TIFF continues to build out its speaker lineup despite the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes barring a number of participants from this year’s 48th edition.
Of note, actor Viggo Mortensen will appear on stage in Toronto to discuss his feature directorial debut, the western The Dead Don’t Hurt, a movie he also stars in with Garret Dillahunt, Danny Huston and Vicky Krieps. Despite the SAG-AFTRA strike, Mortensen will appear at TIFF under the guise of director. He’ll be joined by producer Jeremy Thomas and Regina Solórzano. Global rights are available on The Dead Don’t Hurt; Cinetic is handling.
Also having onstage conversations in the Visionaries section are Oscar winners Guillermo del Toro and Spike Lee.
Last week, TIFF announced that Pedro Almodovar, who is already receiving a tribute at the fest, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau and the stars of Korean disaster epic, Concrete Utopia, are already set to have sitdown conversations.
All the sessions for TIFF’s Industry Conference which spans the programming of Visionaries, Dialogues, Perspectives, Connections, Microsessions, and Spotlights, will take place at the Glenn Gould Studio.
“Our Industry Conference aims to be a pivotal platform for thought-provoking discussions by industry leaders,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “The sessions and speakers reflect our commitment to diverse perspectives and creative exploration towards sparking innovation within the industry.”
“This year’s event offers something for everyone, whether you are an emerging creator or experiencedproducer, and its scale and curation supports our growing industry attendance,” said Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry & Theatrical.
VISIONARIESInspirational onstage conversations with individuals who are forging creative and business pathways in the industry. Speakers include:● Spike Lee — An in-depth conversation discussing the process of forging a distinct filmic languagethroughout his expansive, multi-decade career.● Ladj Ly — A discussion on his bold approach and unwavering commitment to telling stories that exploredeeply personal portraits about communities revolting against broken systems.● Guillermo del Toro — A conversation about the liberating potential of fantastical worlds; the magic thatexists within the details; and his wide-spanning career crafting intricate and cinematic love letters.Made possible with the support of the Directors Guild of Canada.● See-Saw Films — A celebratory talk on the company’s remarkable 15 years of delivering criticallyacclaimed stories to global audiences, including The King’s Speech, Lion, The Power of the Dog, andmany more.● Nadine Labaki — With more than a decade’s worth of accolades under her belt, director, writer, andactor Nadine Labaki will discuss her highly meticulous creative process, her devout interest in life’speculiarities, and the capacity for cinema to bring about social change.
Lucy Walker — A discussion on Doc Day, focusing on Walker’s incredible career, including her longfriendship with Doc Society co-founder Jess Search, who died this summer. Programmed by ThomPowers.● Anand Patwardhan — A talk on Doc Day with Patwardhan, a singular figure of independent documentaryin India who has given inspiration to a flourishing of new directors today. Programmed by ThomPowers.
DIALOGUESConversations on the art and craft of storytelling, featuring screen-based creators (directors, producers, and series creators) and industry professionals. Dialogues sessions include:
● The Dead Don’t Hurt with Viggo Mortenson, Regina Solórzano, and Jeremy Thomas. Supported byDirectors Guild of Canada Ontario.● Feature Film Development with Sara Rastogi (Hoorae Media) and Kate Oh (Monkeypaw Productions).● Directors Nora El Hourch (Sisterhood) and Katja Gauriloff (Je’vida). Programmed by Jason Ryle.● Directors Cord Jefferson (American Fiction) and Lulu Wang (Expats).● Producers Toufik Ayadi and Christophe Barral (Les Indésirables) and Farhana Bhula (How to Have Sex).● Short Cuts to First Features with Fawzia Mirza and Andria Wilson Mirza (The Queen of My Dreams),Zarrar Kahn and Anam Abbas (In Flames). Programmed by Jason Anderson.● What is the Documentary Marketplace Today? (Doc Day) A panel of industry figures analyze whereopportunities still exist for creative documentaries. Programmed by Thom Powers.
PERSPECTIVESModerated and focused discussions on the current state and future of the industry. The Media Partner forPerspectives is Screen International. Perspective sessions include:● AI and Film: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Responsibility — Leading experts on AI discussthe technology’s long-term sustainability in the industry as it relates to data, ethics, and filmmaking.Programmed by Manal Siddiqui.● The Current Landscape of International Series Production — Yi Qiao, Director Drama, ZDF; Navi Lamba,Head of Development, BBC Comedy; Jamie Lynn, EVP Co-Production & Distribution, Fremantle; and JoeLewis, CEO, Amplify Pictures.● Celebrating the Cinema of the Korean Diaspora — Guests include: outstanding filmmakers AnthonyShim (dir. Riceboy Sleeps), Albert Shin (dir. Disappearance at Clifton Hill, In Her Place), and Christina Oh(prod. Minari, Okja). Presented by The Korean Film Council.● On African Cinemas and its Industries — Apolline Traoré (dir. Sira), Chioma Onyenwe (prod. I Do NotCome To You By Chance), Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri (prod. Death of a Whistleblower), and Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development & Partnerships, Realness. Programmed by Nataleah Hunter-Young,International Programmer (Africa & Arab West Asia).● Seize Control of Your Distribution (Doc Day) — Peter Broderick, who has spent decades helpingindependent filmmakers design and implement cutting-edge distribution strategies, returns with a newmanifesto, along with case studies of documentary projects that made far-reaching impact and profitsusing strategies to build sustainable careers. Programmed by Thom Powers.● DOC’s “Getting Real” Report (Doc Day) — The Documentary Organization of Canada will share theirfindings for the first time and explain why this latest edition of their “Getting Real” reports could be agame-changer for documentary filmmakers. Programmed by Thom Powers
