Toronto Film School Set to Make Its Mark on the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival®
Toronto, ON, Sept. 3, 2024 – Toronto Film School’s presence will be felt at the Toronto International Film Festival more than ever before in 2024, thanks to its newly expanded status as an official partner of the prestigious fest.
This year’s star-studded 49th edition of TIFF will screen 278 films from around the world, rolling out the red carpet from September 5 to 15 to welcome the world’s largest public audience of local and international film lovers to Toronto – and Toronto Film School is proud to be a partner in making this year’s fest its most successful yet.
“Here at TFS, we’re proud of the important role we play in helping train the Canadian film and television industry’s talent of tomorrow. And now, through our ever-growing partnership with TIFF, we’re now able to give our student filmmakers unmatched access to one of the world’s largest annual showcases of film,” says Andrew Barnsley, Toronto Film School’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning president.
“At TIFF 2024, our talented community of TFS students, alumni and faculty will be on showcase for all to see – both on and off screen, behind the camera and in front of it, and even on the streets.”
One of the most exciting collaborations TFS is undertaking with TIFF is its sponsorship of this year’s Festival Street Art Market. Now officially known as the TIFF Festival Street Art Market, in partnership with Toronto Film School, the September 5-8 market will see some of the local community’s most creative and innovative film organizations – from REEL Canada and the imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival, to Luminato Festival and and the Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Fest – on colourful display on Simcoe Street at King Street West for TIFF’s 450,000+ anticipated visitors.
Also featured at the TIFF Festival Street Art Market will be a TFS Cinema installation – a 10×20-foot mini outdoor theatre that will screen a special selection of student short films over the course of the festival’s opening weekend – giving TFS students and their work prime exposure just steps away from the TIFF Lightbox.
TFS students will also be given insider access to the festival via 15 Conference Passes, which will grant TFS: YOUR IN TO TIFF contest winners access to the Industry Conference, press and industry screenings, online networking and business tools, access to industry venues, and invitations to special industry events, among other perks.
But TFS’s involvement doesn’t stop there! This year’s TIFF lineup includes several productions that feature the work of Toronto Film School alumni and faculty.
“To have such a great presence at a festival with the prestige of TIFF is a testament to the talent that is trained and prepared right here in the city,” Barnsley adds. “TIFF is obviously a huge deal for Toronto and the whole country, so to have that local connection is extremely important and exciting.”
Some of the films beings screened at TIFF that have a TFS connection include:
- Shook – Toronto Film School Film Production alumni Akhil Khithani (2015) and Mark Andrew (2013) contributed to this Amar Wala Khithani served as the 3rd Assistant Director, while Sirju worked as the Line Producer. The film, starring Saamer Usmani and Amy Forsyth, delves into the life of a struggling writer facing personal challenges.
- Without Blood – Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre graduate Juan Carlos Huguenin (2013) appears in Angelina Jolie’s directorial venture, starring Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir. Huguenin plays ‘The Waiter’ in this powerful story of family, war and revenge.
- 40 Acres – Video Production alumnus Christopher Kezar (2021) and Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre instructor John Tench worked on this apocalyptic thriller from R.T. Thorne. Kezar was the Dailies Operator, while Tench portrayed a menacing leader with a taste for cannibalism in this gripping post-apocalyptic narrative.
- Measures for a Funeral – Sofia Bohdanowicz, a 2007 Film Production graduate, directed this extraordinary film about 20thcentury Canadian violinist Kathleen Parlow, blending her true story with some fictionalized family history.
- Sweet Angel Baby – A beautiful and heartbreaking look inside small-town identity politics, this movie – the second feature film directed by Melanie Oates, is making its world premiere at TIFF. It was produced by Film Production graduate Chris Hatcher (2009).
- The Best – A short film playing in TIFF’s Short Cuts 2024 Programme 04, the movie focuses on a South Asian bodybuilder whose confidence is threatened by waves of grief. The character Son is portrayed by Ahmed Mokdad, a 2021 graduate of the Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre.
About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; and the innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $200 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including 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.
About Toronto Film School
Toronto Film school is an internationally recognized career college that prepares students for jobs in film, TV, video games, and graphic design. A faculty of industry professionals brings real-world expertise to the school’s curriculum through a focus on practical experience, networking opportunities, and portfolio building. Students can choose from a variety of on-campus and online accelerated diploma programs, graduating industry ready in 12–24 months.
For more information, please visit torontofilmschool.ca. Connect with us on Instagram @torontofilmschool, Twitter @TOFilmSchool, Facebook at /TorontoFilmSchool, LinkedIn at /toronto-film-school and YouTube @TorontoFilmSchool1.
