Plans are underway to start the road to Oscar glory at the Toronto International Film Festival from Metro Hall Square. TIFF organizers and the City of Toronto are working out final details on extending the red carpet stroll outside Roy Thomson Hall a block west – to the corner of King and John Streets.

Festival spokeswoman Jennifer Bell says shifting the red carpet will give the assembled TV reporters and photographers more space and better vantage points from which to catch stars in the media glare as they plug their movies before the world and North American premieres in Roy Thomson Hall. Further, the general public will be able to move from the other side of Simcoe Street to the more open space of Metro Square to get closer to their favorite stars.

Red carpet arrivals at Roy Thomson Hall previously were cramped affairs on Simcoe Street. Having stars and their entourages walk a longer red carpet in front of a bigger TIFF press pool and enter Roy Thomson Hall via the artists entrance also aims to help TIFF secure more Oscar-caliber world premieres.