After 9/11 in 2001, TIFF dropped its glitz and glamour and put the focus on film

Zacharias Kunuk, an acclaimed filmmaker, watched the Twin Towers collapse on September 11, 2001, in a manner similar to many around the globe. He was at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) waiting for the premiere of his Inuktitut-language film "Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner." The events of 9/11 disrupted the festival, causing significant changes and travel difficulties for American stars who had to find alternate routes home as planes were grounded.

The festival director, Piers Handling, turned off the TV when news of the first tower falling was broadcast, expressing a sense of shock and disbelief. Handling, along with then-managing director Michele Maheux, formed a crisis team and decided to halt the festival for the day. This decision was made easier as many in the film community had close ties to New York.

Despite the somber mood, TIFF resumed operations, but with a more subdued atmosphere, stripping away the usual glitz and glamour. The reopening allowed attendees to appreciate art amidst the devastation, providing a therapeutic escape from the world's tragedy.