The History of the Toronto International Film Festival




Thornhill, Ontario, resident Ricardo Mashregi draws on an accomplished history in US and Canadian securities trading to perform duties as president and owner of KNC Ticker Group, Inc., which he launched in 2010. Outside of his demanding career, Ricardo Mashregi enjoys a number of hobbies, including watching new and classic movies and attending film festivals. A film buff, he has attended the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) annually for the last 15 years.

Founded in 1976 as the Festival of Festivals, TIFF quickly distinguished itself as a world-class film festival. In 2012, more than 400,000 people attended TIFF to watch in excess of 370 films from 72 countries. For many major film directors and creators, TIFF provided an important setting to reach receptive audiences. Michael Moore, John Woo, and David Cronenberg all premiered films at TIFF early in their careers.

While TIFF occurs once a year, the affiliated TIFF Bell Lightbox centre encourages film appreciation and organizes exhibitions year-round in the heart of Toronto. Furthermore, several smaller programmes support TIFF’s central mission. These initiatives include the TIFF Kids International Film Festival and TIFF Cinematheque.