Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today until Sept. 18

The Toronto International Film Festival is rolling out the red carpets following two years of pandemic-disrupted events.

TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey says there are 200 feature films and 50 shorts on the schedule through Sept. 18th.

The opening-night film is Netflix’s “The Swimmers,” based on the true story of two sisters’ flight from war-torn Syria.

Celebrities planning to attend this year’s festival include Canadian-American actor Brendan Fraser for “The Whale,” Oprah Winfrey who produced a documentary about Sidney Poitier, and Taylor Swift who will present a screening of her short film “All Too Well.”

This year’s schedule is quite different from last year’s festival, which featured about half as many films and operated with a hybrid model.

Crowds weren’t allowed to gather around the red carpets, screenings took place outdoors and at drive-ins, and several films were available to stream online across Canada.

This year, indoor theatres are back at full capacity and only a couple dozen films are available virtually.

TIFF said it expects pre-pandemic attendance levels, with about 1,400 media members and 3,500 industry participants registered for the event.