1. Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto
Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, and Willem Dafoe were among the stars who walked the red carpets at the country’s preeminent film festival. The percentage of films directed, co-directed, or created by women increased to 36 percent this year, when 333 films were screened, including 229 premiers, on 27 screens. Another change: Organizers scrapped the formal award ceremony, instead announcing its top audience award and juried competition winners on social media. Bell remained the lead sponsor. Next: September 2020
Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, and Willem Dafoe were among the stars who walked the red carpets at the country’s preeminent film festival. The percentage of films directed, co-directed, or created by women increased to 36 percent this year, when 333 films were screened, including 229 premiers, on 27 screens. Another change: Organizers scrapped the formal award ceremony, instead announcing its top audience award and juried competition winners on social media. Bell remained the lead sponsor. Next: September 2020
Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage,
2. Just for Laughs
Montreal
About two million fun-seeking fans attended this year’s comedy fest, which is now co-owned by Canadian comedian Howie Mandel. The event included 171 shows at 46 venues, with 1,129 performances by more than 1,300 performers, including Kevin Hart, Fred Armisen, Adam Sandler, and Trevor Noah. Loto-Québec and Bell were sponsors. Next: July 2020
About two million fun-seeking fans attended this year’s comedy fest, which is now co-owned by Canadian comedian Howie Mandel. The event included 171 shows at 46 venues, with 1,129 performances by more than 1,300 performers, including Kevin Hart, Fred Armisen, Adam Sandler, and Trevor Noah. Loto-Québec and Bell were sponsors. Next: July 2020
Photo: Vivien Gaumand
3. Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
Toronto
North America’s largest documentary film festival, conference, and market boasted record-breaking attendance of 228,000 this year, but showed slightly fewer films on fewer screens. Official delegations from Bermuda, Chile, and Japan were on hand, and Scotia Wealth Management was the platinum presenting partner. Next: April 30-May 10, 2020
North America’s largest documentary film festival, conference, and market boasted record-breaking attendance of 228,000 this year, but showed slightly fewer films on fewer screens. Official delegations from Bermuda, Chile, and Japan were on hand, and Scotia Wealth Management was the platinum presenting partner. Next: April 30-May 10, 2020
Photo: Taku Kumabe
4. Vancouver International Film Festival
Vancouver
The VIFF Live program expands to six theater, comedy, and musical events at this year’s festival, when attendance is expected to reach 130,000 viewers for about 320 films. Telus, Telefilm Canada and Creative BC return as sponsors. Next: September 26-October 11, 2019
The VIFF Live program expands to six theater, comedy, and musical events at this year’s festival, when attendance is expected to reach 130,000 viewers for about 320 films. Telus, Telefilm Canada and Creative BC return as sponsors. Next: September 26-October 11, 2019
Photo: Wyatt Fossett
5. Edmonton Fringe Fest
Edmonton
The Fringe experienced record-breaking attendance this year of 850,000, with 1,900 performances at 50 venues. The festival website’s Randomizer, which randomly selects plays for patrons to see, was hugely popular, resulting in more than $120,000 in ticket sales. ATB remained the lead partner and sponsor. Next: August 13-23, 2020
The Fringe experienced record-breaking attendance this year of 850,000, with 1,900 performances at 50 venues. The festival website’s Randomizer, which randomly selects plays for patrons to see, was hugely popular, resulting in more than $120,000 in ticket sales. ATB remained the lead partner and sponsor. Next: August 13-23, 2020
Photo: Marc J Chalifoux Photography
6. St. John's International Women's Film Festival
Up from #7
St. John’s
This female-focused film fest grew to 6,500 spectators last year and is expected to grow again this year, its 30th, after being named one of 10 film festivals worth traveling for by USA Today. New this year: A partnership with Quidi Vidi Brewing Co. to produce limited-run signature festival beers. Next: October 16-20, 2019
St. John’s
This female-focused film fest grew to 6,500 spectators last year and is expected to grow again this year, its 30th, after being named one of 10 film festivals worth traveling for by USA Today. New this year: A partnership with Quidi Vidi Brewing Co. to produce limited-run signature festival beers. Next: October 16-20, 2019
Photo: Tom Cochrane
7. Banff World Media Festival
Banff, Alberta
Canada’s largest B-to-B screen media industry event, which also attracts Hollywood elite and international media players, welcomed more than 1,500 delegates to bucolic Banff this year from more than 20 countries. Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, and Netflix were among the sponsors. Next: June 14-20, 2020
Canada’s largest B-to-B screen media industry event, which also attracts Hollywood elite and international media players, welcomed more than 1,500 delegates to bucolic Banff this year from more than 20 countries. Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, and Netflix were among the sponsors. Next: June 14-20, 2020
Photo: Kristian Bogner
8. Canadian Screen Awards
Toronto
This year’s gala award broadcast was host free, with comedians including the cast of the Baroness von Sketch Show on stage at the Sony Centre. Attendance at Screen Week, which precedes the gala, grew by 50 percent thanks to Family Fan Day and the Members Lounge, which hosted industry speakers. Bell Media returned as a sponsor. Next: March 29, 2020
This year’s gala award broadcast was host free, with comedians including the cast of the Baroness von Sketch Show on stage at the Sony Centre. Attendance at Screen Week, which precedes the gala, grew by 50 percent thanks to Family Fan Day and the Members Lounge, which hosted industry speakers. Bell Media returned as a sponsor. Next: March 29, 2020
Photo: George Pimentel
