It is the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Of course, having an international film festival in 2020 comes with its own unique set of complications, so the international part of the festival became surprisingly literal. While Toronto is the center of events, and will host several screenings, it鈥檚 not actually just in Toronto, instead 小蓝视频 a festival which exists everywhere, as anyone can screen from home.
This isn鈥檛 without precedent - in fact, Yorkton鈥檚 own festival was going entirely streaming before Toronto - but one wonders if one of the biggest guns in film festivals going mostly online is going to set a precedent that lasts longer than just a single time of crisis.
It鈥檚 an experiment, of course, and one that TIFF organizers were backed into. But it鈥檚 an experiment that could be very interesting for fans of film as the festival is no longer localized.
It鈥檚 especially interesting in a city like Yorkton, as in spite of the city鈥檚 deep links to film and television, it鈥檚 not the easiest place in the world to watch a lot of the acclaimed work that premieres at festivals around the globe.
This isn鈥檛 anyone鈥檚 fault, but the city has a mere one screen in the local theatre and that means we get one movie a week. Because of this, the owners of that theatre are going to prioritize blockbusters, big summer fare and generally things that are mass-audience friendly. If they are going to book a movie by Chloe Zhao, for example, they鈥檙e going to bring in the upcoming Marvel film Eternals, rather than her decidedly smaller, but prize-winning film Nomadland, which premiered in Toronto to rave reviews. I鈥檓 not even so foolish as to claim that they鈥檙e missing out by not screening Nomadland, if you鈥檝e got one screen you have to use it wisely.
However, having Toronto go to a virtual festival makes it possible to see these films at home earlier than we would be able to in most years.
Even if this experiment is a success it鈥檚 likely that TIFF will go back to 小蓝视频 strictly Toronto-focused when travel is recommended again. Should it? Because the goal of a film festival is to get films in front of audiences, and there are many who can鈥檛 make it to Toronto, and many films which will never be screened theatrically in smaller centres.
Much as the Yorkton Film Festival鈥檚 online program was before TIFF鈥檚, other things happening in Yorkton could, and should, be adapted by Toronto. Specifically, I鈥檓 thinking about the DVD tours, which collects films screened locally into packages which can be screened by different groups in the province. Using film as outreach could easily be adapted to a larger scale.
TIFF screens longer films, but why not have a TIFF tour? Send out 鈥渕ini film festivals鈥� that could be screened in smaller communities, possibly theatrically, possibly just on a one-off drive-in or school gym location. You would have films reach audiences which otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have a chance to see them, make a bit of extra money for independent filmmakers, and possibly partner with a community organization for concession sales. Not every film could be eligible, but there鈥檚 always a benefit to finding ways for films to make a bit more money for the studio, especially smaller budget and international films.
Watching film right now is simultaneously easier than ever and significantly more complicated, depending on the film. With film festivals going online, at least temporarily, it鈥檚 a good time to think about different things we can do to help the medium thrive. When people feel safe getting together again, it鈥檒l be an opportunity to rethink these festivals.
