We have a 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. A day shorter and a whole lot fewer films on the schedule. Fewer crowds and parties. A lot fewer attendees, thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The show is going on.
Tonight's opening night film is David Byrne’s American Utopia from Spike Lee.
2020 TIFF Canadian film preview
TIFF added a couple of Canadian titles. Akilla's Escape, a crime-noir about an urban child-soldier directed by Canadian filmmaker Charles Officer, is one of 4 titles in the Planet Africa program. The Canadian documentary Underplayed by Stacey Lee focuses on gender inequality in the electronic music scene.
For all the Canadian related content, including short films, TIFF has the films listed by country. Select Country/Region on the left-hand menu and pick Canada.
When TIFF concentrated on Canadian films for the opening night film
2020 TIFF Rising Stars
Where and how the films will be shown are definitely unique. The Bell Lightbox will host some films with a maximum of 50 guests per indoor cinema. TIFF will screen films on Bell Digital Cinema, its online platform. Other venues include a pair of drive-ins and an open-air cinema.
Online films are geoblocked to all of Canada with a 24-hour viewing time limit. Canadians have an advantage in the 2020 TIFF, even watching films online is a lot cheaper than a Toronto hotel room.
Canadian film notebook: TIFF offering a digital version of Bell Lightbox
TIFF Bell Lightbox extends closure to July 1
Masks are required in the Bell Lightbox but not "when seated in-cinema." Wearing a mask is optional at TIFF’s outdoor screenings.
Canadian film review: I've Heard the Mermaids Singing
CanadianCrossing.com film reviews
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
45 years of TIFF:
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 8, 2020
I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING, TIFF '87#TIFF20 pic.twitter.com/3QVf8xbZdc
Needed a reminder of TIFFs from the past. We reviewed this film awhile back. This was a breakthrough film for Patricia Rozema. Maybe 2020 TIFF will help another Canadian film make a similar impact.
The 2020 Toronto International Film Festival runs today through September 19.
photo credit: Beans film
Twitter capture: @TIFF_net
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