TIFF 2012 off to a star-studded start

Lights, camera, action!

Hollywood’s biggest stars have descended on the city for the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicked off Thursday night with the time-traveling action drama Looper.

The film’s writer-director, Rian Johnson, along with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Bruce Willis, Piper Perabo and Noah Segan were present at two screenings on Thursday.

The film stars Gordon-Levitt as a hitman assigned to kill a future version of himself, played by Willis.

Earlier, celebrity gazers were treated to a close-up look at the “Looper” cast. The Hollywood stars graced the first-ever “fan carpet,” set up outside the Visa Screening Room at the Elgin Theatre.

To cap off the festival’s opening night, 3,000 guests will gather at a star-studded bash at Maple Leaf Square, outside the Air Canada Centre. King Street West’s Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge will host the film’s cast at a private party.

Known for drawing in titles that go on to nab Academy Awards, 372 films will screen at the festival. Toronto is the spot where many films begin their campaigns for Oscars and other critical acclaim. The festival has also become a significant market for movies looking for distribution.

As such, Toronto will see many bold names, and if anyone knows how to track celebrities, it’s KiSS 92.5 senior morning show producer Maurie Sherman, armed with his infamous helmet camera.

“Stay away from Yorkville because the film fest has moved south.”

The film fest is on Front Street and King Street because you have the Lightbox and you’ve got the Intercontinental on Front Street — that’s where all the interviews are happening,” Sherman said.

For star-struck celebrity watchers, TIFF will offer a wealth of sightings in the city and on the red carpet: Ben Affleck, Ryan Gosling, Robert Redford, Johnny Depp, Joaquin Phoenix, Tom Hanks, Kristen Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow.

TIFF runs until Sept. 16.

Click here for full coverage of the festival.