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. In Praise of Older Women directed by George Kaczender was selected as the opening film. 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. The People's Choice Award was introduced this year, which is given to a feature film chosen by a vote of the festival audience.
Louis Malle's film Pretty Baby was banned by the OFRB, due to its sensitive subject matter.
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.Lawrence O'Toole, "The days of whine and roses". Maclean's, October 2, 1978.
Awards Award"TIFF Awards" . tiff.net, October 11, 2013. Film Director People's Choice Award Girlfriends Claudia Weill
Programme
Gala Presentations 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
Canadian Cinema 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
Documentaries 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
Other films 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 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 Questa notte o mai Daniel Schmid Switzerland Why Not! Pourquoi pas! Coline Serreau France
References
External links Official site TIFF: A Reel History: 1976 - 2012 1978 Toronto International Film Festival at IMDb