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TIFF Unveils New Curatos
TIFF has revealed that five new film curators are joining its programming team.

The new programmers are some of the most sought-after and vital voices in the industry, and women continue to comprise 50 per cent of the programming team.

TIFF also announced details of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival holding September 8 to 18. TIFF’s 47th edition will feature 11 days of the best that the international film community has to offer, while spotlighting and championing the Canadian film industry and its filmmaking talent.

Additionally, TIFF’s networking and celebratory events return, including the TIFF Opening Night Party, the Industry Conference, Filmmaker Dinners, Industry Networking Events, Press & Programmers Events, as well as the TIFF Tribute Awards Gala. “We’re thrilled to share this news about TIFF 2022 and to introduce fresh voices to our programming team,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF.

“Their expertise, passion, and perspectives will both deepen and broaden TIFF’s curation. As we prepare our selections both for TIFF Bell Lightbox year-round and for the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, we can’t wait to see what our new programmers will add to the mix. Veteran TIFF programmer Jane Schoettle returns to lead programming of our Special Presentations section,” continued Bailey.

“Jane has a long history of finding some of our Festival’s top audience favourites, and for spotting the hottest sales titles as well. Jason Ryle joins us in a new role, selecting Indigenous-made films from around the world, which will be programmed across existing Festival sections.

Last year, Jason curated the Festival’s Celebrating Alanis Obomsawin spotlight, and was previously Executive Director of imagineNATIVE. Journalist Kelly Boutsalis joins TIFF as Associate Programmer for Canadian feature films, while Ravi Srinivasan rejoins TIFF in a full-time role as Senior Manager, TIFF Programming. He’ll contribute to the Festival’s programming of Canadian feature films and films from Southeast Asia.”

Leading our Festival programming team will be Robyn Citizen, who started at TIFF in 2018. She has been appointed TIFF’s Director of Festival Programming & Cinematheque. Stated Citizen: ”I am thrilled to be leading this team of innovative, film-loving professionals.

The last two years set the stage for change, and TIFF has embraced it — we are refocused on brave, authentic curation, on engaging stories and bringing audiences together. And while James Quandt’s retirement left a large void to fill, it is very exciting to announce that longtime Festival programmer Andréa Picard has stepped into the full-time role of Senior Curator, TIFF & TIFF Cinematheque.”

According to Picard, “TIFF Cinematheque has played a considerable role in my life as a devoted cinephile, its exceptional and generous programming having set the bar for film curating around the world.” Picard said, “Cinematheque screenings continuously renew my passion for film, my admiration for filmmakers, and make me feel part of a larger community. I intend to honour this legacy, ensuring that TIFF audiences have access to programming that participates in an international dialogue, is vibrant, relevant, and is of the highest exhibition standards. It is an exciting moment for contemporary cinema, as well as film history with its canon cracked wide open.”

TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey Selects
Festival’s Gala Presentations
THE 20th anniversary edition of Berlinale Talents ends on a high with alumna and Golden Bear winner Carla Simón (Alcarràs), and having established a clear mission for the future.

The six-day summit, with talks for thousands of online viewers as well as workshops and the new daily think tank Talents Tanks for the 200 participants from over 70 countries, emphasised the desire to create more sustainable communication channels.

The Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, visited Berlinale Talents and encouraged the participants: “20 years of talent development à la Berlinale – this success story sums up plenty of unforgettable experiences, encounters and films that originated in Berlin. It’s also a story that will be continued with you today: like no other before, your generation is diverse, engaged and deeply committed, whether it be on topics of freedom of speech or anti-racism, in the way you set up your crews, or how you help to bring about positive change to your societies.”

All of the corresponding talks on the “Labours of Cinema” theme also gave Talents and alumni their voice in the public sphere: sociologists Jutta Allmendinger and Lisa Basten engaged in a lively discussion with an international delegation of Talents on their income levels in relation to gender and educational backgrounds. The equal participation of all film disciplines in the artistic decision making processes was the focus, for example, of the session with the currently Oscar-nominated alumna and cinematographer Ari Wegner.

The guests acknowledged the responsibility and opportunity of the next generation for change. Isabelle Huppert, for example, though unable to join at short notice, addressed the Talents directly: “The collaboration with emerging filmmakers has always played an important role in my work, and I think we can learn a lot when we are open to new perspectives. This is why I was very much looking forward to entering into dialogue with you and feel connected in our shared visions for cinema. Even if we weren’t able to meet this time in person, I send my gratitude Julia Sinkevych and warmest greetings to each one of you, wherever you are around the globe. I am sure we’ll see each other again!”