The Aporia · Cineastes scoff as some Toronto Film Festival screenings allowed — gasp!

Cineastes scoff as some Toronto Film Festival screenings allowed — gasp! — cell phones and TikTok is a sponsor

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Cineastes scoff as some Toronto Film Festival screenings allowed — gasp! — cell phones and TikTok is a sponsor. (2026, September 21). New York Post. https://pagesix.com/2026/09/21/hollywood/netflix-is-first-streamer-to-win-toronto-film-festival/

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The Toronto International Film Festival has faced criticism for its embrace of streaming services and modern technology, including allowing cell phone use during some screenings and featuring TikTok as a sponsor. Netflix's "La Bola Negra" won the People’s Choice Award, marking the first time a streaming title claimed TIFF's top prize. The festival also attracted complaints about its market section, which some industry insiders described as having more sellers than buyers and lacking the prestige of other film markets like the American Film Market in Los Angeles.

Written by AI on 2026-09-21, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

The Toronto International Film Festival has faced criticism this year over perceived changes to its traditional prestige. One notable event was Netflix's film "La Bola Negra" winning the People’s Choice Award, marking the first streaming title to claim TIFF's top prize. Some exhibitors like AMC and Cineplex have previously refused to release Netflix films due to their short theatrical windows, but "La Bola Negra" will get a 47-day exclusive run before hitting the platform, though this is still shorter than Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which will enjoy 123 days in theaters. Additionally, "La Bola Negra," which premiered at Cannes in May and was acquired by Netflix out of that festival, further highlights TIFF's shift from being a primary launchpad for Oscar contenders. On a different note, the festival permitted phones and texting during some screenings, signaling changes to attendee norms that some critics see as undermining TIFF’s exclusivity and appeal to cineastes.

Written for “Toronto Film Festival Cell Phone Policy” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Which films are Oscar frontrunners coming off fall festival circuit as TIFF wraps with ‘La Bola Negra’ winning top honor Different event

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“Article A discusses films and their Oscar prospects after festivals, while Article B focuses on changes at TIFF regarding cell phone use and Netflix's 'La Bola Negra' winning the People's Choice Award.”

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Has the Toronto International Film Festival lost its standing as a premier showcase and launchpad for cinema? asserted

Festival → lose → cinema

For one thing, Netflix’s “La Bola Negra” nabbed the People’s Choice Award, marking the first ever streaming title to win the festival’s top prize. asserted

Negra → nab → prize

Some exhibitors like AMC (in the past) and Cineplex (present) have refused to release Netflix films due to the distributor’s short or nonexistent theatrical windows, (even if “La Bola Negra” will get a 47-day exclusive run before hitting the platform). asserted

Negra → refuse → platform

The Spanish film might represent Netflix’s longest window ever, but it’s not nearly the same flex as Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which will enjoy 123 days at the multiplex before landing on home entertainment platforms. uncertain

which → represent → platforms

The fact that “La Bola Negra,” which follows the overlapping lives of three gay men from the 1930s to 2017, already made its world premiere in Cannes back in May also underscores the idea that TIFF is ceding ground as a first stop for an Oscar hopeful. uncertain

TIFF → follow → hopeful

(Netflix bought the film out of Cannes.) asserted

Netflix → buy → Cannes

On the ground in Toronto, other signs abounded that the festival isn’t quite simpatico with cineastes: TIFF permitted phones and texting in some theaters for its market section. asserted

TIFF → abound → section

Ahead of a market screening of Ira Sachs’ “The Man I Love,” a notice flashed onscreen that “limited use of devices for email and texting purposes is allowed,” and asked that those iPhone addicts “be courteous to other members of the audience by keeping device usage to a minimum and [keep] the sound off.” asserted

addicts → love → sound

A TIFF rep referred us to a TIFF Market rep, who did not respond for a request for comment. asserted

who → refer → comment

Other industryites were put off by the can’t-miss-it TikTok branding on display at the festival. asserted

industryites → put → festival

Films screening in the Special Presentations sidebar received the obligatory “Presented by TikTok” during the introductions, which elicited groans. asserted

which → screen → groans

The much-ballyhooed inaugural TIFF Market did little to allay fears that the fest is hurting. asserted

fest → ballyhoo → fears

One director with a hot film for sale described it as “a thousand sellers and zero buyers, and the sellers were all randos.” asserted

sellers → describe → sellers

But Market head Charles Tremblay dubbed the new venture a success because it attracted “7,000 registered delegates from every corner of the world.” asserted

it → dub → world

Still, another top agent called it, “a step below” the lowbrow American Film Market in LA, “which is saying a lot.” asserted

which → call → lot

Debut movies that did break out at the fest as Oscar contenders included “I Play Rocky.” asserted

I → break → Rocky

Cineastes scoff as some Toronto Film Festival screenings allowed — gasp! — cell phones and TikTok is a sponsor

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