45th edition of TIFF 2020 in reimagined physical & digital format to run Sept 10-19

#Toronto; #TIFF2020;   #DigitalPlatform; #Shift72; #SocialDistanceScreening; #Covid19

Toronto, Jun 24 (Canadian-Media): 45th edition of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is slated to run this year from Sep 10 -19, announced TIFF on June 24, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it would combine both physical screenings and drive-ins, digital screenings, virtual red carpets, press conferences, and industry talks, TIFF reports said.

TIFF. Image credit: Twitter handle

TIFF generates more than $200 million in annual economic activity for the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario and is responsible for launching Canadian film content into the global marketplace.

TIFF like all other cultural industries had been hit hard with the worldwide health crisis.

Every year TIFF had been hosting between 250-400 feature-length films and the debuts of many of the fall movie season's top releases, but this year they will be halved, at least in physical screenings.

TIFF's aim to launch a digital platform for the Festival for the first time in its history, has resulted in TIFF partnering with Shift72 to develop an industry-leading online platform.

During the ten days of the TIFF, the platform will host five programs of shorts, an online industry conference, outdoor experiences, press conferences, interactive talks, and Q-and-As with cast and filmmakers.

"The pandemic has hit TIFF hard, but we've responded by going back to our original inspiration — to bring the very best in film to the broadest possible audience...Our teams have had to rethink everything and open our minds to new ideas...We have listened to this year’s urgent calls for greater representation of under-represented voices...You’ll see that too. We’re excited to present thoughtful, high-impact programming this September that reflects our belief that there’s no stopping great storytelling," said Cameron Bailey, co-head and artistic director.

Collaborating with the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, and public health officials on the safe execution of the Festival, TIFF's number-one priority is the health and well-being of both Festival film goers and the residents of the entire community.

This year’s selection comprises a lineup of 50 new feature films, five programs of short films, as well as interactive talks, film cast reunions, and Q&As with cast and filmmakers.

TIFF is thrilled to announce that to date, Ammonite, directed by Francis Lee (United Kingdom); Another Round, from director Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark); Bruised, the debut film from director Halle Berry (USA); Concrete Cowboys by filmmaker Ricky Staub (USA); Fauna, from director Nicolás Pereda (Mexico/Canada); Good Joe Bell by director Reinaldo Marcus Green (USA); Spring Blossom, the debut film by director Suzanne Lindon (France); and True Mothers by director Naomi Kawase (Japan) will all screen at this year’s Festival. More titles will be announced over the summer.

During the first five days, TIFF will present social-distanced screenings of movie premieres, including at drive-ins and outdoors.

The presentation of TIFF’s traditional in-person film festival will be subject to the Province’s reopening framework to ensure that Festival venues and workplaces practice, meet, and exceed public health guidelines.

“And this year we’ve added new innovations and ways to give back to the community...We tapped into the original spirit of the Festival from when it began in 1976 as our guiding light. The distilled edition of TIFF 2020 reflects a deep love of film, passion for our loyal audiences, commitment to the industry, and a whole lot of heart,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head, TIFF.

For 2020, TIFF will be welcoming TIFF Ambassadors, 50 celebrated filmmakers, and actors invited to help TIFF deliver a strong Festival this year for the film industry.

They will include Ava DuVernay, Taika Waititi, Anurag Kashyap, Nicole Kidman, Martin Scorsese, Nadine Labaki, Alfonso Cuarón, Tantoo Cardinal, Riz Ahmed, Rian Johnson, Jason Reitman, Isabelle Huppert, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Priyanka Chopra, Viggo Mortensen, Zhang Ziyi, David Oyelowo, Lulu Wang, Rosamund Pike, Sarah Gadon, and Denis Villeneuve, to name a few.

Launched in 2019, the TIFF Tribute Awards would be presented this year virtually to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding contributors to the film industry, including the remarkable talents and contributions of Meryl Streep, Taika Waititi, Mati Diop, and Joaquin Phoenix.

Additional information on the Awards and 2020 honorees will be announced, said TIFF, in the coming months.

International and Canadian press attending TIFF will be able to converse with actors and filmmakers and can hold interviews.

Now in its third year, TIFF’s Media Inclusion Initiative will continue to accredit eligible Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and women emerging film critics who are working towards making their voices heard in the press corps.

TIFF's new feature this year is offering access to 250 under-represented emerging filmmakers from around the world.

As a non-profit, TIFF’s For the Love of Film Fund was launched earlier this spring and supports TIFF’s work to reimagine the in-cinema experience in the digital age for its audiences, and invests in TIFF’s recovery and the future of film.​

                                                (Reporting by Asha Bajaj)