#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA AT TIFF ’26 | PREVIEW OF CANADA PAVILLION

Canada welcomes the world to a milestone edition of TIFF.

And an exclusive look at the Canada Pavilion in TIFF: The Market

This year marks a milestone for the Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual industry. With the launch of the inaugural TIFF: The Market, funded by the Government of Canada with a $23M investment and supported by Telefilm Canada, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) becomes one of the world’s leading hubs for the screen sector, bringing together filmmakers, producers, distributors, buyers and industry leaders from around the world.

To mark this milestone, Telefilm Canada will showcase Canadian talent, companies and stories through a wide-ranging program of industry and public-facing activities at TIFF. Throughout the Festival, Canada will be at the heart of the creative and business exchanges shaping the stories of tomorrow.

 
Canada Pavilion: A Showcase for Canadian Talent
 
At the heart of TIFF: The Market, the Canada Pavilion will serve as the gathering place for the Canadian delegation and a business hub for the industry. Designed to be sustainable, accessible and bilingual, the pavilion will offer exclusive programming and dedicated meeting spaces that foster connections among Canadian talent, companies and national and international partners.

For the first time, the pavilion will feature Indigenous cultural representation, reflecting the diversity of Canadian cultures and storytelling traditions. The pavilion’s design incorporates Indigenous visual elements and includes dedicated programming, panels and industry initiatives highlighting Indigenous voices, creators and stories.

The pavilion will also provide a platform to showcase Canadian creative excellence and strengthen opportunities for collaboration, while supporting Government of Canada priorities around international partnerships, innovation and the global reach of Canada’s audiovisual sector. Featured Canadian-led panels include topics on AI, Canadian funding institutions and their programs, marketing and audience engagement, partnered countries with coproduction agreements and much more.

In addition, Telefilm is a Major Supporter of the Summit and the presenting partner of the TIFF Creator Labs including Directors’ Lab, Writers’ Lab and Series Creators’ Lab.

 
Canadian industry and talent take centre stage
 
This year, 81 Canadian projects and participants will be included in Market programs. TIFF is on track to achieve their goal of 6000 attendees for the Market, with Canadian industry professionals currently comprising 36 per cent and counting. Two-hundred-and-twenty-five global exhibitors, inclusive of umbrella companies, will also take part in the inaugural event. Representing every region of the country, they will have unique opportunities to present their projects, forge new partnerships and build international collaborations.

 
“TIFF has long been a champion of Canadian creativity, talent and stories, bringing them to audiences at home and around the world. With the support of Telefilm Canada, TIFF: The Market will give Canadian creators, producers and companies a new platform to connect, build international partnerships and bring more of our stories into the global spotlight. We are proud to support a strong audiovisual sector that brings people together, reflects who we are and helps grow Canada’s creative economy.”

— The Honourable. Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

“While films find their audiences at the Festival, the industry finds its next opportunities at the Market,” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. “TIFF provides a powerful platform for Canadian talent and companies to connect with international partners, investors, distributors and coproduction collaborators. Through initiatives like the Canada Pavilion, we help Canadian audiovisual businesses build the relationships and opportunities that enable Canadian stories to reach audiences around the world.”

“TIFF launched our Market to bring the world’s screen industries to Canada’s doorstep every year,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “We’re grateful to the Government of Canada for its investment, we’re glad to have grown our partnership with Telefilm Canada, and we can’t wait to welcome thousands more storytellers and dealmakers to Toronto.”

 
Activities for the Industry… and Film Lovers
 
In addition to its industry programming, Telefilm Canada will present public-facing initiatives celebrating Canadian cinema throughout the Festival.

Through its content studio, Telefilm Canada will give film lovers exclusive access to behind-the-scenes Festival content across its digital platforms. Exclusive interviews with Canadian talent, original content, and insider access to the red carpets will offer audiences a closer look at the creators helping Canadian cinema shine at TIFF.

To stay up to date on Canadian films and talent at TIFF, follow Telefilm Canada on social media for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the Festival.

Programming partners for the Canada Pavilion include the Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Indigenous Screen Office, National Film Board, Creative BC, Ontario Creates, SODEC, Government of New Brunswick, Picture NL, Screen Nova Scotia, Innovation PEI, Nunavut Film Development Corporation, Northwest Territories Film Commission, Yukon Media Development, Manitoba Film & Music, APFC, CMPA, DSO, BSO and DGC National.

The full Canada Pavilion programming is available on rdvcanada.ca.

TIFF returns with its 51st edition from September 10 – 20, 2026, and TIFF: The Market runs from September 10 – 16, 2026.

About Telefilm Canada
Founded in 1967, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation that invests in the development, production, promotion and distribution of the Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual industry. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm supports the economic power and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry players. Additionally, Telefilm provides recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of treaty-based audiovisual co-productions, and administers programs of the Canada Media Fund.

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About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, plus learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution programme; and TIFF: The Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC.

For more information, visit tiff.net.

About TIFF: The Market
TIFF: The Market is funded by the Government of Canada and generously supported by Major Supporter Telefilm Canada. It will expand TIFF’s scope of offerings and reinforce its role as a global entertainment industry leader in screen-based storytelling while fostering sustainable growth for the industry worldwide. Aligned with the Festival, TIFF: The Market will foster the buying and selling of screen-based projects, intellectual property, plus immersive and innovative content across all platforms, elevating Canadian and international talent while driving global distribution and sales.