Emerging Canuck filmmakers will once more enjoy unique exposure to veterans of the film biz in an array of industry events at TIFF2006.

Talent Lab, now in its third year, kicks things off on Sept. 6, with 22 participants getting a chance to mingle and learn from the likes of Academy Award-winner Paul Haggis (Crash), famed director Brian De Palma (The Black Dahlia), and writer/directors Mary Harron (The Notorious Bettie Page) and Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence).

Meanwhile, in the Telefilm Canada Pitch This! event, six filmmaking teams pitch their projects in front of a jury made up of TIFF’s Industry Advisory Committee and other special guests, for a $10,000 prize to further their project.

Clement Virgo’s recently wrapped Poor Boy’s Game, starring Danny Glover, originated from a script by Chaz Thorne that won the fest’s Pitch This! contest in 2001.

‘We’re now seeing films get made based on these original ideas that have been pitched at the event over the years,’ says Kelley Alexander, head of industry initiatives.

Last year’s winning project, Amal, by writer/director Richie Mehta, is also going into production this fall.

New at TIFF this year is the CFTPA Producer’s Award, presented to an outstanding Canadian independent producer with a feature being screened at the fest. It also comes with a cash prize of $10,000. Producer David Hamilton (Water) will chair the jury.

Ten panels make up the Telefilm News & Views series, which presents discussions on the latest trends in film financing, production, distribution and packaging.

Access to the different events comes with an Industry Initiatives Pass that costs $200.

www.industry.tiffg.ca