A new wing of the Toronto International Film Festival is looking to give Canuck filmmakers a leg up on the international scene by providing year-round help with marketing, networking and talent searches.

The festival also recently staged a press conference to trumpet the previously announced $25 million commitment from the federal government for its Festival Centre.

TIFF says its new Industry Initiatives Office will do more to promote Canadian film to the world market. ‘It’s basically a redeployment of the strengths we already have,’ says boss and festival veteran Kelley Alexander. ‘It’s very easy for us to make those face-to-face introductions – to put new, emerging talent in front of the international industry and forge new opportunities for Canadian filmmakers.’

The five-person IIO combines existing TIFF programs – Pitch This!, My Next Project, the Talent Lab, etc. – with four new ones:

* A marketing assistance program will provide publicity know-how and services to Canadian films playing at TIFF, starting this year with two features and two shorts. To be eligible, the films cannot have a domestic distributor or an international sales agent. A call for applications will go out shortly.

* An introduction service will play matchmaker year-round between emerging filmmakers – most likely those already known to the festival or its Film Circuit – and international contacts.

* A shadowing program will pair emerging producers with other Canuck and international producers.

* A talent database to be launched next year will promote Canuck films and talent to the world.

Alexander hopes the new office will provide everything filmmakers need to improve their standing, from ‘coaching to providing advice if you need to hire people, to putting directors in front of agents or producers in front of potential coproducers.’

TIFF codirector Noah Cowan will fill in for Alexander at the festival’s sales office temporarily, joined by Elizabeth Muskala and Hayet Benkara.

-www.e.bell.ca/filmfest