TIFF Announces $9.5 Million Boost to TIFF Bell Lightbox Campaign

Organization has achieved nearly 90% of its total fundraising goal

TORONTO – Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF today announced $9.5 million in partnerships and gifts to support the TIFF Bell Lightbox Campaign. Today’s announcement brings the total amount raised to date to $171 million, representing nearly 90 percent of the organization’s total fundraising goal of $196 million. The organization’s focus over the next few months will be raising the remaining $12.8 million needed to complete the capital target of the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign.

“I am delighted to announce that the first six months of this year have really given us significant momentum as we move into our final push to complete the blended TIFF Bell Lightbox fundraising campaign,” said Handling. “We are very fortunate to see a number of long-time friends and supporters of TIFF step forward to support the future of our organization and these partnerships and gifts would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of John Tory, our Campaign Chair, our Board of Directors, the Campaign Volunteer Cabinet and Staff.”

TIFF is pleased to announce that BlackBerry (RIM) has joined Bell and RBC as a Major Sponsor of the Festival and TIFF Bell Lightbox. As part of the multi-year partnership, BlackBerry will name and activate the Lounge - a social gathering place for film lovers located on the second floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox next to the three largest cinemas.

 We are also thrilled to announce that The Daniels Corporation has made an additional contribution to the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign. TIFF's relationship with Daniels began in 1976 when John Daniels provided initial seed money to launch the Festival of Festivals.  In 2007, we announced that King and John Festival Corporation, comprised of The Daniels Corporation and Ivan Reitman's family, had made a gift in the amount of $22 million.  We are very proud to announce an extended partnership with The Daniels Corporation, bringing us closer to our goals.

 Mackenzie Financial Corporation has provided a generous gift to help with the capital expenditures of TIFF Bell Lightbox, as part of its philanthropic mandate of investing in organizations and programs aimed at helping communities across Canada. Mackenzie's gift will help build a unique and eagerly anticipated film destination for people of all ages and backgrounds. In recognition of their generosity, the stages in two TIFF Bell Lightbox cinemas will be named by Mackenzie.

 A number of generous individuals have made leadership gifts to the campaign, including Chetan and Clara Mathur who are naming the stage in Cinema Four "The Berlin Mathur Stage" in honour of their daughter and Mr. Mathur's father.

 The remaining $8 million in operating funding is also expected to be raised in 2010. After the official opening in September 2010, the remaining $4 million in endowment gifts will be the focus for the next phase of the campaign.

About TIFF Bell Lightbox:

Currently under construction, TIFF Bell Lightbox, a breathtaking five-storey complex located in downtown Toronto, will provide a permanent home for film lovers to celebrate cinema from around the world and will propel TIFF forward as an international leader in film culture. Designed by innovative architecture firm KPMB, TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fluid structure encourages exploration, movement and play. The campaign to build TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by founding  sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the King and John Festival Corporation - consisting of the Reitman family and the Daniels Corporation – RBC as major sponsor and official bank, Visa†, the Copyright Collective of Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, NBC Universal Canada, the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the Harbinger Foundation, CIBC and BMO. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals and corporations have also contributed to the campaign. For more information on the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign, visit belllightbox.ca.

About TIFF:

TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. TIFF generates an annual economic impact of $135 million CAD and currently employs more than 100 full-time staff and 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and counts upon the largesse of over 2,000 volunteers year-round.

TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and Blackberry, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto.

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