The Toronto International Film Festival is rallying the troops. The fest announced that a rally will be held during its upcoming 43rd edition, a sisters march intended to spotlight “systemic inequality” faced by women in the film industry. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the Share Her Journey rally will take place September 8, during TIFF’s first weekend, and along King Street, the fest’s main headquarters.
“In the past year, the #MeToo movement, Time’s Up and several high-profile criminal prosecutions have exposed a harsh reality about the film industry,” said Maxime Bailey, vp advancement at TIFF. “It’s a reality that women have known about for generations, but it’s finally getting the attention it deserves,” said Bailey. She added, “To put it bluntly, there is a dark side to the film industry — a culture where sexual assault, gender disparity, and sexism run rampant. It’s a culture we cannot and will not accept.”
Sundance hosted a Respect Rally in January and in May Cate Blanchett led a women’s march in Cannes.
“This is our opportunity to stand side-by-side and speak out against the systemic inequality that has plagued our industry for far too long,” Bailey emphasized.
Speakers haven’t been announced for the Share Her Journey rally, but they will likely include actresses and directors in town for the fest. You can RSVP for the rally on the fest’s website.
TIFF recently announced its first batch of programming, the Galas and Special Presentations, which are the fest’s most high-profile slates. Among the women-directed titles screening in the Galas section are “High Life,” a sci-fi pic about criminals sent to space that marks Claire Denis’ English-language debut, and “The Land of Steady Habits,” Nicole Holofcener’s portrait of a newly retired man who leaves his wife only to regret the comforts of his old life. The Special Presentations program includes Amma Asante’s “Where Hands Touch,” a romance about a black German teen who falls for a member of the Hitler Youth and Stella Meghie’s “The Weekend,” a pic that sees “SNL” alumna Sasheer Zamata playing a comedian on a weekend getaway with her ex and his new girlfriend.
We expect that TIFF will follow in the footsteps of Cannes and Locarno by signing a gender parity pledge this year and will continue to lead on this issue.
TIFF runs from September 6-16.
