Friday evening marks the launch of one of the most exciting programmes to hit Cinematheque Ontario this fall season.

Along with a smaller retrospective for UK director David Lean, the gem of the fall season would have to be the huge retrospective of works by the widely celebrated Japanese director Nagisa Oshima. Not only is this the first major retrospective of Oshima's films in over 20 years, the programme is almost full of newly remastered and struck prints, many of which will be shown for the first time in Toronto, ever.

All good things must come to an end, and the 2008 Toronto After Dark Film Festival is no exception. While the past seven days have resulted in line-ups around the block at the Bloor Cinema, zombies and ghouls marching around Toronto and people pouring out of Paupers Pub for Pub After Dark, the festival will be wrapping up tomorrow. Luckily however, they've saved some of the very best and most highly anticipated films for last, not to mention the always interesting Closing Night Party.

For the past two years the Toronto After Dark Film Festival has wowed audiences with sci-fi, action and horror films by directors such as Uwe Boll, Lloyd Kaufman and The Pang Bros, and with the strong opening night film yesterday of Let The Right One In, and Repo! The Genetic Opera tonight, it seems there is no end to the buzz circling the festival.

While we've already previewed some of the more interesting features that one can see this year, Toronto After Dark still has its share of hidden gems to be discovered; short films that are amongst the festivals most unique and best kept secrets.

Tomorrow marks the launch of the 9th year of the imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, an international event which celebrates and showcases Indigenous films, art installations, radio pieces and workshops from Native Canadian artists and those from all around the world.

Here's brief glimpse at some of the films that imagineNATIVE will be offering as part of its programming this week.

Never had to read War & Peace in school? Couldn't get around to seeing one of the many filmic adaptations? Like big music and big voices? If you answered yes to those questions, why not see War & Peace at the Four Seasons Centre as part of the Fall Season at the Canadian Opera Company (COC)?

I must admit, I never even attempted Tolstoy's novel and the films looked daunting, but after seeing the Opera, I think I finally get the full gist of the story. Even amongst the Napoleonic War and the threats against Russian society, there's just something about Natasha Rostov!

If you're looking for an earful of music tonight, mixed with a dash of atmosphere at an unusual venue, swing on over to the highly anticipated CD release party for Toronto 'vintage sci-fi indie rock band' and overly-enthusiastic Battlestar Galactica fans, Radius and Helena.

The album in question is their first full length CD release and this whole shebang will be going down in the swanky Centuries Lounge which can be found in the basement of The Old Lady of Shuter Street herself, Massey Hall!

But before you go any further, you may want to catch up on our story thus far...