Why aren't Canadian films highlighted at TIFF?

As the Toronto International Film Festival begins to wind down, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai spend episode four of Commotion's TIFF in 12 unpacking the film Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman, and looking at the film festival experience as a whole — specifically, the politics around standing ovations, and whether TIFF should bring back a section in the programming dedicated to Canadian films.

We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.

LISTEN:

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud11:35TIFF in 12: The profound horniness of Babygirl, and the dilemma of Canadian movies

Elamin: Just after we stopped recording yesterday, you guys had a little argument over where Canadian films belong on the TIFF schedule. I want to talk about that a little bit because there's kind of two schools of thought. There's, like, Canadian films should be highlighted and should put a string of lights to say this is a Canadian movie, versus what you hear from Canadian filmmakers, which is to say don't call it a Canadian film; just program it among the regular films. We don't really need this string of lights. You guys are on opposite ends of this. I'll start with you, Rad. Where are you on this?

Rad: Look, there used to be a program that was specifically for Canadian films, and TIFF dismantled it because there were certain filmmakers that were like, we're being ghettoized in this Canadian section. Put us in with the other sections and celebrate us like other films. Put us in the gala when we belong in the gala. And I see that logic because, you know, if you ever hear me talking about a movie on air and highlighting how Canadian it is, it's usually because it's not that great. And I'm like, "guys, do your civic duty," right? 

Elamin: Yeah, it feels like a derogatory thing to say about a movie. It doesn't have to be, but it does feel like that. 

Rad: And the thing is, I don't think you need a section necessarily to promote the fact that this is Canadian, because if anyone's actually invested — if there's an audience out there who's like, I'm going to seek out Canadian films — there's a little tag. You can figure it out.... So it doesn't actually have to be a section. And plus, there's also people like myself and Teri who actually go on air and be like, "Hey, here's the Canadian films." That's where I land on that debate.

Elamin: And Teri, you fall somewhere different on this. 

Teri: Yeah, I fall completely opposite. I think that there absolutely should be. The section was called Perspectives Canada. I don't think that's a great name. I think they should change the name, but I think they should bring back a section for Canadian movies. This idea that talking about a Canadian movie is somehow disparaging drives me nuts. This idea that we got this idea from filmmakers that they were being ghettoized — we got that idea from some filmmakers, and that was a long time ago. 

Yeah, people can search, but why aren't we making it easier? And why aren't we celebrating our Canadian talent as a whole, as an experience? As something that is the temperature of what we're doing this year, in this country, and having a conversation? Like, we talk about different themes in the festival. We've done it on this podcast. Can we not start talking about the themes coming out of this country specifically? Because that is how we're going to build this system that people, you know, out of both sides of their mouth say we don't have a star system, and then say, "We don't want to say it's Canadian because it's disparaging." Well, guys, you can't have it both ways! 

Elamin: Yeah, that's true. That's true. 

Teri: So, I mean, how about we start actually sticking our flag in these? And also, we are an industry that is built with public money. We support the arts in this country. Those same funding bodies fund the Toronto International Film Festival. They all need to be working in tandem to help elevate everything that's happening in this country, because they're all working with money coming from our government, which I 100 per cent support, and I want to see more of it. But let's do it better, and let's string those lights!

Elamin: Okay. Can I just say the number one feedback I hear about TIFF in 12 is that people love it when you guys fight? So I think people are going to absolutely love this episode.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

For more from Teri, Rad and Elamin on #TIFF24, check out our podcast-exclusive episodes called TIFF in 12, dropping every day from September 9-13 about all the festival happenings you might have missed.

Panel produced by Danielle Grogan.