Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced a new five-year, $3 million initiative aimed at advancing gender equality across the North American film industry. Branded “Share Her Journey,” the program expands TIFF’s ongoing commitment to increasing opportunities for women and gender-diverse creators in cinema through targeted funding, education, and public programming.
Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown into one of the world’s most influential film festivals. In recent years the organization has placed greater emphasis on presenting films by and about women: for example, nearly 30% of the festival’s 2016 entries were led by female filmmakers. Share Her Journey is intended to build on that progress by investing in women-centered storytelling and the talent behind it.
The fund will support several core activities. TIFF will offer three-month residency programs designed to give female creators concentrated time, mentorship, and professional development to move projects forward. The festival will also develop classroom resources tailored for educators who teach about women and gender in film, helping to shape the next generation of students, critics, and industry professionals. In addition, TIFF plans to host a speaker series that will explore gender equality, identity, and representation in film, creating public forums where filmmakers, scholars, and audiences can engage in meaningful discussion.
“We acknowledge that gender inequity is systemic in the screen industries, so change has to happen at every level. That includes getting more women into key creative roles. We plan to seek out, develop, and showcase top female talent in the industry through our festival and year-round initiatives. Our mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. One of the most powerful ways to do that is to foreground the perspectives of women.”
— Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s Artistic Director
To help seed the campaign, TIFF is seeking donations from individuals and corporations. The initiative received an early boost through a pledge to match the first $70,000 in donations, provided by Bettie-Ann Heggie of PotashCorp and Toronto philanthropist Anne-Marie Canning. Matching contributions like these are intended to encourage further support and amplify the fund’s reach.
Share Her Journey takes a multi-pronged approach to addressing entrenched gender disparities. Beyond direct funding for creators, the program’s educational materials will support instructors who want to integrate gender-aware film studies into their curricula. The speaker series will raise the visibility of conversations about representation and access, bringing diverse voices into public view and giving audiences access to the issues shaping contemporary filmmaking.
By combining practical support for creators with public-facing programs and classroom tools, TIFF aims to affect change at multiple levels: from the production pipeline to critical discourse and audience awareness. The residencies are intended to create career-changing opportunities, while the educational work seeks to influence how film history and contemporary practice are taught.
TIFF’s announcement has drawn international attention, reflecting the festival’s longstanding influence on the global film calendar and its role as a platform for launching films and talent. Share Her Journey places TIFF among an increasing number of cultural institutions that are using resources and programming power to address inequality in creative industries.
If you would like to support or learn more about the campaign and opportunities to get involved, visit the Toronto International Film Festival website and look for information about Share Her Journey. The festival encourages individuals and organizations who share its goals to contribute to the fund and participate in year-round activities that promote equity and inclusion in film.
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