Shoving, shuffling and waiting in huge queues of people in downtown Toronto for a seat in any movie that’s playing may not sound like much fun, but for Chris Garnham of the Jasper Film Club, “it was a gas.”

Garnham’s been attending the Toronto International Film Festival for about five years now, as secretary and treasurer of the Jasper Film Club. He goes to screenings of flicks that could potentially come to town.

“I would join the line of 150 people, and cross my fingers for a rush seat into who-knew-what movie,” he says. As the theatres filled, those waiting would shift to another line until they could get in somewhere, and Garnham would dance around like this for four or five days straight. “The buzzing yak in line was educated, and I got to see some terrific movies.”

The Jasper Film Club participates in a program that brings festival movies, especially Canadian ones, to small communities across the country. Over the past few years, improved organization has made life easier for representatives like Garnham. He says he misses the chaos, but appreciates the chance to be productive. “It’s not as much fun, but it’s more efficient,” he says.

He returned last week from this year’s four-day trip to Hogtown, a city he says trembles with excitement during the festival. “There’s a feeling that Toronto is up for this, this is what’s going on,” he says. 

The celebrities, the stretch limousines, the paparazzi – it’s all there, but people who want to see it must be dedicated to getting a glimpse. “If you’re looking for glam it’s there, but I’m not interested in seeing Brad Pitt from 100 ft. away,” he says.

A stroll down Yonge Street was sight enough for the self-described country bumpkin. “That was one of the most enjoyable half hours, watching Toronto vibrate at 10:30 in the morning,” he says. “I wasn’t even in the theatre district. There’s a lot going on.”

The films play at a variety of venues, from theatres that would be small by city standards, to ones that would fit half the town of Jasper. “The first one was in a horrendously big theatre,” he says. “The scale is mind-boggling, it’s unbelievable.”

What stands out in his memory over the years are the breathtaking low-profile films. “To see a film from Turkey that stole your heart, but would never get released,” Garnham says. “A 28-year-old Turkish kid managed to scrape together and do it. I got to see it and no one else will.”

He’s also impressed by the high quality films being made in Canada. “It used to be you would see Canadian films with mediocre production quality and they were pretty stilted,” he says. “Now, the Canadian films we’re going to get are world class films.”

The Toronto International Film Festival screens 300-400 films over ten days, beginning the first Thursday after Labour Day each year.