Toronto Urban Film Festival’s producers Onestop and Art For Commuters report a spectacular increase in submissions
Toronto, Ontario [July 27, 2010] – Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) commuters and film enthusiasts have a lot in common this September. When the streets of Toronto are engulfed in what most city-dwellers refer to as TIFF’s festival fever, so will the underground tunnels of the TTC with TUFF (Toronto Urban Film Festival) playing on hundreds of Onestop’s digital displays on subway platforms. With a record breaking number of entries this year, TUFF’s fan base has risen above ground and across the world with more than double the International submissions than last year.
TUFF producers are anticipating a fierce competition and an exciting season full of entertainment for TTC commuters and its online fans.
Sharon Switzer, Director of TUFF says, "I am pleased not just with the remarkable number of submissions we received this year, but with the quality of so many of the films. It is very exciting to be able to add powerful and beautiful gems from film and video artists in 25 diverse countries to the abundance of local talent that we showcase at TUFF. It looks like this will be our strongest year yet."
TUFF received 355 submissions this year from 25 Countries, including Canada, which is a 43% increase from 2009 and a 118% increase in international submissions.
“We are overwhelmed by the local and international recognition TUFF is receiving! It truly is a unique festival that requires no tickets, no line-ups, and is fused into the daily commute of TTC riders. TUFF gets “shared” far beyond the subway platform because of its digital nature. We are excited to see and share new TUFF films with the community and encourage fans to visit the new mobile compatible website, search the new film library, leave a comment, vote for the best, join our twitter and facebook groups, and so much more.” says, Michael Girgis, CEO and President, Onestop Media Group.
Deepa Mehta, whose dazzling film trilogy, Fire, Earth, Water, captivated audiences worldwide will be this year’s TUFF guest judge. Deepa joins a prestigious list of actors and filmmakers who have served as TUFF guest judges, including Don McKellar (2009) Mark McKinney (2008) and Jeremy Podeswa (2007). Since its launch in 2007, the festival has grown in both size and stature, currently featuring 80 ultra-short films and over $15,000 in cash and prizes.
TUFF is an award winning event, and the only true ‘underground’ festival in North America, reaching an audience of over 1 million daily commuters on Onestop’s TTC network of digital displays on subway platforms across Toronto. TUFF is co-produced by Onestop Media Group and Art for Commuters, and funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. TUFF features seven different urban-themed categories of one-minute silent films, running every 10 minutes from September 10 - 19, 2010. This year, TUFF will include more specially designated screening areas called “TUFF Film Zones” at select downtown stations, where the festival will screen nonstop for 10 days.
For more information, visit TUFF online at:
Website -- http://www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com
Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/torontourbanfilmfestival
Twitter -- http://www.twitter.com/tuffestival
YouTube -- http://www.youtube.com/user/torontourbanfilmfest
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For more information, contact:
Erin Jandciu, Onestop Media Group
Tel: 416-646-7912 || E-mail: ejandciu@onestopmedia.com
About The Producers:
Art for Commuters (A4C) - http://www.art4commuters.com
Art for Commuters is a non-profit arts collective that initiates unique, thought-provoking projects in the public realm. As ONESTOP Media Group’s community arts programming partner, they bring urban art festivals and competitions to over 1 million people daily on the ONESTOP network of screens throughout the TTC subway system. Projects include: Contacting Toronto, Earth Day ‘Every Day Heros’ Film Competition, The Toronto Urban Film Festival, and DRIFT (part of Nuit Blanche). Art for Commuters was founded in 2007 by Sharon Switzer.
About ONESTOP Media Group - http://www.onestopmediagroup.com
Onestop Media Group (Onestop) is a world leader in the development, operation and innovation of Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Media. Onestop owns and operates Canada’s largest portfolio of DOOH properties, collectively reaching a Canadian audience of over 2,000,000 viewers daily. Onestop's expertise in transit, hospitality, retail, education, corporate, and residential environments is recognized by such clients as: Toronto Transit Commission, Hilton Hotels, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Queens University, Toronto Board of Trade, and Minto. Onestop is constantly expanding its DOOH portfolio through qualified new partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic acquisitions.