Latest news with #CameronBailey
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cameron Bailey On TIFF World Premiere Title ‘Mile End Kicks' & Why The Festival Is Now Focused On 'Celebrating Canada'
EXCLUSIVE: 'We are all about celebrating Canada right now,' TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey explains on a Zoom call with us ahead of his festival's latest lineup announcement this morning. 'But only in the sense that I'm very focused on how Canadian stories speak to the whole world. There is a thriving culture that I think is somewhat unique to Canadian cinema because it is supported by public bodies. Nearly all Canadian cinema is independent cinema, unlike some countries with big commercial industries.' More from Deadline TIFF 50th Edition Kicking Off With Colin Hanks & Ryan Reynolds' New Documentary 'John Candy: I Like Me' Details Of Toronto Film Festival's C$23M Market Revealed: Name & Dates Set As More Heavyweight Industry Advisors Join Ahead Of 2026 Launch Doc Talk: Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger On Staging "Attempted Coup" Within The GOP, And More From Toronto Film Festival Mile End Kicks, the sophomore feature from Toronto native Chandler Levack (I Like Movies), is one of those independently produced titles set to come out of Canada this year, and it was included as a world premiere in this morning's TIFF announcement. Levack joined us on the call with Bailey. Written and directed by Levack, the film follows a 24-year-old female music critic who moves to Montreal to write a book about Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she becomes intertwined with a struggling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist. Starring are Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), Jay Baruchel (BlackBerry), Devon Bostick (Oppenheimer), Stanley Simons (The Iron Claw), and Juliette Gariépy (Société distincte). Bailey tells us that he 'fell in love with the film' after seeing an early, unfinished cut. 'I was a film critic for an alternative weekly paper in Toronto for many years. I never got to live in Montreal like the character in the movie, but I know that world,' Bailey says. 'And Mile End Kicks is telling this incredible story of what it's like to exist as a young woman in that world, which is an alternative cultural world, but still has a lot of hazards for women. That plays out in the film with great insight, humor, and candor.' Bailey adds that he believes Levack, who for some time worked on the editorial team at TIFF and debuted her first feature, I Like Movies, at the festival in 2022, represents 'the very best of what Canadians can do.' 'I think of the early work of Patricia Rozema and Patricia Rozema, Clement Virgo, and then in Montreal, people like Philippe Falardeau and Denis Villeneuve, those early independent features that really feel like they're immersed in a world, and speak to the experience of young people at that time — Chandler's in that lineage,' Bailey says. 'So I want the world to know about her, and that's why we're giving this film that kind of platform.' In a similar vein to I Like Movies, a film about a socially awkward teenage cinephile who gets a job at a video store, Mile End Kicks is inspired by Levack's own life experiences. 'I left Blockbuster and became a magazine writer in my early 20s. I wrote for magazines like Spin and Village Voice,' she explains. 'It was tremendously exciting. But looking back at those years, I would think about how all my bosses were men in their 40s, and how maybe there was something weird about that. And maybe the way I was being singled out as special and talented had a deeper meaning to it.' The film is set against the indie music scene in the titular Mile End neighborhood of Montreal, where acts such as Grimes, Mac DeMarco, and Arcade Fire first found acclaim. Montreal rock band TOPS have recorded two original songs for the film's soundtrack. 'This is a movie that should be of enormous interest to buyers,' Bailey adds. When you look at what's out there, what's succeeding in art house distribution and awards season, it's fresh voices and filmmakers who are connected to where the culture is right now. Mile End Kicks is exactly in line with that.' Titles also announced this morning as part of TIFF's Official Selection were Alejandro Amenábar's The Captive, Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers, Sung-hyun Byun's Good News, and Nia DaCosta's Hedda. They join the previously announced opening night flick, John Candy: I Like Me. On the wider TIFF lineup, which will be announced in August, Bailey adds: 'We've been in close conversation with all of our usual partners, the studios, streamers, sales companies, and independent producers. There's no let up it just all depends on what films are available, both in terms of what they present to us and what we end up choosing. Thankfully, we're still seeing some great movies.'TIFF 2025 runs from September 4–14. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
TIFF to celebrate 50 years of risk and discovery with summer screening series
TORONTO - The head of the Toronto International Film Festival says risk-taking has been central to the organization's legacy, a spirit captured in a series of summer screenings that celebrate its 50th anniversary. Titled 'the TIFF Story in 50 Films,' the series will showcase films that have defined the festival's evolution. Screenings will run June 13 to Aug. 27 at the Lightbox in Toronto. Curated by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and a team of past and present programmers, the collection spans five decades, featuring global breakthroughs including Danny Boyle's 2008 rags-to-riches drama 'Slumdog Millionaire' and Canadian classics such as Atom Egoyan's 1984 directorial debut 'Next of Kin.' Bailey says the lineup reflects TIFF's own narrative, which he describes as a 'love story' between curators, audiences and filmmakers. He points out that several selections are films TIFF championed early on — titles that connected with Toronto audiences before going on to achieve global success. For instance, he says Jean-Jacques Beineix's 1981 thriller 'Diva' flopped at the French box office but found new life — and cult status — after resonating with audiences at TIFF. 'As you go through the whole list, there's a little bit of a story either about how the festival and the Toronto audience helped launch that film into world, or how that film helped define what our festival was,' says Bailey. Several screenings will include appearances by talent from the films, including a special presentation of 1994's 'The Shawshank Redemption,' followed by a Q&A with cinematographer Roger Deakins and his wife and creative partner, James Deakins. One film that stands out for Bailey is 'Dead Ringers,' David Cronenberg's 1988 horror thriller that opened TIFF that year. He remembers being in the audience, struck by the power of its première. 'It was quite visceral in many ways. Not what you would call an easy watch. Our team at the time decided that that was an important film to open the festival with, to send a signal that this is the highest achievement in Canadian cinema that year,' he says. 'It's a tough movie, but we think you're up for it, right? And we respect the Toronto audience enough to show them movies that can be challenging. That's part of the story we want to tell as well.' As for the story Bailey wants to tell in the next 50 years of TIFF? 'I have no crystal ball. I can't tell you what technology is going to do to transform the film world,' he says. 'But what I know is that the creative talent is still going to be critical for this. And so what I think about when I think about the next 50 years with TIFF is making sure that we keep tracking down and elevating talent.' He highlights TIFF's Next Wave program — which allows Toronto high school students to program films — along with the festival's several talent development initiatives, including the Directors' Studio and Series Accelerator, as examples. Bailey also wants TIFF to continue being a platform where stars can emerge, noting that Florence Pugh — now fronting Marvel's latest film 'Thunderbolts*' — was discovered in North America largely through 2016's 'Lady Macbeth,' which premièred at TIFF and is also featured in its 50th-anniversary list. 'We've shown that we can discover films and filmmakers who will become globally significant year after year. That's what I want us to keep doing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
TIFF to celebrate 50 years of risk and discovery with summer screening series
TORONTO – The head of the Toronto International Film Festival says risk-taking has been central to the organization's legacy, a spirit captured in a series of summer screenings that celebrate its 50th anniversary. Titled 'the TIFF Story in 50 Films,' the series will showcase films that have defined the festival's evolution. Screenings will run June 13 to Aug. 27 at the Lightbox in Toronto. Curated by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and a team of past and present programmers, the collection spans five decades, featuring global breakthroughs including Danny Boyle's 2008 rags-to-riches drama 'Slumdog Millionaire' and Canadian classics such as Atom Egoyan's 1984 directorial debut 'Next of Kin.' Cameron Bailey walks towards the stage at the Legacy Awards in Toronto, on Sunday, September 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White Bailey says the lineup reflects TIFF's own narrative, which he describes as a 'love story' between curators, audiences and filmmakers. He points out that several selections are films TIFF championed early on — titles that connected with Toronto audiences before going on to achieve global success. For instance, he says Jean-Jacques Beineix's 1981 thriller 'Diva' flopped at the French box office but found new life — and cult status — after resonating with audiences at TIFF. 'As you go through the whole list, there's a little bit of a story either about how the festival and the Toronto audience helped launch that film into world, or how that film helped define what our festival was,' says Bailey. Several screenings will include appearances by talent from the films, including a special presentation of 1994's 'The Shawshank Redemption,' followed by a Q&A with cinematographer Roger Deakins and his wife and creative partner, James Deakins. One film that stands out for Bailey is 'Dead Ringers,' David Cronenberg's 1988 horror thriller that opened TIFF that year. He remembers being in the audience, struck by the power of its première. 'It was quite visceral in many ways. Not what you would call an easy watch. Our team at the time decided that that was an important film to open the festival with, to send a signal that this is the highest achievement in Canadian cinema that year,' he says. 'It's a tough movie, but we think you're up for it, right? And we respect the Toronto audience enough to show them movies that can be challenging. That's part of the story we want to tell as well.' As for the story Bailey wants to tell in the next 50 years of TIFF? 'I have no crystal ball. I can't tell you what technology is going to do to transform the film world,' he says. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up 'But what I know is that the creative talent is still going to be critical for this. And so what I think about when I think about the next 50 years with TIFF is making sure that we keep tracking down and elevating talent.' He highlights TIFF's Next Wave program — which allows Toronto high school students to program films — along with the festival's several talent development initiatives, including the Directors' Studio and Series Accelerator, as examples. Bailey also wants TIFF to continue being a platform where stars can emerge, noting that Florence Pugh — now fronting Marvel's latest film 'Thunderbolts*' — was discovered in North America largely through 2016's 'Lady Macbeth,' which premièred at TIFF and is also featured in its 50th-anniversary list. 'We've shown that we can discover films and filmmakers who will become globally significant year after year. That's what I want us to keep doing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025.
CTV News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
TIFF CEO says Canada's role in Hollywood shouldn't be ignored amid film tariff threat
TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey speaks at the 2024 TIFF press conference and festival kickoff in Toronto on August 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White TORONTO — The head of the Toronto International Film Festival says he isn't panicking over U.S. President Donald Trump's film tariff threat — in part because he says Canada plays a key role in Hollywood's global dominance. Cameron Bailey says he's 'waiting for more news' before jumping to conclusions about Trump's vow to impose a '100 per cent tariff' on all films made outside the United States. In his social media post Sunday, Trump blamed overseas production incentives for the U.S. movie industry's 'very fast death.' Bailey warns against disrupting what he calls a 'remarkable and maybe under-recognized cross-border cultural union' between the two countries. He points to a steady stream of Canadian talent — including actors Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling and Sandra Oh and director Denis Villeneuve — as proof of how deeply the two countries are intertwined in screenwork. Bailey also notes that Hollywood companies frequently come north to film in Canada, and benefit from the country's skilled crews, locations and infrastructure. 'It's really early days. We don't know what this is going to mean. All we've had so far is the post and then a lot of speculation, so let's see what this really turns into,' Bailey said Tuesday. 'What I know is that the American film industry is the biggest, most prominent and dominant in the world. And it has succeeded by drawing on the talent and the expertise and the creativity of artists and craftspeople from all over the world. That's what's made Hollywood great,' he said. Hollywood's major studios routinely shoot films in Canada, including Marvel blockbusters like 2018's 'Deadpool 2,' Oscar-winners like 2015's 'The Revenant' and Netflix rom-coms for the small screen, like last year's 'Hot Frosty.' Those productions typically bring thousands of jobs for Canadian performers, crafts people and artisans, as well as revenue for local businesses. 'That, to me, is something that's been created intentionally and has succeeded really well. I think that's worth protecting,' Bailey said. 'I think sometimes it can be taken for granted, but this year we've been able to really see what it means to pay closer attention to what Canada contributes to this cultural bond between the two nations. And I hope that that continues. It's delivered great benefits for both countries.' RELATED STORIES Film and television productions shot in Canada generated approximately $9.58 billion in spending last year, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association. Foreign productions made up nearly half that total, contributing $4.73 billion and creating more than 90,000 jobs. Dissuading U.S. productions from filming in Canada would be a blow to those who depend on those jobs, said the president of Canada's national performers' union. 'This is more than a trade dispute — it's an attack on the livelihoods of Canadian performers and creators,' Eleanor Noble of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists union, said Monday in a statement. 'Now is the time to invest in a strong, truly domestic media production industry that can withstand external threats and thrive on the global stage.' Noah Segal, the co-president of Canadian film distributor Elevation Pictures, echoes calls on the federal government to increase its support for Canadian storytelling. 'This is a great opportunity to lean into us making stuff, because we have enough stars and we can create good content. We've proven it,' he said in an interview Monday. 'Now more than ever, we shouldn't walk away from this business. We need to lean into it.' Segal warned that Trump's proposed film tariff would 'dismantle the film business in its entirety,' leading to job losses and making it harder to get productions off the ground. But he noted Canada wouldn't be in the worst position thanks to its robust co-production treaties and strong creative ties with countries beyond the United States. He cited Brandon Cronenberg's 2023 feature 'Infinity Pool' — a Canada-Hungary-France co-production distributed by Elevation — as an example, noting the horror film attracted funding from international backers and earned more revenue globally than it did in the United States. 'We have very weighty treaties with different territories and can take advantage of subsidies from different countries. So we would lean more into that and make content that fits everywhere,' he said. While the potential loss of access to the U.S. market is a concern, the real threat to Canada's film industry is the loss of foreign service productions, which generate thousands of jobs. With Canada's domestic box office revenue limited, these productions play a major role in sustaining the local industry. Segal argues Trump's proposed film tariff would likely hit global streamers like Netflix the hardest, since so much of their content is produced outside of the country — among them, 'Squid Game' from South Korea and 'Adolescence' from the United Kingdom. Current Canadian-produced Netflix shows include 'North of North.' 'All that stuff has to be charged double, basically. So whatever they thought was in their budget for acquisition is now double,' he said. 'That would change how you do business. You might reduce the amount of stuff you do, or you're going to have to charge the consumer more, so that the people (Trump) is trying to protect, they're going to hurt the most.' Bailey urged Canada to shield its film industry against any potential tariff threats by rallying around its storytellers. 'I think there's no denying the quality of the storytelling that comes out of this country. We just have to protect that,' he said. 'We have to keep reminding ourselves of what our country is able to deliver and then I think we can operate from a position of strength.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025. Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
TIFF CEO says Canada's role in Hollywood shouldn't be ignored amid film tariff threat
TORONTO – The head of the Toronto International Film Festival says he isn't panicking over U.S. President Donald Trump's film tariff threat — in part because he says Canada plays a key role in Hollywood's global dominance. Cameron Bailey says he's 'waiting for more news' before jumping to conclusions about Trump's vow to impose a '100 per cent tariff' on all films made outside the United States. In his social media post Sunday, Trump blamed overseas production incentives for the U.S. movie industry's 'very fast death.' TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey speaks at the 2024 TIFF press conference and festival kickoff in Toronto on August 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White Bailey warns against disrupting what he calls a 'remarkable and maybe under-recognized cross-border cultural union' between the two countries. He points to a steady stream of Canadian talent — including actors Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling and Sandra Oh and director Denis Villeneuve — as proof of how deeply the two countries are intertwined in screenwork. Bailey also notes that Hollywood companies frequently come north to film in Canada, and benefit from the country's skilled crews, locations and infrastructure. 'It's really early days. We don't know what this is going to mean. All we've had so far is the post and then a lot of speculation, so let's see what this really turns into,' Bailey said Tuesday. 'What I know is that the American film industry is the biggest, most prominent and dominant in the world. And it has succeeded by drawing on the talent and the expertise and the creativity of artists and craftspeople from all over the world. That's what's made Hollywood great,' he said. Hollywood's major studios routinely shoot films in Canada, including Marvel blockbusters like 2018's 'Deadpool 2,' Oscar-winners like 2015's 'The Revenant' and Netflix rom-coms for the small screen, like last year's 'Hot Frosty.' Those productions typically bring thousands of jobs for Canadian performers, crafts people and artisans, as well as revenue for local businesses. 'That, to me, is something that's been created intentionally and has succeeded really well. I think that's worth protecting,' Bailey said. 'I think sometimes it can be taken for granted, but this year we've been able to really see what it means to pay closer attention to what Canada contributes to this cultural bond between the two nations. And I hope that that continues. It's delivered great benefits for both countries.' Film and television productions shot in Canada generated approximately $9.58 billion in spending last year, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association. Foreign productions made up nearly half that total, contributing $4.73 billion and creating more than 90,000 jobs. Dissuading U.S. productions from filming in Canada would be a blow to those who depend on those jobs, said the president of Canada's national performers' union. 'This is more than a trade dispute — it's an attack on the livelihoods of Canadian performers and creators,' Eleanor Noble of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists union, said Monday in a statement. 'Now is the time to invest in a strong, truly domestic media production industry that can withstand external threats and thrive on the global stage.' Noah Segal, the co-president of Canadian film distributor Elevation Pictures, echoes calls on the federal government to increase its support for Canadian storytelling. 'This is a great opportunity to lean into us making stuff, because we have enough stars and we can create good content. We've proven it,' he said in an interview Monday. 'Now more than ever, we shouldn't walk away from this business. We need to lean into it.' Segal warned that Trump's proposed film tariff would 'dismantle the film business in its entirety,' leading to job losses and making it harder to get productions off the ground. But he noted Canada wouldn't be in the worst position thanks to its robust co-production treaties and strong creative ties with countries beyond the United States. He cited Brandon Cronenberg's 2023 feature 'Infinity Pool' — a Canada-Hungary-France co-production distributed by Elevation — as an example, noting the horror film attracted funding from international backers and earned more revenue globally than it did in the United States. 'We have very weighty treaties with different territories and can take advantage of subsidies from different countries. So we would lean more into that and make content that fits everywhere,' he said. While the potential loss of access to the U.S. market is a concern, the real threat to Canada's film industry is the loss of foreign service productions, which generate thousands of jobs. With Canada's domestic box office revenue limited, these productions play a major role in sustaining the local industry. Segal argues Trump's proposed film tariff would likely hit global streamers like Netflix the hardest, since so much of their content is produced outside of the country — among them, 'Squid Game' from South Korea and 'Adolescence' from the United Kingdom. Current Canadian-produced Netflix shows include 'North of North.' 'All that stuff has to be charged double, basically. So whatever they thought was in their budget for acquisition is now double,' he said. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up 'That would change how you do business. You might reduce the amount of stuff you do, or you're going to have to charge the consumer more, so that the people (Trump) is trying to protect, they're going to hurt the most.' Bailey urged Canada to shield its film industry against any potential tariff threats by rallying around its storytellers. 'I think there's no denying the quality of the storytelling that comes out of this country. We just have to protect that,' he said. 'We have to keep reminding ourselves of what our country is able to deliver and then I think we can operate from a position of strength.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
