TIFF targets younger audience with indie premieres

TORONTO

The Toronto International Film Festival is turning its focus towards independent cinema in an effort to attract younger audiences increasingly seeking films and experiences beyond mainstream Hollywood offerings.

The festival opened its 51st edition on Thursday with nearly 300 films, as studio-backed big-budget productions have taken a back seat at major international festivals, including Venice and Cannes, this year.

Anita Lee, TIFF's chief programming officer, said the festival was witnessing a significant demographic shift, with younger audiences returning to cinemas while also showing greater interest in independent and international films.

"I think for us as a festival, we really are seeing a very significant demographic shift, and younger audiences coming back to cinema," Lee told Reuters. She added younger viewers were increasingly seeking "content, cinema experiences also outside of just mainstream offerings".

Lee said that TIFF wanted to "meet the moment" by responding to the changing tastes of its audience. The trend, she added also reflected the outlook of a younger generation growing up as a more global audience – familiar with films and cinema from different parts of the world.

The festival's programme includes a range of independent productions and documentaries addressing contemporary social and political issues. Among the premieres is 'Rescue', a documentary by Sine Plambech examining the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.

Afsaneh Salari's 'Tehran, Under the Skin' explores Iran's beauty industry against the backdrop of tensions involving the United States and Israel. Alex Gibney's documentary about Elon Musk, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, will make its North American debut in Toronto.

Lee also highlighted the Canadian premiere of 'Elsinore', starring Andrew Scott as the late Scottish actor Ian Charleson during his struggle with AIDS.

Other anticipated world premieres include Peter Farrelly's 'I Play Rocky', the story of how Sylvester Stallone secured production of the film 'Rocky'. South Korean director Lee Chang-dong's drama 'Possible Love' will also make its North American debut at the festival.

Despite its growing emphasis on independent cinema, TIFF continues to draw major international stars to its red carpets, with Penelope Cruz, Seth Rogen, Naomi Watts, Courteney Cox and Helen Mirren among those expected to attend.

Oscar-winning director Sian Heder's 'Being Heumann', starring Ruth Madeley as disability rights activist Judy Heumann, was selected as the festival's opening film. The 11-day festival will conclude on September 20.

The festival's programming also comes against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, which have previously generated controversy around TIFF screenings of documentaries dealing with Israel and Russia.

Lee said the festival's selection of films inevitably reflected the complexities of the world in which they were being made and viewed, making scrutiny unavoidable. "We cannot escape the fact that currently we are living in very complex geopolitical times," she said.