To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the Toronto International Film Festival will produce 10 short films in partnership with Telefilm Canada and award-winning producer Niv Fichman (The Red Violin), to premier at the September 2000 venue.

A handful of filmmakers are confirmed to direct, including David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan, Denys Arcand, Guy Maddin, Patricia Rozema, Michael Snow and Anne Wheeler.

Each prelude will be roughly four minutes long and will screen before the gala presentations at Roy Thomson Hall.

Other commemorative initiatives include screenings of the People’s Choice Award-winning films from 1978 to 1999; a one-night tribute to an international filmmaker; and a new publication, The Big Picture, published in partnership with Random House Canada. Written by film critic/senior entertainment writer Brian D. Johnson at Maclean’s, the book chronicles the evolution of the festival and will feature original interviews and photographs of the talent that has contributed to the festival’s success.