Industry programming is back in person at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF announced today that the Industry Conference will return to the Glenn Gould Studio for five days, running from September 9-13. The Industry Centre, meanwhile, returns to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. (Pick up a copy of the fall issue POV at either venue!) Additional industry meet-ups are in the works for TIFF Bell Lightbox. 2022 marks a return to live industry events after the festival was forced to pivot to Zoom when COVID-19 and travel restrictions made in-real-life events impossible.
This year’s Industry Conference will again see a day of documentary-focused programming by Thom Powers as part of the five-day summit. The programming for TIFF’s 2022 Industry Conference programming is developed by Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry and Theatrical, and Jane Kim, Industry Programming Producer, and managed by Julla Shanghavi, Manager, Industry Conference under the director of the festival’s new Chief Programming Officer, Anita Lee.
“We are so excited to welcome the international film and television communities back to Toronto this September to celebrate the craft and its creators, build towards more sustainable business practices, and help develop original, distinct, and diverse voices that deserve to be championed,” said Macnaughton in a statement from TIFF. “Although we had many successes delivering hybrid digital/in-person Industry initiatives over the last two years, including a record-breaking year in film sales, we are thrilled to return to in-person business and networking.”
The 2022 Industry Conference will feature six programmes: Visionaries offers keynote addresses from industry leaders, including a confirmed talk with MUBI Founder & CEO Efe Cakarel. The Perspectives brings esteemed panelists together to debate the state of the industry, such as a conversation on narrative sovereignty set to be programmed by TIFF newcomer Jason Ryle and a summit on the state of global film exhibition from guest programmer Nuria Bronfman, Executive Director of the Movie Theatre Association of Canada.
Connections works to bridge industry access for emerging and mid-career filmmakers. The Connections stream includes two sessions on short films and first features curated by TIFF Short Cuts programmer Jason Anderson. Microsessions return to highlight new technologies and business innovation, while the Spotlights stream engages with tips of the trade like co-production and pitching. Additionally, TIFF will again support emerging film creators from under-represented communities through its third annual pass-gifting initiative. Emerging professionals tapped for the program receive access to the TIFF’s Industry Conference, press and industry screenings, and networking tools. Over 240 filmmakers received support last year.
Further Industry programming will be released in the weeks leading up to the festival. TIFF has so far announced two world premieres for this year’s festival: the eagerly anticipated debut of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out sequel Glass Onion and Clement Virgo’s adaptation of David Chariandy’s acclaimed Scarborough-set novel Brother.
Update (7/11): This post previously mentioned that the Industry programming would not have a doc day. That is incorrect – there will be a day of documentary programming at this year’s event.
