Clean T.O: Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF - Home Cleaning Services
Close

Clean T.O: Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF

Clean T.O: Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF
September 8, 2017

Clean T.O: Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF

 

We can bet there’s a few facts you didn’t know about TIFF. The Toronto International Film Festival is recognized as one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. However, it wasn’t always that way! In 1976, Founders Bill Marshall, Henk Van der Klk and Dusty Cohl started “Toronto Festival of Festivals” by collecting the best films from other film festivals around the world, and showcasing them in Toronto.

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Old Toronto
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Old Toronto

 

Actually, the festival was originally located in the Windsor Arms Hotel in the Yorkville area. But much has changed since then. In 1994, the name switched to the Toronto International Film Festival. Then, in 2007 construction began on the iconic TIFF Bell Lightbox. Consequently, the King and St. location we know and love officially opened in 2010. Interestingly, the property used for building was donated by the parents of Ghostbuster creator Ivan Reitman! Fact got your tongue? Read on, we have plenty of TIFF facts up our sleeve!

 

1. Hollywood Didn’t Think We Could Handle It.

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Canadian Flags
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Canadian Flags

 

When TIFF began in 1976, Hollywood was not convinced that the Canadian public could handle the content of their films, calling us too ‘parochial’ to appreciate them! In fact, they went as far as withdrawing their submissions from the festival. However, it didn’t take long for Hollywood to come to its senses.

 

2. TIFF is the laid-back sibling of the Film Festival Family

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Toy Crowd
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Toy Crowd

 

What sets TIFF apart from all the other film festivals? There are no judges, and no major prizes and at the same time, the public votes on the films! The ceremony is called the People’s Choice Awards, and is very exciting! Actually, Hollywood and it’s stars find TIFF’s structure refreshing compared to the European festivals. It’s true,  TIFF is non-competitive, easy going, relatively inexpensive that draws in tons of film enthusiasts.

 

3. Resources are at your fingertips

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Library
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Library

 

If you’re a film buff, you should know that the largest Film Reference Library is located on the fourth floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox. In fact, filmmakers, students, journalists, scholars and enthusiast are all encouraged to take advantage of this free resource! Check out this article that exposes 10 unique items waiting for you in the reference library!

 

4. TIFF Tickets & Special Promotion

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Pennies
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Pennies

 

In the early days of 1976, admission for a three-feature package would cost you only $2. Now, a ticket costs 10x that, with exclusive packages that can range into the thousands! Do you want to win a membership for next years TIFF? If so, you should definitely check out our special TIFF promotion happening through our Facebook page this September. Find out more here!

 

5. So Many Films, So Little Time

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Family
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Family

 

Each year, 4,000 films are submitted to TIFF by hopeful filmmakers. However, only 400 get chosen to participate! At the end of the day, you know that what you’re seeing on the screen is the best of the best.

 

6. Record Breaking Numbers

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Audience
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Audience

 

1978, two years after the festival’s inception held the record for least amount of films screened with just 85 showing that year! Don’t worry, they built got the momentum back. Meanwhile, just six years later in 1984 the festival would screen 460 films! To this day, that is the highest number of films TIFF has ever screened. Nowadays, they typically stick to showing 400 movies per year.

 

7. Michael Moore Would Be Nowhere Without TIFF

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Michael Moore Picture
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Michael Moore Picture

 

Did you know that Michael Moore credits his successful career to TIFF after winning the People’s Choice Award in 1989 for Roger and Me? Cool! As a result of winning the People’s Choice Award, his film went on to be one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all times!

 

8. September 11th, 2001

 

CleanT.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Empty Theatre
CleanT.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Empty Theatre

 

On September 11th, 2001, the TIFF machine was working as usual- until it happened. As soon as the news of 9/11 hit, all TIFF screenings and events were put on hold, only to resume the following morning. But it wasn’t the same. Consequently, out of respect for the tragedy, all further festivities and celebrations were cancelled.

 

9. The Time Everyone Tried Stay Awake

 

CleanT.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Sleeping Angel
CleanT.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Sleeping Angel

 

The longest film to ever show at TIFF was 15 hours long! It sounds crazy, but it makes sense that The Story of Film: An Odyssey, would do well at a film festival! That doesn’t mean everyone was awake the entire time!

 

10. TIFF’s Ties to Jiminy Glick

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Interview
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Interview

 

Have you heard the name Jiminy Glick? The character comes from a 2004 film called Jiminy Glick in Lalawood. Written by and starring Canadian Comedian Martin Short. Strangely enough, the 2004 film used TIFF as a backdrop for a murder mystery. Even though the movie premiered over ten years ago, Jiminy Glick is still going strong! Presently, he can be seen on Global TV conducting hilarious interviews with people like Drake, Kevin Hart Ricky Gervais. Watch Jiminy and Ricky’s hilarious interview here!

 

The TIFF We Know & Love

 

Because TIFF has always concentrated on screening the best films from around the world, it has grown to be a vital cog in the Hollywood machine. As a result, not only does it make an impression on Hollywood, it makes an impression on Toronto! As a matter of fact, the festival ends up contributing $170 million dollars to the city on average, each year!

 

Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Toronto
Clean T.O Facts You Didn’t Know About TIFF Toronto

 

Unfortunately, TIFF hasn’t been exempt from price creeps. Consequently, VIP ticket prices have become so high that the public is criticizing that it is no longer a “people’s festival”. With single tickets ranging from $24 – $205 it’s understandable why people are upset.

 

For this reason, we at Maid4Condos have come up with a special promotion that will allow you to enjoy TIFF the way it was meant to be! When you book a cleaning using our special TIFF promotion this September, not only will you get $17 off your next cleaning, but you and your partner will get the chance to win TIFF memberships that will last until the end of the next TIFF cycle! Learn more about our cleaning services and our TIFF promotion here!

 

Like This Article & Want More?

 

This post was brought to you by Maid4Condos, a top-rated residential cleaning service dedicated to the people of Toronto. Maid4Condos has been a committed partner to the Toronto cleaning and construction scene for years, and continues to provide exceptional cleaning services to clients. Get a FREE quote & book your cleaning here or visit our website to learn more about what we’re all about! Hungry for more? Visit the Maid4Condos blog and follow us on FaceBook, Twitter or Instagram for more industry news, Toronto lifestyle guides and cleaning tips!

 

Share , Like & Engage On Social Media: