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THE

FESTIVAL

Do you have a personal vision? Are you a true independent filmmaker? Do you hate making compromises? 

The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival welcomes filmmakers who explore and develop new filmmaking conventions in their quest to realise their visions effectively on a limited budget. 

 

The festival is dedicated to showcasing innovative and exciting work by risk-taking filmmakers from around the world. Aesthetically and thematically varied, these films mark the arrival of exciting new directing talents. The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival takes pride in its astute selection process. It is known for discovering hidden gems that later go on to successfully thrive at A-list festivals, with some films even catching the eye of the Academy Awards. In 2021 for example, TAFF selected 'Ala Kachuu – Take and Run', directed by Maria Brendle, which was nominated in 2022 for an Oscar in the Best Live Action Short Film category.

 

All screenings will take place at the Fox Theatre, located in Toronto.

The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival is an IMDB eligible film festival. This means that all selections and awards can be added to your IMDB film listing. 

The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival was featured in Hollywood North Magazine, Now Toronto, Daily Hive, Oye!, La Provincia, Civilnodrustvo, Cinema Italiano, IndiefilmTO, ToDoCanada, Cinema Clock, Curve Magazine, Screen Slate, ScreenWorks, Tribuna do Ceara, New Cinema School, and was named as one of Top 10 events (next to the Toronto International Film Festival, which was simultaneous) by BlogTO.

Awards

The selected films will compete for the following awards:

Best Narrative Feature Film 

Best Narrative Short Film 
Best Documentary Feature Film 
Best Documentary Short Film 

Best Animated Feature Film 
Best Animated Short Film 
Best Experimental Film

Best Music Video

Best Canada Based Filmmaker

Best Toronto Based Filmmaker

Proud partner of The Bigger Screen

Toronto Arthouse Film Festival is supported by The Bigger Screen, an organization that aims to make film as an art form more accessible and more inclusive. 

Supporting Film Festivals: Film festivals are not only a place to share films, but they are a safe haven for film makers to connect, share, and learn. The Bigger Screens supports and engages with over 25 respected international film festivals from mainstays like the 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Brussels Independent Film Festival to emerging events such as the Venice Film Week and The Producer’s Night Los Angeles. These events bring filmmakers and filmgoers together, providing that place to connect and engage in a comfortable setting, away from Hollywood glitz and glamour.

Connecting Cultures Program: Each year, The Bigger Screen selects ten countries and grants filmmakers from those areas the ability to submit their work free of charge to partner festivals all over the world. This opens the door of film exposure to those who may not otherwise be able to enter. As we support inclusivity and shareable films, this program exemplifies our mission.

 

Local Filmmakers Program: We understand that the cost of making a film can be taxing, so to encourage rising talent, we waive the festival submission fee to local talent. With numerous worldwide locations for festivals, this provides great opportunity for filmmakers around the world to enter the international film scene. This opportunity opens the world of film. Think global, act local, right?

Inclusive Audience Program: Our screenings are always low or even free of charge to provide opportunity for interested film goers to view up and coming, challenging, and inspiring pieces of art, encouraging students, seniors, and those in underprivileged environments to share the experience of film and cinema. We welcome film goers, regardless of income and financial status.

The Tarkovski Grant: All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $250. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length.

Previous editions

Find out more about the previous editions of the Toronto Arthouse Film Festival:

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