Piers Handling has been the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) since 1994. Under his leadership, TIFF has steadily grown to become one of the world’s most renowned film festivals, on par with Cannes, Sundance and Berlin. Handling stepped down from his position at the conclusion of the 2018 Festival. TIFF Behind the Festival will highlight his major achievements and explore the growth of TIFF as a film culture organization. This WNED PBS Original Production premiered November 23, 2018.

Canadian journalist and filmmaker Brian D. Johnson hosts a lively conversation with Handling, discussing the emergence of TIFF on the global stage over the last quarter century and its community importance as a year-round institution in Toronto. The program also provides a look inside the spectacular TIFF Bell Lightbox, the state-of-the-art cinema facility and permanent home of the festival.

TIFF Behind the Festival explores the development of this event from its first years to becoming a premier launchpad for Oscar nominated films. Johnson and Handling also examine TIFF’s role in supporting Canadian filmmakers and promoting diverse voices through the language of international film. Additionally, the program attempts to answer big questions about the future of cinema in the digital age and the function of TIFF in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

A WNED-TV Original Production

TIFF Behind the Festival is made possible by