two person thus causing anger in the crowd. The audience who were not able to get seats during the first screening were invited to a later screening. [4] [5] The People's Choice Award was introduced this year, which is given to a feature film chosen by a vote of the festival audience. [6]
Louis Malle's film Pretty Baby was banned by the OFRB, due to its sensitive subject matter. [5]
The festival also partnered with the Canadian Film Awards to present the 29th Canadian Film Awards as a festival event, with the festival in turn screening all of the nominated films. [7]
| Award [8] [9] | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| People's Choice Award | Girlfriends | Claudia Weill |
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodbrothers | Robert Mulligan | United States | |
| The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith | Fred Schepisi | Australia | |
| The Chess Players | Shatranj Ke Khilari | Satyajit Ray | India |
| The Getting of Wisdom | Bruce Beresford | Australia | |
| Girlfriends | Claudia Weill | United States | |
| The Glass Cell | Die gläserne Zelle | Hans W. Geißendörfer | West Germany |
| In Praise of Older Women | George Kaczender | Canada | |
| Midnight Express | Alan Parker | United Kingdom, United States | |
| Nunzio | Paul Williams | United States | |
| Peppermint Soda | Diabolo menthe | Diane Kurys | France |
| The Song of Roland | Le Chanson de Roland | Frank Cassenti | France |
| Violette Nozière | Claude Chabrol | France, Canada | |
| Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | Ted Kotcheff | United States, West Germany | |
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood and Guts | Paul Lynch | Canada | |
| I, Maureen | Janine Manatis | Canada | |
| Marie-Anne | Martin Walters | Canada | |
| Power Play | Martyn Burke | Canada, United Kingdom | |
| The Silent Partner | Daryl Duke | Canada | |
| The Third Walker | Teri McLuhan | Canada | |
| Three Card Monte | Les Rose | Canada | |
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movies Are My Life | Peter Hayden | United Kingdom | |
| Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel | Christian Blackwood | United States | |
| The Last Tasmanian | Tom Haydon | Australia | |
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Abdication | Anthony Harvey | United Kingdom | |
| Alambrista! | Robert M. Young | United States | |
| Angel City | Jon Jost | United States | |
| A Bigger Splash | Jack Hazan | United Kingdom | |
| The Consequence | Die Konsequenz | Wolfgang Petersen | West Germany |
| The Cycle | Dayereh-ye Mina | Dariush Mehrjui | Iran |
| In Search of Anna | Esben Storm | Australia | |
| Inserts | John Byrum | United Kingdom | |
| The Last Three Days | Gli ultimi tre giorni | Gianfranco Mingozzi | Italy |
| Mouth to Mouth | John Duigan | Australia | |
| The Night the Prowler | Jim Sharman | Australia | |
| Padre Padrone | Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani | Italy | |
| La Paloma | Daniel Schmid | France, Switzerland | |
| The Paradise Lost | Het verloren paradijs | Harry Kümel | Netherlands |
| The Picture Show Man | John Power | Australia | |
| Play It as It Lays | Frank Perry | United States | |
| The Spider's Stratagem | Strategia del ragno | Bernardo Bertolucci | Italy |
| Tonight or Never | Questa notte o mai | Daniel Schmid | Switzerland |
| Why Not! | Pourquoi pas! | Coline Serreau | France |