Telefilm Canada showcases Canadian talent at the 40th annual Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto, August 5, 2015—Telefilm Canada is showcasing Canadian talent at the 40th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a celebration of film that brings together filmmakers and movie lovers in one festive event that runs from September 10 to 20, 2015. Telefilm is enthusiastically partnering with the Festival once again, putting key initiatives in place focused on recognizing seasoned as well as emerging Canadian talent.

“Over the past 40 years, the Toronto International Film Festival has played a major role in helping to strengthen Canadian talent and grow Canadian audiences,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “Our renowned filmmakers, such as Atom Egoyan, Patricia Rozema, David Cronenberg, Deepa Mehta, Sarah Polley, Guy Maddin, Denis Villeneuve, Alanis Obomsawin, Jean-Marc Vallée and Philippe Falardeau, among others, saw their careers blossom as a result of exposure gained at the Festival. Furthermore, a brand-new generation of film talent—such as Guy Édoin, Ingrid Veninger, Louise Archambault and Albert Shin—benefit from the support and visibility generated by the Festival. Today, Canadian creativity shines brightly around the world!

“At TIFF 2015, Canadian talent will gain from made-to-measure promotional and networking activities. To this end, we are delighted to team up once more with the Festival and other public and private partners, such as Maison Birks, with whom we will again be paying tribute to 10 Canadian women directors and actors who made their mark over the past year. Fans of Canadian movies will have the opportunity to see these 10 honourees at a red carpet event and at the fanzone.”

Piers Handling, TIFF’s Director and CEO, added: “Telefilm has been by TIFF’s side for the past four decades as both organizations have been faithfully dedicated to promoting and supporting Canadian talent at home and abroad. Telefilm’s unparalleled commitment to the Canadian film industry makes them a valued partner—I hope we can collaborate for another 40 years!”

Eye on TIFF, organized by Telefilm Canada in New York and Los Angeles
New York: August 26, 2015
Los Angeles: August 27, 2015
Well established in New York since 2011 and now in its second consecutive year in Los Angeles, the Eye on TIFF event organized by Telefilm Canada is an outstanding pre-festival activity that provides distributors and exhibitors with a sneak peek at the Canadian films in selection at TIFF. A show reel of a dozen films will be presented during the event, with the teams behind a few of the films previewed set to attend the New York happening.

Filmmaker Boot Camp
August 6, 2015
This workshop, the first in a series aimed at the industry and that runs throughout the year, helps prepare producers and directors for the requirements as well as the benefits of film festivals by focusing on the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Some 20 speakers and other guests, including Dan Lyon, Telefilm’s Regional Feature Film Executive—Ontario and Nunavut Region, will provide an overview of the Festival program, the Festival Industry Conference series and the resources available for delegates, and offer advice to participants on how to promote their projects in development and play their best cards at the Festival.

Canada Lounge
September 10 to 17, 2015
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 and press.

Telefilm Canada Talent to Watch
September 11, 2015, 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM
September 13, 2015, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
September 14, 2015, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Session topics as well as names of participants will be announced shortly. Launched in 2011, the Talent to Watch series of Q&A presentations is part of the Festival Industry Conference series. The initiative features a diversity of Canadian talent in attendance at TIFF, giving them the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience.

Telefilm Canada PITCH THIS!
September 13, 2015
Telefilm Canada’s very popular PITCH THIS! initiative turns 16 this year! Six teams will have six minutes to pitch their feature film idea to a live audience of over 200 industry professionals. The winning team, selected by a jury of international industry experts, is awarded $15,000 from Telefilm to develop its script.

Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm Canada
September 15, 2015
For a third year running, 10 Canadian women directors and actors will be honoured at the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm. This event highlights the most significant achievements of women working in the film industry, the impact of their work and their talent, the recognition they have received from respected organizations and their peers, the visibility they generated for our industry and their contribution to the careers of a new generation of women filmmakers. The winners are chosen by a pan-Canadian selection committee of film and entertainment journalists.

TIFF Rising Stars
Telefilm is a loyal partner of TIFF Rising Stars, an initiative designed to discover the next generation of outstanding Canadian actors. In a workshop setting, winners will receive professional development and mentoring from casting directors, agents, managers, producers and filmmakers.

Talent Lab
Telefilm is again partnering with Talent Lab, a professional development workshop that provides emerging talent with a unique opportunity to learn from the world’s best film artists, thus enabling them to hone their skills.

Spotlighting Canadian talent at the Festival
Promoting Canadian content and talent is Telefilm’s top priority at TIFF. The organization has created a microsite (www.canada-tiff15.ca) that will go live beginning August 25. In addition to offering profiles of Canadian producers and directors participating in the Festival, the microsite will also feature production information and trailers for the Canadian films at TIFF. Upcoming projects from producers will also be in the spotlight to help foster partnership and coproduction activity during the Festival.

About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Created in 1967, Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund and the Talent Fund, a private donation initiative. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

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Media enquiries:
Douglas Chow, Head, Public Relations, Telefilm Canada
(416) 973-6436, ext. 2548 or 1-800-463-4607
douglas.chow@telefilm.ca