#TIFF According To: Black Bear’s Michael Heimler

Black Bear partner Michael Heimler, the indie outfit’s head of production and operations, has a busy fall festival circuit, having executive-produced Netflix awards play Nyad, Sony’s Dumb Money, and sales title Sing Sing.

Ahead of those premieres, Heimler shared with THR what he seeks out (sports bars for the Jets season opener) and what he actively avoids (Taylor Swift fans) when he is on the ground for TIFF.

My “Canadians are so nice” moment…
TIFF audiences are the best in the world and standing ovations are the norm.

The one place I have to visit when in Toronto is…
any sports bar on the Sunday or Monday night of TIFF, surrounded by the same group of present & ex-New Yorkers for the last decade plus, unfortunately, watching the Jets lose their first game of the year.

The place I avoid during the festival is…
a rush line to get into a screening

My favorite Canadian director/talent is (and why)…
My favorite Canadian talent is the incredible team at Elevation Pictures who run the best distribution shop in town.

The most Canadian thing about Toronto is…
great audience reactions even to not so great movies.

The one thing I won’t travel with (besides my phone) is...
portable phone charger and airpods.

Biggest star encounter in Toronto…
a tough toss-up between Rob Ford in 2013 and Taylor Swift shutting down King Street last year.

Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds?
No comment. Both are great. 😊

In Toronto you should always…
I would typically say have a meal at the somewhat hidden Chinese restaurant inside the Doubletree, but having heard this has just closed, I will need to start a new tradition.

In Toronto you should never…
try to cross King Street at the same time as Taylor Swift