Canada relaxes entry restrictions in boost to TIFF, productions

In positive news for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and US productions north of the border, the Canadian government has announced a timetable of relaxed entry restrictions for the first time since March 2020.

From August 9, US citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated under an approved programme (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson) will be allowed entry to Canada for non-essential travel.

Fully vaccinated visitors from the rest of the world can enter from September 7. The hybrid 46th edition of TIFF runs September 9-18.

Announcing the move on Monday (July 19) the federal government said it was waiving the 14-day quarantine requirement. Arrivals will need to present proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test result on the ArriveCAN platform. All travellers will be required to show a quarantine plan and be prepared to quarantine should they fail to meet federal requirements.

There will be no requirement for a test upon arrival, except for visitors selected at random by authorities to take a Day 1 test. Unvaccinated children below the age of 12 accompanied by vaccinated parents or guardians will not need to quarantine.

TIFF heads are planning an in-person and virtual festival encompassing more than 100 films, with screenings at indoor venues including TIFF Bell Lightbox and outdoor venues. The festival selection will be available online and geoblocked within Canada, Industry programming and press access will be made available online.

The festival will announce Galas and Special Presentations on Tuesday. Last month TIFF announced Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, which premieres in Venice, as well as Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho, Mélanie Laurent’s Le Balles Des Folles, and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast among the first wave of selections.

Festival heads will unveil Midnight, Wavelengths and Primetime selections later this month. The 2021 Industry Conference runs over the first five days of TIFF and encompasses six sections including the inaugural Connections.

At time of writing the US had not loosened its restrictions on visitors entering from Canada.

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