– More than 130 buyers from 49 countries are already confirmed for the first edition of the event, which launches in September with a focus on curated deal-making, innovation and cross-format content
The inaugural edition of TIFF: The Market is shaping up to be a significant new addition to the global film industry calendar, with more than 130 buyers from 49 countries already confirmed to attend the launch event, scheduled to take place from 10-16 September in Toronto. Designed as an extension of the Toronto International Film Festival ecosystem, the market aims to consolidate sales, acquisitions and financing activity within a single, curated environment while also expanding into series and innovation-driven content alongside traditional film offerings.
Building on TIFF’s ambition to become a year-round industry engine, the market is positioning itself as a structured meeting point for international sales agents, distributors, platforms and producers. The confirmed buyer attendance reflects a broad geographic spread, with strong representation from Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, underscoring TIFF’s intention to establish a truly global acquisition hub right from its first edition.
A key focus of the new initiative is what organisers describe as “intelligent matchmaking”, with data-driven tools designed to facilitate more targeted meetings between buyers, sellers and creators. The system aims to reduce the inefficiencies typically associated with large-scale markets by prioritising curated connections and long-term relationship building over volume-based networking.
The more than 130 buyers confirmed so far represent a mix of first-time TIFF attendees and established acquisition executives returning to the festival after several years. According to the organisers, the participants were selected from a pool of approximately 200 buyers recommended by international sales companies and public funding bodies. While the majority come from the film distribution sector, the market has also attracted buyers specialising in series and innovation-focused content, reflecting TIFF’s broader ambition to serve multiple segments of the screen industries.
Alongside the market activity, TIFF is introducing an expanded programme focused on innovation and format expansion. This includes initiatives centred on immersive storytelling, creator-driven IP development and emerging production technologies. These strands are designed to reflect the growing convergence between cinema, episodic content and digital-native ecosystems, as well as the increasingly prominent role of cross-platform intellectual property in financing strategies. Organisers project that the market will attract 12,000 registered delegates annually by 2030.
Commenting on the first wave of confirmed attendees, Charles Tremblay, head of TIFF: The Market, said: “These confirmations reflect a concerted effort to respond to the requests from sellers, globally, for a robust contingent of buyers to be in attendance. Our efforts also involve more practical solutions, including access to quality and convenient meeting spaces for buyers and sellers to connect, and market screenings to showcase finished projects, as well as content at various stages of development.”
Backed by a CA$23 million (€14.1 million) investment from the Government of Canada and supported by Telefilm Canada, TIFF: The Market will take place across a network of compact venues in central Toronto, designed to encourage proximity between screenings, meetings and industry events. Organisers emphasise accessibility and fluid movement between spaces, aiming to replicate the intensity of established European markets while incorporating North American industry dynamics.
