BY RENU MEHTA, TORONTO:
# TorontoInternationalFilmFestival2019
The 44th Toronto International Film Festival 2019 (TIFF 2019) begins in Toronto this week.
TIFF 2019 includes Gala films, documentary films, short films, feature films, Special presentations, telefilms and much more.
World Premiere of Canada’s Gala film “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band” would be TIFF 2019’s opening gala film on Thursday, Sept 5, at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, and the world premiere of “Radioactive” which was filmed in Budapest, would be TIFF 2019’s closing night Gala film on Sept 15, 2019.
It is interesting to note that of the selected Gala films’ titles for TIFF 2019, nearly 50 per cent of these are directed or co-directed by women. This year’s selection also includes 29 World Premieres, six International Premieres, 13 North American Premieres, and eight Canadian Premieres.
The film ‘The Sky Is Pink’, starring Priyanka Chopra, famous Bollywood and Hollywood actress, and actor Farhan Akhtar and directed by the Indian female-director, Shonali Bose will have its world premiere on Sept 13 at the TIFF 2019.
This year’s Canadian rising stars lineup consists of Kacey Rohl, Mikhaïl Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, and Shamier Anderson.
TIFF Canadian Features consist of innovative talent and diverse filmmakers. Canadian Feature documentary David Foster’s “Off the Record” is set for World premiere at TIFF2019.
A charitable cultural organization and an international leader in film culture, TIFF’s mission is to transform the way the medium of film influences people’s perception of the world. Included in the TIFF projects are: Toronto International Film Festival held in September each year; TIFF Bell Lightbox, featuring five cinemas, major exhibitions, learning and entertainment facilities; and Film Circuit, which is an innovative national distribution program.
The 44th festival runs September 5–15, 2019.
FILM FESTIVAL FACT SHEET – courtesy TIFF (Nos. in parentheses are 2018 statistics)
333 Titles in the Festival: 245 features, 82 shorts, 6 series (342 titles: 250 features, 88 shorts, 4 series)
229 Features or series that are World, International, or North American Premieres: 133, 25, and 71, respectively (232 total: 138 World, 22 International, 72 North American Premieres)
7,925 Total submissions: 6,866 international; 1,059 Canadian (7,926 total: 6,846 international; 1,080 Canadian)
84 Countries and regions represented (83)
(The stars of Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyah from TIFF 2018)
36% Titles directed, co-directed, or created by women (35%)
23 Examples of LGBTQ+ stories
87 Languages and dialects represented
28,264 Minutes of film — equal to about 20 days of viewing
840 Minutes (longest film): Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema, TIFF Docs
2 Minutes (shortest film): Human Nature, Short Cuts Programme 1
27 Number of screens used for public, Press & Industry, and private screenings
12 Number of films Joana Vicente has produced that have been featured in TIFF’s Official Selection over the years
51 First time narrative feature filmmakers
7 TIFF Tribute Awards to honour outstanding contributions to cinema
280,000 Expected visitors on Festival Street
