TIFF^® unveiled today an early glimpse of the 2016 TIFF Industry Conference. The seven-day conference is setting its sights on what impact Brexit will have on the industry, as well as exploring the question of equity for women in the film business. Guest speakers announced to date include Roberto Olla (Executive Director, Eurimages), Isabel Davis (Head Of International, British Film Institute), Ilann Girard (CEO, Arsam International), Anna Serner (CEO, Swedish Film Institute), Carolle Brabant (Executive Director, Telefilm Canada), and acclaimed documentarian Steve James. 
 
“We want to use the Conference’s international platform to highlight topics that everyone is talking about,” said Kathleen Drumm, Director, TIFF Industry. “This year, Brexit is top-of-mind ─ not only for the UK, but for producers and financiers across the world. We also want to ramp up the conversation around women’s fair and equal participation in the industry.”
 
The Industry Conference launches with UK film agency representatives and prominent film producers, who will address the impact and opportunities presented by the EU referendum. In another session, Eurimages, European screen agencies, and producers will lead a dynamic discussion on the continent’s evolving borders and how the changing financial landscape impacts international access.
 
From Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, national agencies and producers will share their visions on strategies to provide greater access for women in film. In a Conference first, Jigsaw Productions’ documentary, The 4%: Film’s Gender Problem, will screen. It will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and a roundtable session with prominent women executives. The 4%: Film’s Gender Problem’s director, Caroline Suh, and executive producers, Laura Michalchyshyn and Stacey Offman, will be in Toronto for the session. The film will be made available on tiff.net for an exclusive 24-hour viewing window.
 
TIFF Industry is thrilled to announce the launch of a new one-day intensive workshop, adding to TIFF’s robust suite of talent programmes. Presented in collaboration with the Casting Society of America, the workshop will give a select group of international actors key insights on casting and the audition process, deepening their knowledge of the North American marketplace.
 
“Many actors who come to the Festival are renowned in their home country, but less well known abroad,” said Kathleen Drumm. “We want to enrich their experience with a practical offering. This is an opportunity for us to facilitate both connections to and an understanding of the North American industry environment.”
 
TIFF Industry Conference
The Festival’s Industry Conference is an incomparable professional development opportunity for registered delegates. The Conference will focus on a wide array of essential topics: the creative process, diversity in front of and behind the camera, distribution, marketing and sales, co-productions and finance, audience engagement, and the future of cinema. The Conference takes place September 9-15.
 
Doc Conference
TIFF Doc Conference returns with a full day of keynote sessions and presentations on Tuesday, September 13. Programming will cover VR, true crime, key trends in documentary, and a conversation with renowned documentarian Steve James.
 
Additional TIFF Industry Conference guests and events will be announced next month. 

*From official Press release.