The Toronto international Film Festival (TIFF to film industry people, entertainment "journalists," and wannabes) has become one of the major showcases for talented filmmakers. It is definitely one of the most widely regarded film events in North America. This year, the likes of Sean Penn and George Clooney are talking up their latest projects at TIFF.

Though the spotlight is on the movie theaters and press conferences, the city of Toronto itself gets a bit of notice. The Film Festival brings plenty of out of town visitors who find themselves exploring the town between watching stars on screen and in real life. To aid them, the city has published a list of nightlife activities. Just looking it over makes me realize that Toronto, once thought of as a land of parkas and those fur hats with earflaps, truly is a world city.

Clooney and Penn are not the only stars at TIFF, the city of Toronto steals some of the spotlight as well.

(TIFF box office info)