TIFF 2016: Television goes beyond film's boundaries

Television is back atthe Toronto International Film Festival for its sophomore year and while TIFFis shining a big screen spotlight on "episodic storytelling"one local TV directorsays he's not feeling the heat thathe normally does whenshowcasing a movie.

Matt Johnson is no stranger to film festivals. The co-creator and director of the TV seriesNirvannathe band the showattendedSundanceearlier this year for the premiere of his conspiracy thriller film,Operation Avalancheandthreeyears agohis award-winning independent film,The DirtiesstoleSlamdanceFilm Festival.

Now back on the red carpetthis time in his hometown for aTV seriesthe 31-year-old says he isn't"trying to garner the same type of attention because television doesn't need to live up to the same sort of commercial standards that films do."

The difference is distribution

Nirvannathe band the showis airing on Viceland in Januaryand was picked up by Vice Mediaprior to the festival. The show is arevamped version of Johnson'scult-hit web series about a Toronto band who will do anything to play a show at The Rivoli.

Other series in this year's program like Shomi's comedy Transparent, Channel 4's British sci-fi series Black Mirror premiering on Netflix next month, Wajibu Wetu programme's Tuko Macho a web series produced by the Nest Collective and set in Nairobi, Kenya, and HBO's mini series, Wasteland all have distributors too.

Distribution makes all the difference according toJohnson. Many films atTIFF are feeling the pressure to find distributors, while shows like newcomerNirvannathe band the showdon't have to worry about that.

"It's actually more fun because there's no stress.We aren't trying to sell this TVshow," saidJohnson.

Despite the security that comes with going into TIFF with a distributor, creators say having the opportunity to showcase their series at the festivalis still important.

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"TIFF is doing a good job at representing the culture of television," saidJay McCarrol, co-creator of Nirvannathe band the show. "TV is such a huge thing right now in the world. TV does, I think for a lot of people, a lot more than what movies cando these days."

While the lines continue to blur between the television and film worlds, TIFF's CEO and director, Piers Handling says some of the most interesting work he's seen is being done inlong-formtelevision.

"We sawthat trend and wanted to follow the filmmakers, traditional filmmakers when they start to move in different directions," he told CBC News about the inclusion of TV throughthe festival's Primetime program.

"I think it allows filmmakers a freedom, and a form, a length, an extension where you can actually take on big subjects. 10 hours, 20 hours, 30 hours of longform television. So it allows you to tackle subjects that arevery different from a feature film."

Movie stars like Bryce Dallas Howardhavestartedto follow filmmakers to the small screen as well.

"I have never done any television and this is a remarkable experience because it feels very movie-like because it's an anthology," said Howard, who stars in the third season of Black Mirror.

"Each episode in the series stands alone. So we felt like we were making a movie the whole time."

The five television series showcasedin this year's Primetimeprogram cross many different genres of television.

Johnson says his"feels like the television that happens when all the parents are asleep and the young people go in, take the equipment and make the show." So the director says having a spot in this year's lineup was a big deal.

"This is our hometown and we're showing this very Toronto-centric show to a Toronto audience for the first time, and that I think is really cushioning it," he said about hiscomedic "mockumentary."

"One of the big dreams for Jay (McCarrol) and I ever since we started working together was to be able to present content about Toronto to people from Toronto and see what they thought and its blown away our expectations and TIFF has been a big part of that."