🎬TIFF hits its midpoint…

The Dailies

As the Toronto International Film Festival enters day 5, screenings are in full swing while buyers are circling available titles.

The marketplace that isn't (yet): Unlike Cannes or AFM, Toronto has never had an official market, just informal hotel lobby meetings. That changes next year with TIFF's first content market (backed by $23M CAD government funding). This year is more of a test run: fewer splashy packages, more finished films with trailers and campaign-ready materials to slot quickly into release calendars. Some titles generating buzz:

• 'Obsession': Horror from YouTube sensation Curry Barker (Focus Features in talks to acquire for $15M+)
• 'Christy': Sydney Sweeney boxing biopic (Black Bear produced and announced they will distribute in November)
• 'The Christophers': Soderbergh going full indie with no distributor attached
• 'Easy's Waltz': Vince Vaughn/Al Pacino drama from True Detective creator
• 'Dead Man's Wire': Gus Van Sant's return after 7-year feature hiatus

TIFF 2025 feels like a cautious but functional marketplace. Instead of wild bidding wars, you’ve got calculators out, spreadsheets open, and buyers carefully picking their shots. One reason for that is streamers have slashed the "Pay-1" and "Pay-2" licensing fees that distributors once counted on to cover theatrical losses. Without that safety net, buyers need to be sure any acquisition can break even on its own.

But there's still opportunity: Two well-capitalized newcomers (Black Bear, Row K) are actively buying and bringing fresh energy to the market. Plus, this year's slate leans heavily toward commercial titles with clear audience appeal rather than prestige-only plays.