For some people, the Toronto International Film Festival is a time of pure cinematic revelry, a chance to catch some of the best screen art that the world has to offer. Those people should probably avoid reading on. This is not a guide to films (you can find that here); this is a guide to the most buzzworthy TIFF parties. Of course, you'd have to pray to Jesus, God and Vishnu in order to even have a chance at getting in, but for some, that's hardly an issue.

While films are an integral part of the festival, it's not the whole reason that people flock to Toronto. For some people, the films themselves are secondary to the Hollywood experience, a time to catch a glimpse of people they've seen on TV and in magazines. Sometimes, it's not much more than an appearance, a name attached to a fancy gala after-party, but this connection, no matter how loose, draws people in droves to TIFF.

But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Toronto clubs could use the boost generated by a big name appearance or celebrity DJ set as much as the stars need the publicity. And, for some, the parties are a way to celebrate some real cinematic achievement.

Such is the case with the Passchendaele Post-Screening Party at The Drake Hotel on September 4. The most (possibly unfoundedly) anticipated Canadian film is getting the A-list treatment as both the opening gala and the opening TIFF party. The Drake ballroom, usually reserved for bad karaoke covers of Bon Jovi, will become an arena for Paul Gross and Martha Burns to strut around as if they live a bit further south.