TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival | Toronto
Celebration
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a major film festival in the English-speaking world, held annually in Toronto, Canada, in September. Its highest honor is the People's Choice Award. Founded in 1976, the TIFF initially screened films from other festivals. Through years of development and numerous transformations, it has become one of the world's largest film festivals. In recent years, it has become considered a preview of the Academy Awards, with many films choosing the TIFF for their world or North American premieres, allowing audiences to see them first. In 1998, Variety magazine acknowledged that the TIFF was "second only to the Cannes Film Festival in terms of high-profile interviews, celebrities, and marketing events." In 2007, Time magazine noted that the TIFF had "evolved from an influential fall film festival to a major film festival," in part due to its People's Choice Award being considered a preview of the Academy Awards. The film festival emphasizes diversity, showcasing everything from Hollywood productions to independent productions and experimental works. It also recognizes Canadian productions and uses this opportunity to recognize Canada's contributions to the film industry.