Toronto Film Festival loses lead sponsor Bell Canada after 28 years

With just weeks ahead of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, long-time sponsor Bell Canada has decided to back off.

The Canadian telecommunications company has been the lead sponsor since 1995 and will terminate the partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival following its 48th edition this year.

In a statement to Variety, the telecommunications giant said,

“Bell has had a terrific partnership with TIFF for the past 28 years. We’re proud of our partnership to help make TIFF a leading global destination for film and to support Canadian content and talent on the world stage.”

The statement continued further,

“Earlier this year, we decided that the end of 2023 would be the right time to step back from our partnership with TIFF and opted not to renew our sponsorship in order to invest in other opportunities that are core to our business. We are confident TIFF will continue to develop and showcase the world’s leading content to inform, educate and entertain the best audience in film. We’re grateful to have been a part of it all.”

On August 28, 2023, the Toronto International Film Festival released a statement acknowledging and informing about the conclusion of its partnership with Bell. It read,

“Over the past 28 years, TIFF and Bell have enjoyed an historic partnership that has greatly contributed to the growth and success of our organizations. Earlier this year, we mutually agreed that this partnership would come to a close at the end of 2023. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bell for their unwavering support, dedication, and collaborative spirit and look forward to working with them in new ways.”

The statement continued,

“TIFF is an important pillar in the ever-evolving global entertainment industry. We look forward to continuing to grow and innovate with the support and collaboration of current and future partners.”

The Toronto International Film Festival will take place from September 7, 2023, to September 17, 2023, and the world premiere of Sylvester Stallone’s documentary ‘Sly’ will close this year’s edition on September 16, 2023 at Roy Thomson Hall.