TIFF has revealed the outline of its inaugural market programming which will boast several initiatives aimed at jumpstarting film and series projects from development through financing and sales.
Called TIFF: The Market, the seven-day industry sidebar is set to run Sept 10-16, alongside the Toronto International Film Festival. It will introduce creative development labs for directors, writers and series creators; an international financing and project market; an innovation hub and an IP exchange; alongside a multi-day speakers summit and dedicated pitch stage.
Backed by a CAD $23 million ($16.6 million) investment from the Canadian government and supported by Telefilm Canada, the market initiative underscores TIFF’s ambition to scale up its industry footprint.
“A robust creative pipeline is essential for keeping audiences engaged and the industry moving forward,” said Canadian distribution veteran Charles Tremblay, who joined TIFF as head of the market. “These programs will give creators direct access to decision-makers while helping them sharpen their skills and prepare their projects for the global market.” Tremblay knows the industry inside out with over two decades of experience in the business, having previously co-founded Metropole Films Distribution and worked at Mubi.
The directors’ lab will support filmmakers preparing their first features, while the writers’ lab will offer workshops, table reads, peer mentorship and one-on-one consultations to help emerging screenwriters refine their scripts. The series creators’ lab, meanwhile, will be geared toward premium episodic projects, with a focus on Canadian teams from under-represented communities.
On the financing front, the international financing and project market, presented in partnership with Ontario Creates, will bring together financiers and established producers to past-track funding across film, television and other storytelling verticals.
The market will also lean into cross-media and emerging formats through an innovation hub showcasing XR and interactive storytelling; as well as an IP Exchange designed to connect publishing, gaming and immersive media rights-holders with film and series producers and studios.
“Our longstanding investment in creative development has propelled emerging talent and unique stories to the heights of global success,” said Geoff Macnaughton, VP of market programming and theatrical. “Our aim is to continue bridging the gap between creative vision and commercial viability with projects that can excel across traditional and new media platforms.”
A series of grants, awards and fellowships will be handed out at the event, particularly for under-represented creators. These include the Sloan Science & Technology Writers’ Fellowship, a CAD $35,000 grant supporting science- and technology-focused feature projects, as well as the Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch, which comes with a $15,000 award. The TIFF-CBC Films Screenwriter Award will also return, offering $15,000 and mentorship opportunities to support Canadian screenwriting talent.
“In collaboration with our partners at TIFF, we look forward to once again sharing this award with a Canadian screenwriter and supporting them in bringing their vision to the screen,” said Gosia Kamela, CBC Films head. “For almost a decade, the TIFF-CBC Films Screenwriter Award has helped exciting talent share their stories and build their careers.” Market registration set to open April 8.
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