Yonge-Dundas Square will be a hub of activity from September 10 to 19, beginning with an opening night concert with DJ Champion and wrapping with rapper Chuck D. The square will also play host to the TIFF Live in Concert Film series with shorts and feature films of live music performances, including U2: Rattle and Hum on September 17.

Another highlight of TIFF´s free offerings is a closing-night showing of the Cadillac People´s Choice Award-winning film in the Visa Screening Room of the Elgin Theatre. Last year, Danny Boyle´s multiple-Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire took People´s Choice honours. This year´s winner will be announced the afternoon of the September 19 and tickets for the screening will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 p.m. at the box office.

“The free programming at Yonge-Dundas Square and the free screening of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award are gifts back to the city of Toronto,” says festival co-director Cameron Bailey. “They’re a big thank you to our audiences for their ongoing support and commitment to the Festival, because it’s this devotion that continues to make it one of the best in the world.”

Here´s a schedule of free TIFF events:

Opening Night: Thursday, September 10

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: I´m Your Man
Preceded by shorts: POEN, Tony Dekker at Spadina Subway Station and The Poet´s Home

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Steamboat Bill Jr.

7 p.m.
Live satellite feed from the Roy Thomson Hall red carpet for the Opening Night Gala Presentation of Creation

9 p.m.
TIFF YDS Spotlight: Opening Night concert by DJ Champion, hosted by Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman

Friday, September 11

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Shut Up & Sing
Preceded by shorts: Neighbours, Serena Ryder at the Dakota Tavern and Crickets

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

6:30 p.m.
Suck Spotlight featuring The Burning Brides and Canadian legends Blue Peter with guest appearances from stars of the rock ´n´ roll vampire comedy screening as part of the 2009 Festival

9 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Preceded by shorts: Juke - Bar, Danko Jones at Maple Leaf Gardens and Jaffawiye

Saturday, September 12

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: The Harder They Come
Preceded by shorts: Getting Started, Divine Brown at the Rex and Bleach

2 p.m.
TIFF Kids Zone - offering fun for children of all ages, including face-painting, green-screen activities and more

4 p.m.
Precious Spotlight featuring American author and poet Sapphire reading from her body of work at an event hosted by Lee Daniels, director of the film, which is screening at the Festival as a Gala Presentation

6 p.m.
Toronto Zombie Walk with George A. Romero in attendance to celebrate the premiere of George A. Romero´s Survival of the Dead, which is screening as part of the Festival´s Midnight Madness program; the evening´s ghoulish festivities conclude with a free screening of his 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead

Sunday, September 13

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Woodstock
Preceded by shorts: Street Musique, Geddy Lee at Massey Hall and Washing Machine, Sewing Machine

5:30 p.m.
Whip It Spotlight roller-derby exhibition featuring stars from the film and the Toronto Roller Derby League

9 p.m.
The Topp Twins Spotlight, hosted by comedian Elvira Kurt

Monday, September 14

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Stop Making Sense
Preceded by shorts: Lonely Boy, Woodhands at the Brick Works and From the City to the Forest

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: The Busher

9 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: North American premiere of The Neil Young Trunk Show, featuring an appearance by Neil Young and hosted by director Jonathan Demme

Tuesday, September 15

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Monterey Pop
Preceded by shorts: Toronto Jazz, Sarah Slean at the Rivoli and Questions of a Dead Worker

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Robin Hood

7 p.m.
Hipsters Spotlight: swing-dance lessons followed by a concert at 9 p.m. featuring Aelita with the Galaxy All-Star Orchestra in honour of the Russian musical screening as part of the Festival´s Vanguard program

Wednesday, September 16

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: The Last Waltz
Preceded by shorts: Ready When You Are, Laura Barrett with Martin Tielli at the AGO and Bloomfield or a Memory Bank

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Tillie´s Punctured Romance

9 p.m.
The National Ballet of Canada´s preview presentation of the latest production from Aszure Barton in celebration of the Festival´s screening of Mao´s Last Dancer

Thursday, September 17

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: U2: Rattle and Hum
Preceded by shorts: cNote, Lioness at the Masonic Temple and Gershon

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: It

9 p.m.
Performance, rock show, installation and film screening: BAND, by cutting-edge New York artist Adam Pendleton, refashions Sympathy for the Devil, Jean-Luc Godard´s 1968 cinematic paean to the Rolling Stones and the Black Panthers, into a contemporary art happening that places the celebrated indie art-rock/post-punk band Deerhoof at the centre of the action. This event is presented as part of Future Projections.

Friday, September 18

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Don´t Look Back
Preceded by shorts: Glenn Gould - On the Record, Jason Collett at Paul´s Boutique and Weitzman #10

3 p.m.
TIFF Shhh! Silent Film Series: Grandma´s Boy
6 p.m.
TIFF Live In Conceght: Sart Film Series: world premiere of Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound as produced by PBS program American Masters, followed by an appearance and short concert by Joan Baez

Closing Niturday, September 19

12 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: Truth or Dare
Preceded by shorts: Meet Gisele, Care Failure at 102.1 The Edge and Killer Babe

7 p.m.
TIFF Live In Concert Film Series: world premiere of Copyright Criminals

9 p.m.
The Festival Wrap Party, presented in association with Future Projections and hosted by Chuck D, featuring the infectious improvised audiovisual mash-ups of Eclectic Method. The renowned trio will thrill film and music lovers with a video remix set incorporating clips from the films included in Essential 100, the opening show of TIFF Bell Lightbox. With special guest Clyde Stubblefield.

Check out the Official TIFF site for a full film and event schedule: www.tiff.net