(Toronto) When the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) rolls out its red carpet in September, it may not be trodden by big American stars.
The strike by Hollywood actors could be a game-changer this year, say festival-goers and industry insiders, now faced with the prospect of a more sober glamorous TIFF.
Artists represented by the Actors and Actresses Guild walked off the job last Friday, joining fellow screenwriters already on the picket line.
The actors’ strike obviously interrupted the filming of most Hollywood productions, but also promotional activities. The Guild has made it clear that its members cannot promote the films in which they have acted, including at festivals.
Thus, Nicolas Cage will not be at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, this weekend, to receive the “Honorary Career Award”, on the sidelines of the world premiere of Sympathy for the Devil.
Organizers of TIFF, which is due to run from September 7-17, have not said what they will do if the strike continues until then. But they admitted the impact “cannot be denied”.
The star factor
Eric Tisch, director of programming at REEL Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Canadian films to schools, says a festival without stars can’t justify the high ticket price. Prices for “special tickets” at TIFF can be as high as $80 – and for some big sold-out premieres, resellers have demanded exorbitant prices.
“The star factor is what has always brought TIFF to where it is now, and what sets it apart from other festivals,” says the 28-year-old film buff, who attends the festival every year – and who supports the strikers. Knowing that there will be no screenwriters, directors, actors […], it will be less interesting than before. »
Mr. Tisch also maintains that many moviegoers, excluded from the festival because of the high ticket prices, hope to at least see their favorite stars on the streets of Toronto.
Toronto cinephile Ben Whyte also plans to still frequent TIFF despite everything, to encourage culture, even if he considers his presence a “double-edged sword”.
“We want to go support the films, because there are a lot of people behind the scenes who work very hard to bring it to life, but we also want to support the actors,” said the 20-year-old film buff, who also paid for it. attend TIFF events virtually during the pandemic.
After the cancellation of “in-person” events due to COVID-19 in 2020, TIFF went into “hybrid mode” the following year – but with very few stars. And last year, TIFF returned to its red carpets of yesteryear.
Martin Katz, a Canadian producer who often collaborates with David Cronenberg, said an “umbrella of different issues” will affect enthusiasm for TIFF this year if the strike continues into September.
“It’s an extremely unfortunate and even tragic turn of events, because on the side of independent cinema, it’s all about visibility – finding a distributor and an audience. »
Mr. Katz, founder and president of Prospero Pictures in Toronto, also wonders how this strike will affect TIFF’s promotional activities. “The big networking nights during TIFF often rely on the presence of stars – that’s what attracts the sponsorships, which finance these activities. »