TIFF Celebrates 100 Years of Indian Cinema with Fundraising Gala

This year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has already struck a distinctly international note with its competing films. Yesterday the festival also held a swanky fundraising gala, under the banner "Love was her only weapon," celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema. Guests were treated to a gourmet dinner as well as a panel discussion at the event curated and organized by Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta (Water). Last year's gala brought in an impressive total of $700,000.

"Love was her only weapon" was inspired by the greatest works of Indian cinema in the past century. Bollywood crossover star Irrfan Khanattended as a special guest and also spoke on the panel.

Among the other international offerings at the festival were the French-language film "Blue is the Warmest Color" from Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche, who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes last year; "The Past" from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and "Only Lovers Left Alive," from the American Jim Jarmusch.

TIFF runs from September 5th to 15th.