TIFF announces how 2020 festival will continue to share 'great storytelling'

Fear not cinephiles, the Toronto International Film Festival is still a go. Though it won't include the customary crowds and throngs of stars descending on Ontario's capital, the Festival leadership team has announced how the celebration of all things film will move forward in September in the wake of the new reality set upon the world by the coronavirus pandemic. The 45th edition of the fete will feature some in-person physically-distanced screenings as well as online premieres and conversations with filmmakers.Yes, 2020 has already been quite a year, but TIFF isn't letting that dampen the festivities. Not only has the 10-day film fest revamped how it operates, the powers that be have listened to calls for greater diversity and ensuring that's a driving force in their film selections. This year, the lineup will be tighter than in the past—just 50 feature films plus five programs of short films compared to last year's 333 total titles—but TIFF artistic director and co-head Cameron Bailey ensures that won't mean a compromise in quality."We have listened to this year’s urgent calls for greater representation of underrepresented voices. You’ll see that this year at the Festival," he said in the official release. "We’re excited to present thoughtful, high-impact programming this September that reflects our belief that there’s no stopping great storytelling."

Welcome to #TIFF20:?️ September 10 to 19? Physical, socially-distanced screenings for the first five days? Digital film premieres, talks and events for the full 10 days?️ Member and ticket on-sale details to come? https://t.co/MpKr7CryJF pic.twitter.com/sw6Mxya9vy

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) June 24, 2020

"We've had to re-imagine our business and find new ways to present programming that reflects our belief that images matter now more than ever," TIFF co-head Joana Vicente added in an interview with etalk's Tyrone Edwards. "While things will be different this year... as always, we're determined to celebrate film and to champion the voices of women filmmakers, amplify the stories of Black creators, Indigenous communities and people of colour and provide a space for their stories to be told."TIFF20 really is pulling out all the stops to bring the same amazing experience in a way that's safe for everyone involved. The festival will run from September 10 to 19 with the first five days featuring physically-distanced premieres of the entire slate of movies as the festival works closely with the province and the city to prioritize the safety of the public as it executes this new vision.[video_embed id='1980404']RELATED: Cameron Bailey talks TIFF + Crave Stay at Home flicks! [/video_embed]In addition to the scheduled in-person premieres, the festival will offer drive-in viewings, outdoor experiences and a brand new digital platform to consume all those extra TIFF goodies festivalgoers know and love. The digital hub (which is being designed specifically for this year) will feature virtual red carpets, one-on-one conversations, panel discussions, press conferences and other special events.What kind of movies can we expect this year? The entire lineup hasn't been finalized yet, but confirmed titles include Halle Berry's directorial debut Bruised; Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan; Concrete Cowboy starring Idris Elba and When They See Us star Jharrel Jerome; and Good Joe Bell, starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.While the influx of celebs might not be hitting the streets of Toronto this year, there are certainly quite a few who will be putting in the work to make TIFF 2020 a meaningful experience for all. This year, TIFF will host 50 ambassadors from the film industry to help set the tone and direction of the event. The slate includes Ava DuVernay, Taika Waititi, Priyanka Chopra, Nicole Kidman, Alfonso Cuarón, Tantoo Cardinal, Riz Ahmed, Rian Johnson, David Oyelowo, Lulu Wang, Rosamund Pike and Sarah Gadon.More information will be released in the coming months, but TIFF assures they are working with the Province of Ontario and City of Toronto as well as public health officials to make sure this year's festivities are executed in the safest way possible without losing that TIFF feeling.[video_embed id='1983386']BEFORE YOU GO: More than 300 Black artists have signed a petition calling for change in Hollywood[/video_embed]