The Toronto International Film Festival’s program includes hundreds of films from various genres, but it seems some of the drama spilled out of the screens and made its way to the backstage. One of the venues used in screenings for industry guests and film critics on Richmond street is refusing to screen some of the films.
Cineplex, the theatre company that runs said multiplex theater, has announced that it will not play movies that were picked for short commercial theater screenings or none at all. This means that Netflix and Amazon movies did not make the cut. Cineplex spokesperson Sarah Van Lange told The Hollywood Reporter that only titles from studios “who understand and appreciate the importance of the theatrical release model” will be screened.
In a statement, the festival management said that “Cineplex has been a great partner of TIFF’s for many years. This year, new restrictions were put in place on our use of their Scotiabank Theatres during the festival. As a result, TIFF scheduled films that do not comply with their traditional theatrical windows, in other venues.”
The movie theaters industry faces a competitive threat from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon that allow their award-hopeful movies only a short run on the big screens before switching them to the digital viewing option only.
