Toronto International Film Festival to celebrate world cinema while adapting to new norms

Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most awaited events of its kind and this year it will start from September 10. From stars walking on the red carpets, to the showcasing of some of the best international films of the year, the 10-day event brings the world of cinema together. 

However, given the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will not be celebrated with all that grandeur as before, with the number of infection-related protocols that have been imposed on the world since the outbreak. The 45th edition of the TIFF had adapted itself to the ‘new norms’ by going through hosts of creative changes keeping in mind the pandemic situation. 

Here is everything you need to know about the 45th Toronto International Film Festival:

When: The festival is set to start on September 10, and will end on September 19.

What’s new: The TIFF is known for its extensive collection of film screenings. However, this year, only 50 films have gained their spots at the festival, owing to the pandemic, along with 40 short films and 10 documentaries. A major chunk of these movies will be screened digitally, with only a few of them being live-screened at Toronto. 

Who are the guests: Even with its muted celebrations, the TIFF has invited 50 artists across the world, including actors Priyanka Chopra, Nicole Kidman, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, among others. Directors Anurag Kashyap, Taika Waititi, Atom Egoyan, Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis and others have also been invited.

Films to look out for: Indian filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane’s ‘The Disciple’, a feature film devoted to the art of Indian classical music, has found its place at the TIFF. Mira Nair’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ is the other entry from India this year. Apart from these, ‘Ammonite’, directed by Francis Lee, Thomas Vinterberg’s ‘Another round’, Regina King’s directorial debut about a young Muhammad Ali are some of the films that one should watch out for.

According to its website, “TIFF is the cornerstone of a $2-billion-a-year film industry in Toronto, generates more than $200 million in annual economic activity for the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario, and is the chief market to launch Canadian film content into the global marketplace.”

“The distilled edition of TIFF 2020 reflects a deep love of film, passion for our loyal audiences, commitment to the industry, and a whole lot of heart,” Joana Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head, TIFF, said while speaking about this year’s event.