第51届多伦多国际电影节首设TIFF: The Market，拓展行业交易版图

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The Innovation Hub at TIFF: The Market featured immersive works spanning virtual reality, mixed reality, AI, and interactive media.Photo: Courtesy of TIFF

TORONTO—The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), presented by Rogers, wrapped up earlier this month, running Sept. 10-20.

In addition to the hundreds of films making their screen debut, this year also marked the introduction of TIFF: The Market at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

TIFF chief programming officer Anita Lee, head of TIFF: The Market Charles Tremblay, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister Marc Miller, executive director and CEO of Telefilm Canada Julie Roy, and incoming chair of TIFF's board of directors John Tory attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in honor of the inaugural TIFF: The Market. Photo: Courtesy of TIFF

A dedicated marketplace for buyers, distributors, producers, and streaming companies to do deals, it was separate from the public festival, offering a purpose-built trade space with exhibition areas, screenings, networking events, talks with industry leaders, creative development labs, and a cutting-edge Innovation Hub. An IP Exchange was designed to connect publishing, gaming, and immersive media rights-holders with film and series producers and studios.

For example, the directors’ lab supported filmmakers preparing their first features, while the writers’ lab offered workshops, table reads, peer mentorship, and one-on-one consultations to help emerging screenwriters refine their scripts. The series creators’ lab was geared toward premium episodic projects, with a focus on Canadian teams from under-represented communities.

“We designed The Market to meet the needs of a global sales community seeking more buyer engagement through access to premium screening facilities, cost-effective exhibition solutions, and a compact footprint that reduces travel time and maximizes opportunities for face-to-face meetings,” Charles Tremblay, head of TIFF: The Market, said in a press release.

The seven-day industry sidebar ran Sept. 10-16, alongside the film festival. Backed by a $16.6 million investment from the Canadian government and supported by Telefilm Canada, the initiative underscores TIFF’s goal to scale up its industry footprint.

“TIFF brings two distinct visitor audiences to Toronto: filmgoers drawn by the public festival and the film and media industry leaders who come here from around the world to do business," said Kelly Jackson, vice president of destination development at Destination Toronto, the official DMO for Toronto’s tourism industry.

"TIFF: The Market expands the business side of the festival, attracting thousands of industry attendees, generating additional visitor spending, and creating new opportunities for Canadian producers, creators, and companies. It reinforces Toronto’s reputation as a city where global industries gather, relationships are built, and new business takes shape," she added.

The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD.

The Market's Innovation Hub featured eight internationally acclaimed immersive works spanning virtual reality, mixed reality, AI, and interactive media. Designed as a destination exhibition, the Innovation Hub spanned four thematic explorations, revealing how immersive artists around the world are using new technologies. Highlights included Solwata, narrated by Mark Ruffalo; Venice Immersive award winner The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up; SXSW selection Body Proxy; and three World Premiere works.

It was part of a broader focus on innovation across The Market's programming, extending from immersive projects in the International Financing & Project Market (a curated engine to accelerate finance and help find co-production and international collaborators for projects) to Summit conversations examining the technologies, creative practices, and business models shaping the future of the screen industries.

This year, organizers also relaunched Festival Street on King Street West with four days of free public programming. From Sept. 10–13, King Street West between Peter Street and University Avenue featured art installations, live music and DJs, free outdoor film screenings, an art market, food trucks, partner activations, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to encounter filmmakers, artists, and community organizations.

Keep scrolling to see more from the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival...

The Market provided 650 market screening slots and featured an expanded speaker summit. Courtesy of TIFF

TIFF: The Market was a dedicated marketplace for buyers, distributors, producers, and streaming companies to do deals, alongside public screenings and premieres; it was separate from the public festival, offering a purpose-built trade space. Courtesy of TIFF

Seth Rogen joined TIFF vice president of market programming and theatrical Geoff Macnaughton to discuss his two films showing at the festival as well as his other projects, including The Studio’s upcoming second season. Photo: Courtesy of TIFF

TIFF: The Market head Tremblay offered remarks at the International Financing & Project Market, a curated engine that aims to accelerate finance and help find co-production and international collaborators for projects. Photo: Courtesy of TIFF

The Rogers Red Carpet

Rogers returned to Yorkville with The Rogers Red Carpet during the festival's opening weekend Sept. 10-13, inviting guests into the action and glam of the fest through shareable photo moments, interactive games, and live musical performances. At dusk, the venue became an open-air movie theatre showcasing TIFF Short Cuts Films and TIFF People’s Choice Award-winning films. Photo: George Pimentel

Visitors played interactive movie games. Photo: George Pimentel

Our Lady Peace performed on Sept. 12 and hosted a Q&A about its film, Gail, a documentary about Gail E. Lichtman, a long-time subway station agent from the Bronx who is a devoted superfan of the Canadian rock band. Photo: George Pimentel

Little Free Cinemas

BUS, an art and design collective in Toronto, reinvented the cinema space, making it more public and accessible, with The Little Free Cinema installation at David Pecaut Square Sept. 14-20. The exhibit focused on Canadian experimental filmmakers, and encouraged viewers to look through a peephole centered within an eye mimicking Toronto’s iconic “Neighbourhood Watch” signs. The microcinema showcased contemporary Canadian experimental films that rarely show within the public sphere. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/buscollective

Artists for Peace and Justice Gala

On Sept. 13 at the Windsor Arms Hotel, the annual Artists for Peace and Justice Gala returned for its 18th year to raise funds in support of education and community-led initiatives in Haiti. Each year, the gala honors individuals who have used their talent and reach to create meaningful change. This year’s honorees were Canadian comedian Andrea Martin, actor Emily Hampshire, and singer-songwriter Jann Arden. One hundred percent of the funds raised from public ticket sales and donations go directly to the organization’s charitable programs. Photo: Courtesy of Artists for Peace and Justice

The Road to the Golden Globes Party

For the third year in a row, the Golden Globes threw its exclusive star-studded soirée at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. On Sept. 12, Cafe Boulud executive chef William Kresky served a collection of canapés and culinary stations featuring A5 Wagyu Tartelette, Japanese Sea Bream, Bluefin Tuna, Krystal Caviar Feuille de Brique, and Shiso Hamachi Roll. Guests included Sarah Paulson, Ruth Madeley, and Sian Heder (pictured). Photo: Courtesy of the Golden Globes

The IMDb Cocktail Party

On Sept. 14, IMDb hosted The IMDb Cocktail Party at TIFF, an exclusive celebration of filmmakers, held at KŌST in the Bisha Hotel. The invitation-only gathering brought together filmmakers, industry luminaries, and thought leaders to fête guests of honor Andrew Haigh (A Long Winter), Andrew Rhymer (All That She Wants), Kat Sandler (YAGA), and Scarlett Bermingham (All That She Wants). Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb

Guests could customize a luggage tag with their initials. Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb

Tubi’s ‘Any Mood, For Free’ Pop-Up

Tubi, the largest ad-supported streaming service in Canada, appeared on Festival Street with Tubi’s "Any Mood, For Free" pop-up, an emotional playground activation that riffs on the brand’s upcoming campaign: How we want to feel drives what we want to watch. Photo: Courtesy of Tubi

The playful, interactive experience encouraged festivalgoers to tap into their mood, with mood-inspired treats, collectible mood merch, and a Tubi aura branded “mood swing”—a literal swing for photo ops. The pop-up coincided with Tubi’s new TIFF collection on the platform, where Canadians can explore a curated collection of over 150 films that have shaped TIFF’s legacy. Photo: Courtesy of Tubi

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