TIFF reopening Ontario Place's historic Cinesphere next month

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is bringing to life one of the city’s historic movie theatres.

As part of the 2017 Cinematheque Programme, and in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, TIFF will be showcasing homegrown talent and restoring landmark cinematic history.

An all-Canadian lineup will include free programs and features titles like Clement Virgo’s Rude (95), the first Canadian dramatic feature to be written, directed and produced by an all-black team, along with Patricia Rozema’s winner of the Cannes Prix de la jeunesse I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (87).

“At TIFF we’re proud to continue our commitment to the preservation and restoration of Canada’s filmic history,” said Jesse Wente, Head, TIFF Cinematheque. “These groundbreaking works from the 1980s and 1990s demonstrate our country’s long history of celebrating directors who push boundaries with their personal visions. We look forward to bringing them back to audiences via these beautiful digital restorations.”

An IMAX screening of Graeme Ferguson’s NORTH OF SUPERIOR (1971) at Cinesphere — the world’s first permanent IMAX cinema. #TIFF17 #Canada150 pic.twitter.com/seI8wWFgdt

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 9, 2017

Among the digitally restored spaces this year is Ontario Place’s Cinesphere, which will be screening Graeme Ferguson’s North of Superior (71). As the world’s first permanent IMAX cinema, Cinesphere was first commissioned for and screened the grand opening of North of Superior. According to TIFF, this movie helped put the IMAX format on the map.

And now, film fans can have the opportunity to experience the movie as intended, on the IMAX screen. The event will feature music, entertainment, and food on the Ontario Place grounds. Free transportation will be provided to Ontario Place from TIFF Bell Lightbox.

“I am delighted that this year’s Toronto International Film Festival will showcase several digitally restored classics of Canadian cinema,” said the Honorable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in a press release. “As we celebrate Canada 150, I invite you all to participate, and to experience these films that reveal the richness of our cinematic heritage.”

The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

See also

• Stars and films coming to Toronto in September for TIFF this year
• TIFF launches a five-year campaign to support women in film
• TIFF announces its opening film for the 2017 festival