TIFF films slow to get distribution deals

DorianGray When TIFF began last Thursday, there were more films that had not yet gotten American distributors than in previous years. As of today, the sixth day of the festival, no big deals have emerged, despite the attendance of all the major studios. Films attracting most of the coverage so far have been The Men Who Stare at Goats, Up in the Air, Jennifer's Body, The Invention of Lying and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which arrived with distribution deals already in place. However, other films with huge stars in them, such as Dorian Gray starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth; Get Low starring Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray, Harry Brown starring Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer; Chloe starring Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore; and The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Paul Bettany, have not managed to score an American distributor, and if that fails to happen, they'll get at best a limited release in North America.

The recession may have a lot to do with the lack of deals happening at TIFF. Variety reports that "the old indie model -- scrape together financing and then secure a US distribution deal after a festival opening -- is becoming outmoded." However, The Hollywood Reporter says what's happening is normal: "Acquisitions at Toronto are historically slow the first weekend, as studio fare tends to occupy attention and primetime slots." Hopefully it picks up, because if the films with huge stars in them aren't landing deals, it gives little hope to smaller indie films, which often turn out to be the biggest crowd pleasers, such as Napoleon Dynamite, Juno and Slumdog Millionaire.