TIFF Brings Over $170 Million to Toronto

Any event be it a concert, sports event, trade show or festival of some sort is sure to have money pouring into the city and of course that also means giving the city a boost to it's economy. The 36th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has done just that, bringing in more than a whopping $170 million to the city of Toronto during it's 11-day run. 

It's interesting really how it all works. And with a festival of this size and caliber, it's really no surprise that it has continued to do wonders for our city year after year. It's hard to believe that this year's festival has already come to end - another year of watching breathtaking films, shooting the red carpets and listening in on press conferences has all wrapped up.

Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Festival says this year’s film fest has superceded all expectations having brought in over $170 million in hotel stays, restaurants and taxis that have all been busy throughout the festival. Here, I caught up with Bailey to get his thoughts on this year's impressive festival.

“TIFF, it’s also a sense of pride that Torontonians feel because it is an event that the world looks at and Torontonians, I think, can all feel some ownership of that,” says Bailey. 

“It (also) allows the city to strengthen it’s film culture, so we’re able to show the best in world cinema every year for our audiences in Toronto,” he continues. “As a result they have become known as the most sophisticated and enthusiastic film audience in the world, they just get to see more good movies then anybody else.”

This year’s film festival, showcased 268 features and 68 shorts, making it a hub of excitement and activity as critics, film-goers and filmmakers all gathered in Toronto to help change the way people see the world through cinema.

TIFF came to a close Sunday, September 18th, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville, with a brunch and short awards reception honouring this year’s most popular films. 

The three big winners were: Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? who picked up the win for Cadillac People’s Choice Award, Jon Shenk for The Island President won the Cadillac People’s Choice Documentary Award, and the Cadillac People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award went to Gareth Evans for The Raid.

Programmer Thom Powers, GM of Canada VP of Sales, Service and 

Marketing M.J. Comeau, TIFF Programmer Rasha Salti and Filmmaker 

Gareth Evans, winner of The Cadillac People's Choice Midnight Madness 

Award for 'The Raid'.

Filmmaker Gareth Evans, winner of The Cadillac People's Choice 

Midnight Madness Award for 'The Raid'.

Labaki's film, set in war-torn Lebanon about a group of women and their unwavering friendship, is Lebanon’s entry for the best foreign language film category for the 2012 Oscars.

Since the Lebanese-Canadian writer/director was travelling in Europe when she heard the news and was unable to accept her award in person, she sent a statement which was read by festival programmer Rasha Salti.

“I’m thrilled, I’m happy, I’m ecstatic, I’m excited - my day that had just started on the wrong foot because of a flight cancellation has just been turned upside down,” read Salti. “I’m running around jumping up and down at the Frankfurt airport. Tomorrow we’ll be screening Where do we Go Now? for the first time in Lebanon and I will be proud and happy to announce the news in front of my crew, my family and the Lebanese audience.”

Other winners included Nathan Morlando’s Edwin Boyd with The SKYY Vodka Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film.

“The SKYY Vodka Award for Best Feature Film goes to a film that sets a tone, stays with it and shows you what it is to be a soldier returning from war only to find that the world has no place for you. This is a film that puts a human face on a Canadian myth,” remarked the jury.

The City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian Feature Film went to Philippe Falardeau for Monsieur Lazhar; while the award for Best Canadian Short Film was given to Ian Harnarine for Doubles With Slight Pepper. 

The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prizes) for the Discovery Programme was awarded to Axel Petersen for Avalon (Sweden), while the Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prizes) for Special Presentations was given to Gianni Amelio for The First Man (Le Premier Homme) (France, Algeria, Italy).

It was surprising that none of the big name films won, like Moneyball or Ides of March. So what does this say about the fate of these films and the long list of others come Oscar time? There are a number of phenomenal films this year worthy of an award for one reason or another, big name films and all the rest. So which one will make it to the top this year? Your guess is as good as mine. 

If you want more information about the films screened at TIFF this year, visit www.tiff.net.




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