Posted Aug 25, 2023 5:16pm ET
A person walks past the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Bell Lightbox in Toronto’s entertainment district on Thursday, August 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
TORONTO – The Toronto International Film Festival will lose Bell as its main sponsor.
A festival partner since 1995, Bell bears his name on TIFF’s downtown headquarters, located in the heart of the entertainment district on King Street West.
Bell spokeswoman Ellen Murphy says those naming rights will end when the sponsorship expires in late December. Murphy says the communications giant has opted not to renew the contract.
News of Bell’s departure comes as organizers and film fans brace themselves for reduced celebrity attendance at next month’s festival due to the ongoing strikes in Hollywood.
Last year, sponsors contributed approximately $13.4 million, accounting for 28 percent of total revenue. TIFF and Bell’s split was first reported by the Toronto Star.
The 11-day film marathon kicks off on September 7 with Hayao Miyazaki’s long-awaited animated film The Boy and the Heron.
TIFF said in a statement that the 28-year partnership has been instrumental in its growth and success.
“Earlier this year, we mutually agreed that this partnership would end at the end of 2023,” Judy Lung, vice president of TIFF communications, said via email on Friday.
“We sincerely thank Bell for their unwavering support, dedication and collaborative spirit and look forward to working with them again.”
In a statement on Friday, Bell said he was grateful to have been part of the annual festival, which attracts top films and talent from around the world.
“Earlier this year, we decided that late 2023 would be the right time to step down from our partnership with TIFF and have decided not to renew our sponsorship in order to invest in other opportunities that are core to our business” said Bell.
“We are confident that TIFF will continue to develop and present the world’s leading content to inform, enlighten and entertain the best film audiences.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 25, 2023.
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