What Toronto Raptor Patrick Patterson is looking forward to at TIFF 2016

Patrick Patterson will take over CBC Toronto’s Snapchat during TIFF 2016.

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Caption: Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson plans to watch 19 films at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Frank Gunn/Canadian Press (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The NBA season doesn't start for another month so Toronto Raptor Patrick Patterson plans to enjoy his free time at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicked off Thursday.

Image | CBC Toronto's Snapchat Code

Caption: Toronto Raptor Patrick Patterson is taking over CBC Toronto's Snapchat account during TIFF. (CBC)

You can follow Patterson's TIFF experience on CBC Toronto's Snapchat. He'll be taking over our account during the festival as our TIFF correspondent.
It's the second year in a row the NBA player and huge movie buff will be attending TIFF. This year, he plans to see 19 films, including big titles like The Magnificent Seven and Snowden. He's also packing in horror flick Blair Witch.
On day one of TIFF, we asked Patrick what are three things he is most looking forward to during the festival.

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Caption: Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt star in "The Magnificent Seven" which is the opening film at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. (Sam Emerson/Sony Pictures/TIFF/Canadian Press) (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Celebrities

Even as an NBA player, I still get star-struck every time I see celebrities. I don't think there will ever be a time where I walk into a building and see Denzel Washington or Mark Wahlberg and not feel like a child when he or she sees Santa.

Image | CORRECTION People-Mark Wahlberg-Sean Combs

Caption: Mark Wahlberg will be at TIFF 2016 to promote his film Deepwater Horizon. (Joel Ryan/The Associated Press/File)

Movies

One of the few places I consider my "sanctuary" just so happens to be at the movie theatre. Not only do I get to relax and get lost in my imagination but I get to see a film before it's in theatres across the world.

Interacting with passionate movie fanatics

I truly enjoy indulging in conversations with people that are as excited, if not more, than I am about movies.