American Friends of TIFF

The American Friends of the Toronto International Film Festival work alongside the organization’s leadership in their mission to transform the way people see the world through film.

TIFF helps bring the power of film to life, 365 days a year in Canada through screenings, discussions, festivals, workshops, professional development and opportunities to meet, hear and learn from filmmakers from around the world.

The American Friends of the Toronto International Film Festival supports the festival leadership in its mission to transform the way people see the world through film. Donors and members of American Friends of TIFF provide an opportunity to further TIFF's mission and impact on the arts through our 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.

Join us today by making a donation or becoming a member.

WHO WE ARE

TIFF: Bringing the power of film to life, 365 days a year

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June 8, 2026

American Friends in NYC

Official Residence of Canada in New York

Connecting film lovers on the East Coast! Our New York event brought TIFF donors, members, and vibrant creators together for an energetic evening of lively discussions, networking, and celebrating high-impact global cinema.

April 7, 2026

American Friends in LA

Official Residence of Canada in Los Angeles

Celebrating stories on the West Coast! From inspiring conversations to connecting with fellow arts patrons, our LA gathering showcased the fun, engaging community of American donors and film professionals helping drive TIFF's mission forward.

RECENT EVENTS

Engaging American philanthropists and entertainment professionals from across the USA

Celebrating stories, networking and driving TIFF's mission forward at events throughout the year.

September 6, 2025

American Friends in Toronto

Convivium

Our host committee of industry leaders Marcus Hu, Laura Kim, Deborah McIntosh, John Sloss and Ryan Wener joined TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and 75 American guests to celebrate TIFF's 50th Edition.

SINCE 2010 TIFF Lightbox

Opened in 2010, TIFF Lightbox is a film and cultural center in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada. The Lightbox features five cinemas, two bars, two restaurants, a gift shop, film studios, a rooftop terrace, a film reference library, administrative offices and learning studios. It is the centrepiece of the annual Toronto International Film Festival, held for over 50 years, and features year-round programming, as well as hosting partner festivals. TIFF Lightbox welcomes roughly 1 million visitors annually across its cinemas, learning studios, reference library, and other spaces.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK

How American Friends support TIFF

Over the past 20 years, the generous support of American donors, members and sponsors has enabled the following major projects:

SINCE 2023 Breakthroughs: Sloan Science on Screen Program

Since 2023, TIFF has partnered with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to celebrate stories at the intersection of science and art. Supported by Sloan's Public Understanding of Science and Technology program, this partnership funds three vital initiatives: the Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch, the Writer Fellowship, and the Sloan Science on Film Showcase—bridging the humanities and scientific discovery for broad audiences. Click here to find out more!

SINCE 2024 Every Story

Since 2024 the Perry Foundation has supported Every Story, a program dedicated to transforming the film industry by breaking down systemic barriers for equity-seeking creators—including Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, and women filmmakers. Together, TIFF and the Perry Foundation empower diverse voices through expanded talent development, year-round mentorship, and accessible programming that connects underrepresented storytellers with global audiences.

SINCE 2017 Share Her Journey

Share Her Journey began in 2017 as a five-year campaign to address gender parity and champion women in front of and behind the camera, both year-round and during the Toronto International Film Festival. It has since evolved into a permanent TIFF impact initiative. Today, Share Her Journey is TIFF's year-round platform for advancing the visibility, opportunity, and long-term influence of women creators in screen-based storytelling. Through creator support, public programming, ambassador engagement, and community-building, it helps more women build careers, advance projects, and shape the stories that inspire audiences around the world. Through their memberships and donations, Americans have supported this program for a decade.