From Art House to Awards: Sony Pictures Classics’ Tom Bernard and Michael Barker on 50 Years at TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrated its 50th anniversary this past week – a monumental milestone for an event that has grown from a local gathering to one of the world’s most influential film festivals. For 50 years, TIFF has been the launchpad for critically acclaimed films. Directors Tom Bernard and Michael Barker of Sony Pictures Classics can attest to how TIFF can influence the film industry.
Becoming an Industry Powerhouse
Founded in 1976 as the “Festival of Festivals,” the event was created to bring international films to the Toronto audience. In its infant stage, it was a scrappy upstart overshadowed by established European festivals like Cannes and Venice. Yet the festival’s uniqueness and audience-focused approach caught attention and set it apart. While lacking the European formality, TIFF was built on a foundation of public accessibility and a genuine love for diverse cinema.
This public-first mentality is what drew industry veterans like Bernard and Barker of Sony Pictures Classics to Toronto year after year. For decades, they have used TIFF as a crucial barometer for their acquisitions.
“It’s the audience. You can sit in that theatre and feel the film. You can feel the audience breathing, you can hear them laugh, you can hear them cry.” – Tom Bernard
After TIFF’s inception, the reputation of the festival grew exponentially through the 1980s and 90s. The Academy took notice. Films like Chariots of Fire (1981), American Beauty (1999), Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The King’s Speech (2010), and Nomadland (2020) all won the top prize at TIFF before going on to be nominated for – and winning – the Oscar for Best Picture.
The People’s Choice Phenomenon
The People’s Choice Award is self-explanatory – it is an audience-driven celebration of resounding cinematic projects. TIFF’s acknowledgement empowered the public, giving them a voice that echoed all the way to Hollywood. Bernard and Barker recall the electric screening of ‘The Big Chill’ in 1983 as a turning point for their careers that was then followed up by the great success of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon‘ in 2000. The overwhelming audience enthusiasm for both films demonstrated TIFF’s power to create genuine buzz that translated into box office success. This award continues to be one of the most coveted prizes on the festival circuit.
An Internationally Diverse Program
Bernard and Parker are not the only professionals in the industry who have benefited from the impact of TIFF and its recognition of international films. The festival provides a global stage where emerging talent can capture the attention of critics, distributors, and audiences. As a modern gateway for international films into the North American market, TIFF recognizes and presents foreign films to a passionate and excited audience. This is exemplified by Bernard and Barker’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, and why the festival brings cinema enthusiasts together on a global scale.
The Industry Impact of TIFF
The opening of the TIFF Bell Lightbox in 2010 cemented its role as a cultural institution in Toronto. This state-of-the-art facility offers screenings, exhibitions, and educational programs beyond the now critically acclaimed film festival. TIFF has teamed up with the Share Her Journey campaign, an organization working to amplify underrepresented voices and advocate for women in the film industry.
This Year at TIFF
What films were celebrated at TIFF 2025?
‘Blue Moon’
After the success of ‘Boyhood’, Richard Linklater returns to TIFF with a biopic of legendary songwriter Lorenz Hart.
‘Nuremberg’
While WWII stories have certainly been done in the past, the star-studded cast and creative team promise a timely yet fresh take on a powerful cinematic backdrop and narrative.
‘Eleanor the Great’
Scarlett Johansson steps behind the camera for her feature directorial debut, a film about a 90-year-old woman trying to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend.
These films are just a few of the projects that represent the talent, diversity, and dedication of a program that is designed to honor the festival’s legacy and inspiring future cinematic excellence.
Celebrating a Half-Century of Dynamic Cinema
As TIFF celebrates its 50th anniversary, we recognize that the initially humble film festival has grown into an international beacon of cinematic artistry. Academy celebrated filmmakers, including directors Tom Bernard and Michael Barker from Sony Pictures Classics, have been supported and outwardly outspoken about their reciprocated respect for TIFF. Both glamourous and accessible, both commercially appealing without losing artistic integrity, here’s to the next 50 years of unforgettable movie moments in Toronto.
