As the Toronto International Film Festival prepares to kick off Thursday, it鈥檚 doing so in a changed landscape 鈥� one organizers have responded to with a few powerful additions to the usual mix of glitz and glam.

With initiatives including the Share Her Journey women鈥檚 rally, a newly created hotline and an emphasis on its code of conduct, TIFF is making it clear it鈥檚 an inclusive and safe space after the tide of sexual misconduct allegations stemming from the Harvey Weinstein scandal last fall.

鈥淲e鈥檙e making sure that everyone who鈥檚 taking part in the festival understands that there鈥檚 a standard of behaviour, that harassment and abuse won鈥檛 be tolerated and that there are repercussions for that,鈥� says Cameron Bailey, artistic director of TIFF.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e on our ground and there鈥檚 zero tolerance,鈥� adds Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF.

鈥淵ou will not be welcomed back if you violate any of these rules.鈥�

This is the first TIFF since the Weinstein scandal last October led to a steady stream of allegations involving many others in the industry and the establishment of the #MeToo and Time鈥檚 Up movements to end abuse.

Weinstein has been a fixture at TIFF in the past, using it for the world premiere of films that went on to Oscar glory, including 鈥淭he King鈥檚 Speech,鈥� 鈥淭he Imitation Game鈥� and 鈥淟ion.鈥�

Two misconduct accusations against him, from actresses Mira Sorvino and Montreal鈥檚 Erika Rosenbaum, allegedly took place in Toronto hotel rooms during past TIFFs.

TIFF has always had a zero-tolerance harassment policy and a code of conduct, but this year those elements will be more visible through signage around the festival, says Handling. All delegates must also agree to the code of conduct in their accreditation forms, and the press package includes a reminder of it.

鈥淔or the first time we actually have a hotline, so if anybody feels that they鈥檝e been harassed and they don鈥檛 feel they can approach us, they can go to a third party,鈥� he adds.

The hotline 鈥� 1-833-265-9835 鈥� allows callers to confidentially report wrongdoing or unethical conduct.

Handling notes they鈥檝e taken badges away from delegates in the past but that was 鈥渕ore for bad behaviour.鈥�

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Perhaps the biggest symbol of solidarity at this year鈥檚 festival will be seen on Saturday with the rally by TIFF鈥檚 Share Her Journey, a five-year commitment to support women in the industry.

Speakers at the event will include Dr. Stacy L. Smith, founder and director of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, and Canadian star Mia Kirshner, who co-founded the #AfterMeToo movement.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a great way to have a visual of women supporting each other and standing up for what they believe in and standing up against any harassment or any roadblocks in the industry that we have,鈥� says Canadian writer-director Jasmin Mozaffari, who is at the festival this year with 鈥淔irecrackers.鈥�

Meanwhile, at a pre-rally breakfast, Bailey will pledge TIFF鈥檚 commitment to the 5050x2020 initiative that supports gender parity and inclusion in film festivals.

Such initiatives can have a big impact, say those in the industry.

鈥淚 think the most important message that kind of stuff sends is that there are groups now behind this new standard that we all have, which is that kind of Harvey Weinstein-esque behaviour is not OK and if you are going to risk acting like that, then it鈥檚 no longer one or two fringe, really brave women who are going to come out and say something 鈥� it鈥檚 a streetful of women,鈥� adds Nikki Saltz, winner of TIFF鈥檚 inaugural 2018 Micki Moore Residency for female screenwriters.

This year TIFF has also increased the diversity of its press corps by about 20 per cent, adding up to 200 new journalists from under-represented groups. Inclusion and diversity will also be among the topics TIFF on panels at the TIFF Industry Conference.

Handling notes TIFF has embraced diversity and supported women鈥檚 cinema from the very beginning, through programming, seminars, panels and various programs.

This year鈥檚 overall TIFF lineup has 34 per cent films by women, up from 33 per cent last year.

鈥淲e鈥檇 like it to get to 50 per cent but I think the industry has to actually itself step to the plate,鈥� says Handling.

鈥淲e can only go so far. More women have to be behind the camera directing films, and then we鈥檒l show them.鈥�

Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press

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