Part of a series of mini profiles on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and visitors, from rookies to veterans. Name & role: Piers Handling, Director and Chief Executive Officer of TIFF, Toronto International Film Festival since 1994
This is my 29th Berlinale.
What’s your “mission” at Berlinale 2015?
To keep Toronto visible and to make our international contacts aware that we are present and vigilant. I see key contacts in the industry in Berlin - sales agents, producers, filmmakers - especially from Europe, as most of them attend. I get a feel for how they felt about last year's Toronto festival; if there were any major issues, what we could improve etc. I also see films just to keep my hand on the pulse, especially films in the Forum, as well as some of the competition titles from non-American directors, as many of the major art house names premiere in Berlin. I talk about our year-round initiatives, what is going on in our building, TIFF Bell Lightbox and how it is doing. Last year I had numerous meetings around our David Cronenberg exhibition which travelled to The Eye in Amsterdam and whose next stop is Italy.
Most interesting film you ever found at the Berlinale:
What a difficult question. I'll start with Pedro Almodovar's LAW OF DESIRE which I saw at my first Berlinale.
