The Toronto International Film Festival announced yesterday the launch of Platform, a new programme comprised of up to 12 films of high artistic merit that demonstrate a strong directorial vision by significant international filmmakers, and a three-person international jury will award a prize of $25,000 to the Best Film in the programme.
“TIFF has always been devoted to celebrating and nurturing artistic vision in cinema. I’m pleased that we’re able to commemorate TIFF’s 40th anniversary with a renewed commitment to artistically ambitious filmmaking,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF, in a press release. “Our objective with this programme is to offer greater visibility during the Festival to distinctive and visionary films from around the world.”
“Inspired by the Jia Zhangke film, Platform will showcase films made in the spirit of true directors’ cinema: free, daring and transformative,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. “It will offer audiences, industry members and media a new opportunity to discover high-quality international cinema while giving the next generation of master filmmakers a platform to reach audiences and increase their global profile.”
The jury and film lineup will be announced in the coming months. The 40th Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10-20.
