A seven-strong group of {industry} names has signed on to assist steer the Toronto International Film Festival’s content material market into being.
Niv Fichman, Vincent Maraval, Jérôme Paillard, Noah Segal, Monique Simard, Roeg Sutherland and Kerry Swanson are the inaugural members of an advisory committee convened by TIFF forward of the market launch in 2026.
Speaking to Deadline throughout the Berlin Film Festival, Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF, mentioned that committee will finally comprise about 12 members. Having set its North American and European members, it’s going to now add some extra worldwide firepower.
A noteworthy wrinkle is that execs with TV expertise are anticipated to hitch the advisory group – with the brand new market spanning extra than simply movie and masking sequence as nicely.
There has lengthy been an unofficial market at Toronto and the plans for an official market are about positioning TIFF “as a gateway to North America” for worldwide execs, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey mentioned when it was introduced in sunny Cannes final May.
Here, in snowy Berlin, Lee elaborated. She mentioned the market will probably be positioned in a central hub with cubicles and exhibition area and the TIFF group are venues in Downtown Toronto. It doesn’t but have official branding, with the moniker for the beginner market more likely to be unveiled at Cannes.
“There’s been a lot of interest, a lot of excitement, and we’ve been given lot of advice,” Lee mentioned when requested about response to the information the market was launching. “Setting up this advisory committee is really the result of that. We’re listening to the industry.”
The committee will present industry-level smarts as the brand new market takes form. It has chunky funding behind it, with C$23M (US16.2M) of funding from the Canadian authorities unfold over three years up till launch.
TIFF can have its fiftieth version this 12 months and is setting the stage for the 2026 market launch. The plan is to develop the variety of {industry} delegates from circa 5,000 to over 12,000 in three-to-five years.
“What we’ve heard from new companies, new producers, and especially internationally, is that for them, TIFF having an official market means that larger delegations can attend, that they can receive support from their national bodies,” Lee mentioned.
She added: “What I’ve also really heard from new companies, producers, sales, agents, etc, is that when there is an official market it creates accessibility. It creates an infrastructure for them to come in and be able to navigate the marketplace.”
Here’s the complete listing of advisory board members and their roles.
Niv Fichman (Canada): Founder, Rhombus Media
Vincent Maraval (France): CEO, Goodfellas
Jérôme Paillard (France): Film Industry Consultant
Noah Segal (Canada): Co-President & Co-Founder, Elevation Pictures
Monique Simard (Canada): Former President, Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
Roeg Sutherland (US): Co-Head, Media Finance & Co-Head, International Film Group, CAA
Kerry Swanson (Canada): CEO, Indigenous Screen Office