Toronto International Film Festival

About Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the largest publicly attended film festival in the world, drawing over 480,000 attendees each September to downtown Toronto. It is arguably the most commercially significant film festival in the world — the place where studios launch Oscar campaigns, where streaming platforms make headline acquisitions, and where the trajectory of a film's awards season is often determined in a single weekend.

Founded in 1976 as "The Festival of Festivals," TIFF has grown into a cultural institution that shapes the films audiences will see for the next twelve months. The People's Choice Award — voted by the public — is the single most reliable predictor of the Best Picture Oscar: recent winners include Green Book, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Nomadland, and CODA, all of which won or were nominated for Best Picture.

TIFF programs over 300 films across ten days, spanning feature films, documentaries, short films, and a robust industry programming platform (TIFF Industry). The festival's Vanguard, Discovery, and Platform sections offer dedicated homes for unconventional and emerging work, while the Gala and Special Presentations sections showcase the most commercially anticipated films of the season.

A Filmmaker's Guide to Toronto International Film Festival

TIFF accepts submissions through its official portal, which typically opens in spring. Feature films may be submitted as world, international, or North American premieres, giving TIFF one of the most flexible premiere policies of any major international festival. This openness makes TIFF uniquely accessible to films that have already shown at Cannes or Venice.

The Platform section, introduced in 2015, was specifically designed to showcase the work of auteurs in an intimate competition format — a curated selection of 12 films competing for a jury prize. Films in the Discovery section are eligible for the TIFF Discovery Award, with a dedicated focus on debut and sophomore features.

TIFF Docs is one of the festival's most acclaimed sections, annually presenting the definitive selection of documentary films for the year. The Short Cuts program presents Canadian and international short films, including Oscar-qualifying screenings.

What Programmers Look For

TIFF's programming embraces mainstream commercial cinema alongside the most adventurous international art film — a breadth that is central to its identity. The festival values work that connects emotionally with a broad public audience without sacrificing artistic ambition. The People's Choice framework rewards films that combine popular appeal with genuine quality.

For competition sections like Platform, the priority shifts toward directorial mastery and formal originality. Discovery prioritizes fresh voices and perspectives. Across all sections, TIFF consistently champions films from underrepresented communities, particularly Indigenous filmmakers and films centering the experiences of people of color.

The Selection Process

TIFF's programming team of approximately 30 staff members and external consultants reviews submissions from sales agents, production companies, and direct submissions globally. The process runs from spring through late summer, with the complete lineup announced in late July.

With over 300 films programmed, TIFF's acceptance rate, while competitive, is significantly higher than Cannes or Sundance. The festival's scale allows it to be more inclusive while maintaining rigorous quality standards across all sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When does TIFF take place?

A: TIFF is held annually in September, typically the first ten days of the month. It begins on the Thursday of the first full week of September and runs through the following Sunday.

Q: Does TIFF accept films that have already premiered elsewhere?

A: Yes — TIFF accepts world, international, and North American premieres. Films that have premiered at Cannes or Venice regularly appear at TIFF in the same year, making it the final major stop before the awards season accelerates.

Q: What is the People's Choice Award?

A: The People's Choice Award is voted by festival attendees across thousands of screenings. It has become the most reliable predictor of the Best Picture Oscar over the past decade and is considered one of the most commercially significant prizes in cinema.

Q: How does TIFF differ from other major festivals?

A: TIFF is uniquely public-facing — the majority of its screenings are open to general ticket buyers, not just industry insiders. This creates an atmosphere where films are tested against genuine popular reception alongside industry evaluation.

Q: What is TIFF Industry?

A: TIFF Industry is the festival's dedicated platform for film professionals, offering market screenings, co-production meetings, panels, and networking events across the full ten days of the festival.

Submit Your Film

Ready to submit to Toronto International Film Festival? You can submit your film directly at https://filmfreeway.com/TIFF. Review all submission guidelines carefully, ensure your materials are complete, and submit early to give your film the best chance of a thorough review. We look forward to seeing your work.