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Thinking I do with words - Bringing film festivals outside of big cities

It is the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Of course, having an international film festival in 2020 comes with its own unique set of complications, so the international part of the festival became surprisingly literal.
Devin

It is the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Of course, having an international film festival in 2020 comes with its own unique set of complications, so the international part of the festival became surprisingly literal. While Toronto is the center of events, and will host several screenings, it’s not actually just in Toronto, instead being a festival which exists everywhere, as anyone can screen from home.

This isn’t without precedent - in fact, Yorkton’s own festival was going entirely streaming before Toronto - but one wonders if one of the biggest guns in film festivals going mostly online is going to set a precedent that lasts longer than just a single time of crisis.

It’s an experiment, of course, and one that TIFF organizers were backed into. But it’s an experiment that could be very interesting for fans of film as the festival is no longer localized.

It’s especially interesting in a city like Yorkton, as in spite of the city’s deep links to film and television, it’s not the easiest place in the world to watch a lot of the acclaimed work that premieres at festivals around the globe.

This isn’t anyone’s fault, but the city has a mere one screen in the local theatre and that means we get one movie a week. Because of this, the owners of that theatre are going to prioritize blockbusters, big summer fare and generally things that are mass-audience friendly. If they are going to book a movie by Chloe Zhao, for example, they’re going to bring in the upcoming Marvel film Eternals, rather than her decidedly smaller, but prize-winning film Nomadland, which premiered in Toronto to rave reviews. I’m not even so foolish as to claim that they’re missing out by not screening Nomadland, if you’ve got one screen you have to use it wisely.

However, having Toronto go to a virtual festival makes it possible to see these films at home earlier than we would be able to in most years.

Even if this experiment is a success it’s likely that TIFF will go back to being strictly Toronto-focused when travel is recommended again. Should it? Because the goal of a film festival is to get films in front of audiences, and there are many who can’t make it to Toronto, and many films which will never be screened theatrically in smaller centres.

Much as the Yorkton Film Festival’s online program was before TIFF’s, other things happening in Yorkton could, and should, be adapted by Toronto. Specifically, I’m thinking about the DVD tours, which collects films screened locally into packages which can be screened by different groups in the province. Using film as outreach could easily be adapted to a larger scale.

TIFF screens longer films, but why not have a TIFF tour? Send out “mini film festivals” that could be screened in smaller communities, possibly theatrically, possibly just on a one-off drive-in or school gym location. You would have films reach audiences which otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to see them, make a bit of extra money for independent filmmakers, and possibly partner with a community organization for concession sales. Not every film could be eligible, but there’s always a benefit to finding ways for films to make a bit more money for the studio, especially smaller budget and international films.

Watching film right now is simultaneously easier than ever and significantly more complicated, depending on the film. With film festivals going online, at least temporarily, it’s a good time to think about different things we can do to help the medium thrive. When people feel safe getting together again, it’ll be an opportunity to rethink these festivals.