You blinked, we blinked, and bang: the film festival is upon us. Not ready? Not to worry, either. Here are the only three accessories you really need to get through TIFF in true Hollywood North style.

Big sunglasses are all the better to protect your mystique (or hide your champagne hangover, whichever). These, by Vestal, have a perfectly aloof, very Grace Kelly vibe. $90 at Watch It, 317 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-597-2929, www.vestalwatch.com

If you're not umbilically attached to your Blackberry, you're not really a festival-goer. Glamourize your addiction with this iridescent python phone-case. $65 at Elle Hardware, 695 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-360-0333, www.ellehardware.com

Don't forget about the films—ever—with this movie journal by Moleskine. $26 at Chapters-Indigo and probably an independent bookstore near you. —Sarah Nicole Prickett

Where better to see a new film by the director's director, Terrence Malick, than the Lightbox, a cinema built in ode to all other cinemas?

Malick has made, famously, five feature films in thirty-eight years. This one, Tree of Life, is already reputed to be his masterwork—or, at least, worth the wait. Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain, it attempts to explain nothing less than innocence and the eternal, refracted in archetypes. It's the story of a nuclear, golden family in America's age of becoming, the 1950s. It's the story of America itself. It's the story of humanity, or Christian humanity. Or it's the story of a child.

Any way you see it, see it. —SNP

TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., Toronto, find show times here.

In the films of Kelly Reichardt, Oregon is America: its frontier, its crumbling edge, its lost soul. Three of her masterful works are set there; all play in TIFF Bell Lightbox's new, should-see Reichardt retrospective.

Her newest, Meek's Cutoff, shoots up an old idea of the Western. There's precious little action; it's agonizingly slow on the Oregon Trail. Nor is there a cowboy hero; instead, Michelle Williams is the troubled moral compass. She and the sky make for beauty in bleakness.

Williams also starred in 2009's Wendy and Lucy, a dog-gone lonely tale set in New Depression-era Oregon. Before that was Old Joy (2006), a road-trip rumination with folk-rocker Will Oldham. Seen together, Reichardt's Oregon trilogy is a determined exploration of the American reality, the dream hung out to dry. —SNP

Meek's Cutoff opens Friday, May 13; next come showings of Wendy and Lucy and Old Joy. For tickets and info, see TIFF.net

This year’s TIFF has gotten so much hype, people are abandoning New York Fashion Week for it. The lineup of stars is dazzling. In between the screenings, parties and gift lounges, this is where we suspect Javier, Marion et al. will be spending their spare time.

Javier Bardem, slicing up a pizza on the back patio of Terroni, Queen.

Woody Harrelson, lunging into a sun salutation at Downward Dog yoga studio.

Natalie Portman, visiting the shoe room at the national ballet school.

Nicole Kidman, shopping for minimal and modern scandinavian design at mjolk.

Milla Jovovich, concocting her very own boho scent at aromachology.

Colin Firth, grabbing a cocktail in Little Italy at cinq 01.

Rachel Weisz, perusing the Dries, Margiela and Balmain offerings at Yorkville’s Specchio.

Ryan Gosling, dj'ing at Parts & Labour.

Helen Mirren, sipping scotch at the Windsor Arms.

Marion Cotillard, picking up an item or two at Ruins on Queen 

Bruce Springsteen, listening to jazz at the Rex.

Catherine Deneuve, stocking up on touche éclat at Holts or searching for a patio where she can smoke.

Witty, fabulous and debonair, Shinan Govani gets invited to more parties than Guy Ritchie. In between launching his new book, Boldface Names, and prepping for TIFF, the celebrity raconteur took a few moments to share some festival scoop.

So many parties, so little time. What's the hot invitation at this year's TIFF?
Hot invite? Two words: Vanity. Fair. Poobah Graydon Carter is zipping into town—literally for a few hours—to host a party for a movie that is co-directed by Tatiana von Furstenberg, daughter of the one and only Diane. The only F-word here is fabulous.

Who would you most like to share a bag of popcorn with?
Michael Moore? I jest. (Once I had a the distinct pleasure of interviewing him while he ate a hamburger at Lobby. Good times.) I'd share a popcorn with the extraterrestrial-in-a-good-way Tilda Swinton anytime. Name the place!

Where do you refuel between flicks?
I run back to my boudoir at the Fairmont Royal York, where I bunker during the Festival. Gold Floor, baby.

Last year Adrien and Gael hung out at the Dakota Tavern. Which local hotspot will attract the stars this year?
I can see the new Union, on Ossington, getting some low-key celebrity traffic. It doesn't hurt that its chef, cooking hunk Teo Paul, looks like he ought to be in the movies!