Toronto 
Credit: Toronto Shines
The provincial government says it’s investing $2 million for socially distanced summer activities at Ontario Place, which will include a drive-in version of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lisa MacLeod, Minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries, says the initiative will help Ontario communities reconnect during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will go towards concert performances, comedy shows and movie screenings at a drive-in space.
MacLeod said the investment will help bring Ontario’s multi-billion dollar arts and entertainment industry back to life after months of dormancy.
However, she warns that the province is still in the midst of a pandemic and staff will enforce social distancing rules throughout the events.
The events at Ontario Place will start in late July with a foreign film festival and end in mid September with nine days for TIFF.
This summer’s line-up at Ontario Place includes:
- Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival will feature the latest international films from different countries including France, Spain, China, Russia, the US, the UK, Brazil, India and Canada, with a special focus on Italy.
- Toronto Shines will present the best in live entertainment, comedy and current and classic films.
- DriveInTO, a new initiative launched by the City of Toronto, will offer free drive-in film screenings in August with programming by Hot Docs, imagineNATIVE and TIFF.
- Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival, a not for profit organization that creates opportunities for young jazz artists to showcase their talent, will present a virtual jazz festival in the Trillium Park on September 5-6.
- Toronto International Film Festival will run from September 10-19, with 50 new feature films, five programmes of short films, as well as interactive talks, film cast reunions, and Q&As with cast and filmmakers tailored to fit the moment with physical screenings, digital screenings, and at drive-ins, including Ontario Place.
© The Canadian Press
