TIFF reboots Canuck film fest

The organization behind the Toronto International Film Festival is replacing an annual January event for Canadian features with a year-round theatrical series.

TIFF says it’s replacing Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival, which was held every January, with a new screening series for homegrown projects.

The organization says the new series will offer “each feature film the opportunity to have a full theatrical run at TIFF Bell Lightbox throughout the year.”

Established in 2001, Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival presented screenings, and related industry programming and learn- ing sessions in Toronto.

It also had a cross-Canada tour of film screenings at TIFF’s partner locations.

TIFF says it’s making the change as part of its five-year strategic plan to focus on showcasing Canadian creators and talent, and put “audiences’ needs at its heart.”

The organization plans to announce its list of the top 10 essential Canadian films of 2018 next month.

Changes are also in store for some of TIFF’s family programming.

The annual TIFF Kids International Film Festival will be retired, and the interactive playground digiPlaySpace will be rebranded and revamped for an audience aged 14 and older.