TIFF cuts 12 full-time staff members, cites pandemic and SAG-AFTRA strike as factors | CBC News

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) shed 12 full-time staff members across various departments in a restructuring on Thursday.

Judy Lung, TIFF’s vice-president of public relations and communications, cites setbacks from the pandemic and this year’s Hollywood strikes as factors.

The cuts come three months after TIFF hosted a diminished edition of its annual September film showcase that lacked its usual star power due to the actors’ strike.

The non-profit is also set to lose Bell as its leading sponsor at the end of this year.

TIFF says it is conducting a “strategic review” of its business model in order to enhance its year-round and festival operations, with restructuring part of the initiative.

Lung says TIFF values the work of the individuals cut and thanks them for their contributions to the organization.

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“Like many in the arts and entertainment sector, we are continuing to recover from the pandemic as well as the setback of this year’s SAG-AFTRA strike. We have undertaken a strategic review of our business and put in place measures that will optimize our year-round and festival operations and offerings to better serve our stakeholders,” Lung said in a statement Thursday.

“This includes refocusing our resources and restructuring some departments, which has impacted 12 full-time staff members.”