We’re pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up with the Toronto International Film Festival Group to run a contest each day until the end of the festival for tickets to next-day screenings.

Today’s Contest:

For your chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to tomorrow’s Doc Talks panel discussion Covering War (at 4:00 p.m. at the ROM Theatre), featuring directors Michael Tucker, Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro debating filmmaking in war-torn nations, email us your name at contests@torontoist.com. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by the morning of the screening with ticket pick-up information.

Today’s Reviews:

Operation Filmmaker

We were chastised in the comments late last week for not including this film in our daily listings, and we’re perfectly happy to admit we were mistaken to miss it. The dark side of Heavy Metal in Baghdad’s coin, Operation Filmmaker’s subject is Muthana Mohmed, a middle-class Iraqi film student who, thanks to a fluffy MTV piece, is taken to Prague to work as a production assistant on Everything Is Illuminated. That’s only the start of the story, however. Mohmed’s disinterest in work (given the chance to edit the film’s gag reel, he doesn’t bother) and his reliance on everyone around him for, well, everything, begins to form the frustrating tale of foolishly good intentions gone very wrong. Director Nina Davenport is admirable for indicating that her presence may have affected Mohmed’s actions and her editing colour our opinions, but it’s a shame she tries to keep up the behind-the-camera facade long after she’s part of the story. An excellent, educated documentary. 4/5

Run, Fat Boy, Run

Currently number one at the British box office, this is very much the kind of film that you’d imagine would take the top spot in the UK (make of that what you will). A sort of cross between Saint Ralph and Three Men and a Little Lady, Run, Fat Boy, Run is utterly pedestrian fare livened by a reliably amusing performance from Simon Pegg and a glorious (if short) role for Dylan Moran. It’s got some nice moments and at points David Schwimmer is a better director than you might think, but the most amusing moment of the night was probably Simon Pegg claiming Hank Azaria “made his penis talk like Dr. Frink.” Make of that what you will. 2/5

Today’s Listings:

2:15 p.m. – Man From The Plains (Special Presentations) – Varsity 8
3:00 p.m. – Shake Hands With The Devil (Special Presentations) – Review – Scotiabank 14
3:45 p.m. – Operation Filmmaker (Reel to Real) – ROM Theatre
3:45 p.m. – Sleuth (Gala) – Review – Ryerson Theatre
4:00 p.m. – Programme 4 (Short Cuts Canada) – Review – Cumberland 3
5:15 p.m. – Ping Pong Playa (Vanguard) – Varsity 8
6:00 p.m. – Help Me Eros (Vanguard) – Review – Scotiabank 1
6:00 p.m. – Margo At The Wedding (Special Presentations) – Ryerson Theatre
6:45 p.m. – Dr. Plonk (Visions) – Varsity 2
8:45 p.m. – Reclaim Your Brain (Special Presentations) – Ryerson Theatre
9:00 p.m. – Walk All Over Me (Canada First!) – Scotiabank 4
9:45 p.m. – Programme 5 (Short Cuts Canada) – Cumberland 3
11:59 p.m. – Sukiyaki Western Django (Midnight Madness) – Ryerson Theatre