Rendezvous with Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto, August 2, 2018 – From September 6 – 16, 2018, Telefilm Canada will spotlight Canadian talent at the Toronto International Film Festival. New this year, Telefilm is organizing a TIFF Industry Breakfast in collaboration with imagineNATIVE to discuss national and international financing opportunities for Indigenous content. What’s more, to encourage the export of Canadian talent and content, Telefilm is once again organizing Eye on TIFF, a pre-Festival screening series, as well as a series of panels as part of the TIFF Industry programming.
“The Toronto International Film Festival is an incredible launching pad for Canadian films, and a chance for Canadian audiences to discover the films that are being written, shot and produced in their own backyards,” says Christa Dickenson, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “It’s the perfect opportunity to spotlight the depth and diversity of Canadian talent and stories, and this year is no exception.”
“We’ve enjoyed a strong and productive partnership with Telefilm since the early days of the Festival,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “At the heart of our collaboration is our shared desire to showcase and celebrate Canadian talent, filmmakers and stories. I’m excited for another year of spotlighting the country’s best and brightest in the film industry together.”
Telefilm Canada’s Signature Events
Eye on TIFF, organized by Telefilm Canada in New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris
New York, Paris: August 22, 2018
Los Angeles, London: August 23, 2018
An exclusive pre-Festival event since 2011 in New York and entering its fifth edition in Los Angeles, Eye on TIFF provides pre-Festival screenings to international distributors, sales agents and exhibitors with a sneak preview of some of Canada’s most buzzworthy titles programed at TIFF. For the second year, the Eye on TIFF initiative will be in Europe, in particular London and Paris, as there were positive responses from last year’s extension in the same cities.
Eye on TIFF is an initiative that aims to support the promotion and international marketing strategy of Canadian productions abroad, aligned with our vision from the Export Assistance Program.
RDV Canada panel series
During TIFF Industry, a series of three panels to spotlight some of the most important topics in the industry today, including blockchain and coproduction, as well as some of the brightest Canadian talent.
Speakers, locations and dates to be announced.
RDV Canada TIFF Breakfast: National & International Funding for Indigenous Content
September 9, 2018, 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, LUMA TIFF Bell Lightbox
For the first time at the Festival, Telefilm Canada in collaboration with imagineNATIVE are co-hosting a breakfast to share international funding opportunities for Indigenous content.
6th Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm Canada
September 10, 2018
This year marks the sixth edition of the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film held during the Festival. Honouring six Canadian female directors, actors and screenwriters in their outstanding flair in storytelling, the honourees were selected by a pan-Canadian jury comprised of over 20 arts and entertainment journalists and bloggers. Recipients will be announced soon.
Canada Lounge
September 6 to 12, 2018
Located in the Festival Industry Centre, the Canada Lounge is a business and networking centre for Canadian film teams. The Lounge serves as their Toronto meeting hub with international industry representatives.
Initiatives supported by Telefilm Canada at TIFF
Filmmaker Boot Camp
Developed in partnership with Telefilm Canada, Filmmaker Boot Camp gives filmmakers the skills and contacts they need to make the most of their experience at the Festival. The Boot Camp is open to Canadian filmmakers who are attending the Festival for the first-time with their feature or short films in Official Selection.
Telefilm Canada PITCH THIS!
September 9, 2018, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Glenn Gould Studio
Telefilm Canada’s PITCH THIS! returns for its 19th consecutive year at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. Six teams will have six minutes to pitch their feature-film idea to a live audience of industry delegates and a jury of development and production experts. All genres and styles of presentation are permitted. The most original and compelling story will be awarded a prize of $15,000.
For more information, please visit TIFF unveils 2018 Telefilm Canada’s PITCH THIS! Finalists.
TIFF Rising Stars
Telefilm is a loyal partner of TIFF Rising Stars, an initiative designed to discover the next generation of outstanding Canadian actors. Four Canadian and four international actors are selected for the program where they are immersed in a series of public events and private industry meetings during the Festival. In a workshop setting, winners will receive professional development and mentoring from casting directors, agents, managers, producers and filmmakers.
TIFF Filmmaker Lab
Telefilm is partnering with Filmmaker Lab, an artistic development programme for aspiring Canadian and international filmmakers. Each year 10 Canadian and 10 international directors receive an exceptional professional development experience and an introduction to the global community of filmmaking. From September 4 – 8, selected participants have the opportunity to interact with and learn from internationally acclaimed filmmakers and guests.
For more information, please visit 2018 TIFF Filmmaker Lab participants announced.
RDVCANADA.CA: Canada at your fingertips
Discover the newest information sources on the Canadian audiovisual industry available 24/7 and on all platforms. Keep up-to-date with Canadians on the international festival and market circuit, find a complete interactive directory of coproduction partners, and more. Sign up to receive the latest news delivered to your inbox every month. Telefilm’s complete list of activities at TIFF will be published and updated there.
About Telefilm Canada—See bigger.
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund accepts private donations to principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
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Media inquiries
Joyce Richards
Advisor, Public Relations (English market)
Telefilm Canada
Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca
416 973-1819 ext. 2521
Andréane Leblanc
Advisor, Public Relations (French market)
Telefilm Canada
Andreane.Leblanc@telefilm.ca
514 283-0838 ext. 2065