Toronto's block party to showcase 4 days of free films, music, & special guests

#TorontoInternationalFilmFestival2019; #FestivalStreetoftheblockparty

Toronto, Aug 23 (Canadian-Media):  For a sixth year, the Toronto International Film Festival will be entertaining people with activities including special performances, patios, and food trucks onto the King Street West between Peter Street and University Avenue transforming it to a Festival Street of the block party of the year from Sept 5 through 8, TIFF reports said.  

TIFF offers everyone FREE programming featuring Blitz//Berlin, Gael García Bernal, and Drake Doremus & Shailene Woodley from King Street to the OLG Dream Deck. 

“Festival Street is an accessible and inclusive way we can share our passion for film with the city we call home,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF Artistic Director and Co-Head. “We invite all of Toronto to come join the fun. Stop by King Street during TIFF’s opening weekend to catch a free movie screening, listen to some live music, relax on one of the patios, or engage with one of the many activities along the street.”

"This September we invite everyone to join us on Festival Street where we take our passion for film onto the streets," said Jennifer Barkin, Lead Programmer for Special Events, and Festival Street. “Festival Street is really a place to meet and connect with other Festival goers and an opportunity for everyone in the City to take in the amazing energy over opening weekend.

Festival Street Map Festival tickets go on sale September 2 at 10am (TIFF Member pre-sale August 31, 10am–4pm).

Tickets can be bought online at tiff.net, by phone at 416.599.2033 or 1.888.258.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets.

TIFF prefers Visa. Social Media: @TIFF_NET #TIFF19 Facebook.com/TIFF

Acknowledging the support of Torontonians and the City of Toronto in making this Festival Street a success, TIFF has once again partnered with the TTC to give Torontonians more access to Festival films.

Thousands of vouchers for Festival films and year-round screenings at TIFF Bell Lightbox to passersby would be handed by Brand ambassadors at King Street on the morning of September 5.

The public is invited to Roy Thomson Hall for the TTC Free Screening of a Festival title, which will be announced through TIFF’s social channels the evening prior, on Sunday, September 8 at 12pm.

TTC Free Screening is first-come, first-served to those with a PRESTO card or TTC transfer.

Festival Street’s nightly screening schedule include films by renowned female filmmakers such as Amy Heckerling’s romantic comedy Look Who’s Talking; Lone Scherfig’s charming coming-of-age tale An Education, which played TIFF 2009; and Gurinder Chadha’s Bollywood adaptation of a Jane Austin classic, Bride and Prejudice and more to come.

Screenings will be preceded by excerpts from !Toronto, a project which overlays film scenes shot in Toronto onto a map, questioning what the representations of Toronto mean within the discourse of Canadian cinema and identity. 

New heights would be reached with Festival Street with the OLG Dream Deck, located on the rooftop of TIFF Bell Lightbox, which would showcase intimate conversations as well as panels with key filmmakers and creators. 

Throughout the event, several notable guests will be in attendance throughout the event. Director, writer, producer, and actor Amy Jo Johnson will give a behind-the-scenes look at her dynamic career, from Pink Power Ranger to director of TIFF ’19 Official Selection Tammy’s Always Dying.

Internationally renowned talent Gael García Bernal will discuss his work and his approach to roles, both in front of and behind the camera. Composing trio Blitz//Berlin will discuss how they bring images to life through their unique sound. The Australian Dream director Daniel Gordon will shine a light on sports hero and Indigenous-rights activist Adam Goodes. Endings, Beginnings filmmaker Drake Doremus and lead actor Shailene Woodley will talk about the art of collaboration.

Tickets for the OLG Dream Deck are free. They can be redeemed as of August 31 for Members, and September 2 for the public, available while quantities last. For full lineup details, visit tiff.net/olgdreamdeck.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

Slaight Music Stage would be converted in to nightly musical performances featuring singer-songwriter Sam Drysdale, singer Kayla Diamond, award-winning singer-songwriter Tomi Swick, and Toronto ensemble Long Branch.

There would be a special performances on Thursday, September 5  by Six Nations/Kahnawake band Attic Ramblers.

Andrée Levesque Sioui accompanied by Acadian pianist Rachel Aucoin will take the stage on Sunday, September 8, 

For full lineup details can be obtained by visiting tiff.net/festival-street-2019.

The 44th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5–15, 2019.

As an international leader in film culture and not-for-profit cultural organization, TIFF has a mission is to transform the way people see the world through film.

TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit.

The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris, and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto. -30- For more information, contact Negaar Hatami, Senior Coordinator, Communications and Brand at nhatami@tiff.net, or the Communications Department at 416.934.3200, or email proffice@tiff.net.
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                                                        Reporting by Asha Bajaj