The Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant is rolling out the pink carpets for what organizers pledge shall be a return to type after two years of pandemic-disrupted occasions.

With 200 function movies and 50 shorts on the roster, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey mentioned the fest will function a reminder of what native cinephiles as soon as had, and what they’ll have once more.

“We had been robbed for a very long time,” he mentioned. “So it’s going to be a celebration of coming again collectively. It’s going to be a celebration of welcoming the entire world’s main movie folks again to Toronto.”

Bailey will assist kick off the festivities Thursday night at Slaight Music Stage on King Avenue West — also called competition road — the place Buffy Sainte-Marie is about to carry out.

The opening night time movie is Netflix’s “The Swimmers,” which is predicated on the true story of two sisters’ flight from war-torn Syria, directed by Sally El Hosaini.

The Welsh-Egyptian director has been chosen for the TIFF Rising Expertise Award, one of many pre-announced prizes handed out on the competition.

Additionally receiving Tribute Awards are Brendan Fraser, the Canadian-American lead actor in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” and the ensemble forged of “My Policeman,” which incorporates pop star Harry Types. Each movies are screening on the competition.

Different celebrities scheduled to attend this yr are Oprah Winfrey — who produced “Sidney,” the documentary about Sidney Poitier — and Taylor Swift, who’s presenting a screening of her quick movie “All Too Effectively.”

Bailey mentioned the chance for star recognizing shall be one of many methods this yr’s competition returns to regular.

“We’re anticipating nearly all of the people who find themselves concerned within the motion pictures we invited right here to the competition to be right here to launch their movies,” he mentioned.

“I’m anticipating folks to look superb, and for the audiences to only be thrilled after they’re in the identical room with a few of their favorite actors and administrators.”

Daniel Craig shall be joined by his co-stars in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Thriller,” together with Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe.

Al Yankovic, the parody musician, and Daniel Radcliffe, the actor portraying him in “Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story,” are each on deck, as is Jennifer Lawrence, who performs a soldier despatched dwelling from the Afghanistan conflict in “Causeway.”

In the meantime, the legendary director Steven Spielberg is about to make his TIFF debut this yr with the premiere of “The Fabelmans,” a semi-autobiographical movie a few teen who learns of a shattering household secret simply as he discovers the ability of cinema.

The star-studded schedule marks a shift from final yr’s competition, which featured roughly half as many movies and operated with a hybrid mannequin.

Crowds weren’t allowed to assemble across the pink carpets, screenings had been held open air and at drive-ins, and lots of movies had been accessible to stream on-line throughout Canada.

This yr, indoor theatres are again at full capability and solely a pair dozen movies can be found just about.

TIFF mentioned it expects attendance to be again as much as pre-pandemic ranges, with about 1,400 media members and three,500 trade individuals registered for the occasion that runs till Sept. 18.

However those that can’t attend in particular person will be capable to comply with a number of the festivities on-line, mentioned Shay Thiyagarajah, partnerships supervisor with Twitter Canada.

Crimson carpets at Roy Thomson Corridor shall be livestreamed on the platform, as will the “In Dialog With…” collection and the trade panels.

“Our position is all about driving dialog on the competition, permitting Canadians to have interaction past what they’re seeing on Pageant Avenue,” she mentioned.