French films put in a fine performance at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Canada, which closed its doors on September 20. With films screened to packed theaters, an exciting film market, enthusiastic audiences, highly attentive media, and film crews raring to go, all the conditions were in place to ensure a memorable festival this year.
42 majority-French productions, including 10 short films were showcased at this year's festival, serving as a reminder of the diversity of current French film production. Titles included Lolo and Maryland, which were both presented in gala screenings and honored with a red carpet welcome.
It is worth nothing that the brand new Platform section featured a number of French films among its selection of 12 titles: Sky by Fabienne Berthaud, French Blood by Diastème, and Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) by Eva Husson.
The customary ambassadors of French cinema were out in force this year, including Jacques Audiard, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Catherine Corsini, Mathieu Amalric, Jean Dujardin, and Julie Delpy among the approximately sixty artists present. On the professional front, seventy French sales agents and around thirty French producers also made the trip to Toronto.
We present a brief tour of the highlights of French cinema's presence at this event across the Atlantic.