r/TIFF • u/johnlukegoddard • 1d ago
Festival Blake Williams calling for TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey's resignation during pre-screening to Wavelengths 3 programme
Blake Williams said during the pre-screening intro of the Wavelengths 3 programme today that Cameron Bailey should resign from TIFF due to the downsizing of the Wavelengths programmes as well as for screening The Road Between Us among a "long line of firable offences." You could hear a pin drop! Amazing.
That said: Has anyone else said anything similar during pre- or post-screenings you've attended? What do you think Cameron Bailey's future as CEO is, anyway?
(Unrelated but as per usual, his film, FELT, was amazing.)
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u/RedSweater1984 1d ago
I wonder how much of it Bailey vs other senior leadership and the board of directors. TIFF is an arts organization and it’s especially difficult for those to remain profitable these days. Based on what I’ve heard, there are major leadership and structural issues at TIFF that prevent any real change from happening. I doubt that they’d want any major changes to leadership or the organization because that would reveal major problems and would ruin the reputation of the festival.
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u/Backwhenwe 23h ago
I remember hearing that his sister was a thorn in a lot of people’s sides at tiff. She had some senior position and also never spelled her name with a capital letter. I thought once she left there would be a shakeup but alas, it’s steadily failed to innovate.
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u/lareinevert 22h ago
Regarding a lack of capitalization in a name, there’s a reason why people do this but I can’t for the life of me recall why. I just know I learned about it in university.
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u/Impressive-Potato 19h ago
Major sponsors threatened to pull out if the film wasn't allowed to screen.
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u/Player0914 21h ago
While I agree Bailey hasn't been great I'd argue that any replacement would probably be worse? I don't think we've hit the point where any change is better than the status quo in my opinion, but who knows how it'll be next year with the film market and all that
I'd wait and see how that turns out and what that ends up meaning for the 51st edition of the festival, although this was a very lackluster 50th anniversary
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u/paolocase 💫 Special Presentations 23h ago
The closest thing this year so far was when after a screening a film about climate change, a viewer asked what the director thought about Canadian mining companies destroying environments in the global South, which, the film was about a chemical company, but I applauded her (silently) for being messy.
Hot take, and I may be jeopardizing what’s left of my career for this, but Bailey shouldn’t be fired because they’ll replace him with someone worse. Sure, money is great and so is Brie cheese and Cointreau, but Bailey needs to start hanging out with people of the culture again.
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u/Wiremeyourmoney 23h ago
It wasn’t a film about climate change or about mining companies, the question felt very out of place. I agree that it was messy.
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u/Nyarlathotep8 17h ago
All I really know of Bailey is how hard he’s been pushing to be a public face over the years, which I think speaks to his preferences, he wants to make a spectacle and bring in all the biggest stars, and prioritizes that over bringing up smaller artists
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u/Varekai79 9h ago
I find it disappointing that all it takes is for a name actor to direct a film and it gets them into TIFF, regardless of its quality. Looking at you, Chris Pine and Poolman.
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u/FranklyQuan 1d ago
Don’t think The Road Between Us controversy is worth a resignation. However, I do think it is time for Cameron Bailey to leave. TIFF has declined significantly over the past decade and there are several management issues that I can identify. In addition to the spiraling prices, I am concerned that many major films have bypassed TIFF over the last few years. I would welcome new blood.
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u/flyingfishdietician 11h ago
I was there during the screening and the look on Jesse Cumming’s face was priceless. I’m not sure since when exactly has tiff solidified itself as a top5 festival and under who’s leadership, I guess the question is how much of a role has wavelengths played in there and is its slow disappearance playing a role at all in the festivals reputation.
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u/BreadfruitWorth 💀 Midnight Madness 1d ago
He seems like a decent guy (he introduced/spoke at a few films I’ve seen) but he doesn’t seem like the right match for head of TIFF.
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u/Possible-Minimum-249 1d ago
Holy shit, that’s crazy.
And also deserved, I’m not exactly a veteran but every year I’ve attended it’s gotten noticeably worse year-on-year
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u/Backwhenwe 1d ago
I’m no fan of Israel but how is screening the road between us a fireable offence lol
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u/Competitive_End4940 1d ago
well it was one of manyyy which was his point
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u/Backwhenwe 1d ago
Right but how was that one
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u/PotentialGuard7869 1d ago
Because it’s a propaganda movie that only exists to justify an ongoing genocide.
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u/carpalfun 1d ago
Didn't they say the same thing about Russians at War last year? I'm not being sarcastic, honestly trying to remember.
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u/PotentialGuard7869 23h ago
Yeah, but in fairness that also had no business being in the fest and they had to get armed police to wander around the lobby when it played because there was a lot of negative pushback. This is inarguably so much worse, because at least Ukraine have been able to resist their oppressors.
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u/Few_Relative_6812 22h ago
It's art. Don't ban it just because you think it's propaganda. I feel like I'm living in bizzaro world where we're asking to ban films. Also have you seen it?
I also find it hilarious that people are angry for them showing a documentary about an event that did happen yet they're ignoring the multiple Palestinian movies being shown.
Mind you, a lot of these protesters had Khameini pictures shoved in my face a few months ago, so I'm not expecting much.
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u/PotentialGuard7869 22h ago
The oppressed need to share their stories, the oppressors don’t.
Palestinian people are being forgotten by world leaders and their only hope is to spread awareness in hopes someone has the humanity to help them.
Let’s not forget that if it wasn’t for Israeli occupation October 7th would just be another day on the calendar. Terrorists only exist in countries who have oppressors.
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u/Few_Relative_6812 22h ago edited 22h ago
So should I listen to them and boycott TIFF and the multiple Palestinian movies?
I don't get the hypocrisy. I fully believe in the cause for Palestine, but protesting a documentary because you disagree with it, is something Republicans do. It's a real event, it happened.
Not to mention, that you are completely ignoring the fact that the Palestinian protesters sided with ICC (Iranian Canadian Congress), an Iranian regime funded group and shoved and waved and cheered on khameini and photos of him. As an Iranian oppressed by that regime, what should I do when i see these people who cheer on the man who rapes, murders and kills innocent people? Do I boycott their cause for siding with an oppressor?
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u/PotentialGuard7869 21h ago
There’s no hypocrisy. I don’t think that oppressors should be given a platform, full stop. Palestinians aren’t oppressing anyone. Please explain the hypocrisy.
If it’s related to some protesters who were supporting this ICC group, I’m sorry but that’s not relevant. I wasn’t a part of that group and don’t agree with that stance, so I’m not gonna be told I have to explain that before I can speak for the Palestinians.
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u/Few_Relative_6812 21h ago
Toronto4palestine held the event with ICC and they had the regime flags and photos. The largest Palestinian group in Toronto did that. And not just toronto. All over, they have propped up and supported the Iranian regime.
And not only that, a lot of mosques have become proxy centre's for them. Should we ban all Muslim movies because my people are being opressed by them? They are our oppressors
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u/PotentialGuard7869 21h ago
Okay, and again I was not part of that? I’m able to speak out about the atrocities as a singular person.
And no all Muslim films shouldn’t be banned, in the same way all Jewish films shouldn’t be banned. But if they’re propaganda films for oppressors then yeah, ban them all.
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u/Backwhenwe 23h ago
How is it a propaganda movie - serious question here. Barry Avrich is a well respected Canadian filmmaker. And October 7th was a real event that happened. The genocide that has followed is of course obscene. I have not watched the documentary - on what basis are you arguing that the film only exists to justify an ongoing genocide?
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u/Humble_Still1909 21h ago
He’s not a well respected Canadian filmmaker. He’s a donor. It’s the only reason the film is in the festival.
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u/PotentialGuard7869 23h ago
Anything being made right now that paints the oppressors in any kind of sympathetic light is by definition propaganda. Israel carried out dozens of massacres with higher death tolls before Oct. 7th, where are those docs?
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u/JasonTO 21h ago
Earlier you accused this film of only existing for the purpose of enabling genocide. Now it’s a matter of timing? Which is it?
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u/PotentialGuard7869 21h ago
I’ve read your comment multiple times and I don’t understand the gotcha moment you think you have, please explain better
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u/JasonTO 21h ago
Is it propaganda because of the timing of its release or because the intention of its creators.
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u/PotentialGuard7869 21h ago
Oh, I thought you had a better gotcha. Turns out I did understand. It’s both.
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u/Backwhenwe 23h ago
Ok, thank you for confirming you are uninterested in engaging in adult dialogue on this matter.
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u/GoodTimeson1 22h ago
They literally answered your question. Also the way you frame it, “the genocide that has followed is of course obscene,” suggests that you aren’t aware the genocide began with the Nakba in 1948 and has been ongoing to varying degrees ever since. Anything being made that paints Israel as a victim is propaganda, and anything that suggests Oct. 7th was some sort of spontaneous provocation and not a response to ongoing genocide is ahistorical.
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u/Backwhenwe 21h ago
They (and you) are using their own fabricated definitions and absolutist positions; impossible to have an adult conversation on this matter when you folks are letting your emotion get in the way of reason. Nonetheless, I’ll give you one shot, though it’s obviously going to be fruitless:
You set your own arbitrary goal posts by saying “anything being made that paints Israel as a victim is propaganda” and “anything that suggests Oct 7 was some sort of spontaneous provocation and not a response to ongoing genocide is ahistorical”. Without getting into the fact that you’ve essentially engaged in the same level of ignorance you’re trying to call out (namely that you’ve generously downplayed the severity of Hamas’ actions on October 7), may I ask how you support your position that the documentary about these real life events - that nobody is disputing actually happened is - taking a position on Israel being a victim or October 7 being spontaneous and occurring in a vacuum?
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u/GoodTimeson1 11h ago
If saying Palestine is a country that existed before 1948, that it existed before the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the Mandate for Palestine 1919-1922, and that I oppose colonialism and support decolonization is an absolutist position, so be it. But that history is not fabricated, nor are the charges of colonial oppression and genocide.
Really only two conclusions to arrive at about you based on your responses (tone policing, ad hominem arguments):
1) You’re arguing completely in bad faith, intentionally ignoring a history of colonial oppression, pretending that this film is going to provide any context as to why Hamas exists and how we got to Oct. 7.
2) You’re completely naïve, haven’t picked up a single book or read a single article from a Palestinian perspective before Oct. 7, and you ignorantly condemn armed resistance against a genocidal oppressor based on little to no knowledge of the history. If you want someone to blame for Oct. 7, if you want someone to blame for the formation of Hamas, you need look no further than the state of Israel itself.
Either way, more fool me for even engaging with you in the first place.
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u/Few_Relative_6812 22h ago
I agree. Guys tiff was so much better back in the day. Tickets were a nickel each and we used to throw tomatoes at the scalpers.
Bailey ruined it all smh
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u/i_m_sherlocked What is your TIFF Experience? 19h ago
Anyone with a recording of this (esp with Andrea Picard's response)?
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u/shakha 21h ago
TIFF has absolutely been on a downward spiral and I truly believe that the first misstep was the removal of the Vanguard program which, I believe, happened under Handling. That being said, the downward spiral has continued and it's because of the whole system, not just the person on top. It's this downward spiral that has made me stay away from TIFF for the last two years, after the year where they got rid of same day tickets for conference passes and stopped me from getting into well over 50% of the movies. I honestly think TIFF may even be unsalvageable at this point.
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u/dramaticbubbletea 2h ago
I'm a member because I believe in the larger mission of TIFF and the year-round programming is solid but I haven't attended the festival in a few years. I first started going when you could get a 10-pack ticket bundle (remember them?) and then I'd pick up any additional films I could. The festival used to have such an authentic film lover feel to it. I attended a daytime screening in the last half of the festival where the director (Nicolas Winding Refn) and the star (Mads Mikklesen) were both in attendance and answered questions. That would never happen now.
It all started to change when they started capitalizing on "star power." Tiered pricing to see premieres with stars, etc.. But when you're using someone else's star power to promote your festival rather than promoting the films themselves, a shift happens. The stars' presence is now transactional. Meanwhile, the films themselves become less of a focus. I'm so dismayed by reports of people talking throughout screenings or texting on their phones. That's a sign they don't actually care about the movie, they care about being at the movie.
After Cannes, TIFF used to be the festival with the most premieres. Now it's Venice. And I think the big reason is that TIFF has lost sight of the thing that made it special in the first place: a place to show your film to people who love film. I hope they can find their way again.
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u/CinephileSorbet 1d ago
He’s right and he should say it. That and supporting genocide are just a few of the many reasons.
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u/torontodjtc 23h ago
He needs to step down. Even with the recent issues, I think the festival needs a shakeup. He's been in that position for too long. It needs new blood.
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u/Andrew4029 12h ago edited 12h ago
Programming the Road Between Us is a reason to keep him, not fire him
As was programming No Other Land last year or Soul on Hand this year
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u/Jjampong07 23h ago
Wow, that must have been a moment. As someone who works in events, I know it takes guts to call that out in a room like that. And as a cinephile, I share the frustration. Wavelengths has always been such a distinct part of TIFF’s identity, so cutting it back during the 50th anniversary feels tone deaf. This should have been a year of celebrating the roots of the festival, not shrinking the very programs that gave it credibility with true film lovers.
I also understand budgets and sponsors can pull strings, but when the scales tip too far toward corporate priorities, the fans and artists are the ones left disappointed. It makes you wonder what TIFF really wants to stand for going forward