The New Picks on the Block: TIFF Kids and TIFF Next Wave Lineups Engage Audiences of All Ages

The youngest cinephiles will easily find their Festival favourites at this year's Toronto International Film Festival®. The TIFF Kids and TIFF Next Wave selections, announced today, deliver age-appropriate films curated for young audiences and - in the case of the Next Wave committee - by young audiences.

"Curating film selections with our younger Festival-goers in mind allows us to bring the same transformative films from around the world to a new generation of film lovers," said Elizabeth Muskala, Director, Youth Learning and TIFF Kids. "There is a film for everyone at the Festival; families and young cinephiles have a special place here at TIFF, and we hope this movie-going experience inspires future filmmakers and critics alike."

TIFF Kids is curated by Elizabeth Muskala and features three memorable films - two of which are World Premieres - that explore themes of family, courage, acceptance, and humour. The selection features two page-to-screen adaptations: The Breadwinner, the remarkable story of a young Afghan girl finding strength in the love of her family and the power of storytelling; and I Kill Giants, based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Joe Kelly and directed by Academy Award winner Anders Walter. The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales is a comical story of life in the countryside and the hijinks that ensue as animals try to get along.

This year's TIFF Next Wave lineup features a record 12 titles, including the first-ever selection from the Primetime programme. The Next Wave line-up comes from the TIFF Next Wave committee, a group of young film buffs responsible for selecting the films they believe their peers would most enjoy.

"We look out for titles that capture the essence of youth and how that is portrayed all around the world," said Next Wave committee member, Dasola Dina. "These 12 titles spark difficult conversations and will challenge everyone to be better to themselves and more perceptive of other people's experiences. It's a great feeling to help make our peers feel seen through the Festival while we're getting ready for the TIFF Next Wave Festival in February, which acts as a hub for creative and diverse young people in Toronto."

For more about the lineups, film synopses, cast lists, images and more information, see tiff.net/kidstiff17 and tiff.net/nextwavetiff17.

The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

TIFF KIDS:

The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales (Le Grand Méchant Renard et autres contes), Benjamin Renner, Patrick Imbert, France North American Premiere (Contemporary World Cinema)
Recommended for ages 8 and up

The Breadwinner, Nora Twomey, Canada/Ireland/Luxembourg World Premiere (Special Presentations)
Recommended for ages 10 and up

I Kill Giants, Anders Walter, United Kingdom World Premiere (Discovery)
Recommended for ages 12 and up

TIFF NEXT WAVE:

AVA Sadaf Foroughi, Iran/Canada/Qatar World Premiere (Discovery)

Call Me By Your Name, Luca Guadagnino, Italy/France Canadian Premiere (Special Presentations)

Dark, Germany, 2 episodes
Showrunners: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese Director: Baran bo Odar
World Premiere (Primetime)

High Fantasy, Jenna Bass, South Africa World Premiere (Discovery)

Killing Jesus (Matar a Jesús), Laura Mora, Colombia/Argentina World Premiere (Discovery)

Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig, USA
International Premiere (Special Presentations)

Scaffolding (Pigumim), Matan Yair, Israel/Poland North American Premiere (Discovery)

Sheikh Jackson (Al Sheikh Jackson) ,Amr Salama, Egypt World Premiere (Special Presentations)

The Rider, Chloé Zhao, USA
Canadian Premiere (Special Presentations)

Unicorn Store, Brie Larson, USA World Premiere (Special Presentations)

What Will People Say (Hva vil folk si), Iram Haq, Norway/Germany/Sweden World Premiere (Contemporary World Cinema)

Youth (F?ng Huá), Feng Xiaogang, China World Premiere (Special Presentations)

The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival Official Film Schedule was released today and is available at TIFF Bell Lightbox or at tiff.net/schedule.

Festival tickets go on sale September 4 at 10am (with TIFF Member pre-sale on September 2 from 10am to 4pm). Buy tickets online at tiff.net, by phone at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets.

TIFF prefers Visa.

Social Media:

@TIFF_NET

#TIFF17

Facebook.com/TIFF

About TIFF: TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world, through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution programme Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

The Toronto International Film Festival is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L'Oréal Paris and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada and the City of Toronto.

The TIFF Next Wave Committee is supported by the Slaight Family Foundation Learning Fund.

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