I was in Toronto earlier this week for the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s a time of year when Toronto truly shines – there’s a buzz in the air, and the streets are littered with dark-windowed SUVs ferrying their precious cargo (or, as they are known in the trade “the Talent”) from premiere to press conference and back again.
Attending something like TIFF is one of those wonderful highlights in the life of a diplomat (which, I assure you, is not normally quite that glamorous). And, as a British diplomat, this year was particularly special, with British artistic talent on display everywhere you looked. British film was the talk of the town – with no fewer than 25 British films in the festival line up, from established film-makers such as Jonathan Glazer, Stephen Frears, Steve McQueen and Kevin Macdonald to smaller productions like David Mackenzie’s “Starred Up”, Amma Asante’s wonderful “Belle” and Clio Barnard’s “Selfish Giant”.
And British actors were dominating the red carpets, whether Jude Law, Richard E Grant, Tom Wilkinson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Watson, Emilia Clarke, Ewan McGregor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, IDris Elba, Ralph Fiennes. Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Coogan, to name but a few). At the fantastic British Film Commission reception last night, I struggled to maintain a serious professional face as I was shoulder to shoulder with some of the best British actors of all time. The talk of the town was that Britain had taken TIFF 2013 by storm.
It’s exciting to be part of this.
But it’s not all glitz and glamour – there is a huge amount of hard work that goes into getting a film to production. Under the banner of We Are UK Film ,the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the British Council among others, do an excellent job in promoting British film, and showcasing the best of British creative talent, and UKTI Canada has been working hand in hand with Canadian partners to make the most of co-production opportunities, and attract more filming to the UK.
UKTI Canada also co-sponsors the annual IFF@TIFF (the International Financing Forum) – organised by the fabulous Ontario Media Development Corporation – which helps to introduce producers to distributors and funders – a kind of match-making service for the film industry – and enable small, independent films to come to market. Since its inception 8 years ago, 45 films have been funded through relationships established or progressed at IFF@TIFF.
Canada, too, shone at TIFF – not only through the fabulous Canadian films on offer, and the wonderful actors, directors and producers who were showing us what they can do. But also through hosting a world-class film festival that goes from strength to strength every year. And I’m proud to say that the UK is Canada’s largest English language co-production partner – another illustration of the strength of UK-Canada ties.
Long may the UK-Canada creative partnership continue!
Take 3 minutes and watch this British Film Commission clip about the British Film Industry
For more info follow: @CorinRobertson @weareukfilm @filminUK_BFC