“This film is not a joke, it comes from a real place—a hurt place. I am just now ready for people to see that side and people will enjoy that side when they see it.”

From now until December 9, filmmakers are invited to submit shorts and feature length films, documentaries, animation, and music videos for 2012

Toronto producer, filmmaker and singer Nicole Brooks is directing the first feature-length documentary ever to be made on Salome Bey, a woman whose voice captivated fans for more than four decades before fading into the folds of dementia.

I walked away content with the film’s overall message; the difference in our skin tones is nothing but a difference in levels of melanin. No matter what our skin tone, we’re beautiful, and we have to do our best to remind our daughters of their own beauty and worth so they don’t go looking for that reminder in all of the wrong places.

As the last of the red carpets are rolled up and directors and actors are whisked away on international flights back home, there will be a lot to remember. Have a look at some of the many memories Sway has of TIFF 2011.

In town to promote her latest film for TIFF, director Branwen Okpako sat down with Sway to talk about her documentary The Education of Auma Obama.

Random traces the life of Sister, played brilliantly by Nadine Marshall, as she traverses her way around a family tragedy. Told in a multi-narrative format from Sister’s point of view, Nadine Marshall slips in and out of accents and characters that are as diverse as the rich lyrical dialogue, text and images interspersed throughout the film.

Man On Ground, the latest project from director Akin Omotoso, is loosely based on the real-life murder of Mozambican Ernesto Nhamuave, who was burned alive while others watched in a campaign to quash refugees who were, South Africans felt, foreigners that were taking over.

‘Pariah’ tells the story of Alike and her struggle to tell her parents about her sexuality. Writer/director Dee Rees, producer Nekisa Cooper and cast members: Kim Wayans, Adepero Oduye and Pernell Walker all walked the red carpet this week for the opening of their film at TIFF.

There is something about a movie where the title character is on the ultimate quest for acceptance — that undying need for love and reassurance that ceases to materialize no matter how hard they try.