娱乐英语新闻:Public audience makes TIFF different: co-director

TORONTO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- For Cameron Bailey, co-director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), even though nearly 20 Chinese language films for this year's TIFF is not enough, he thinks the number could still be increased in future.

"I think that we would like more Chinese films every year," he told Xinhua in an interview during the festival, which is held from Sept. 9 to Sept. 19 this year.

"It's only very hard to choose, we are very happy to have all the film makers from China been here," said Bailey, explaining that he came to Chinese mainland in July, and saw many really good Chinese language films.

Some of the films such as "Aftershock" have made their north America premiers at TIFF, according to Bailey.

"This film has taken a very important and very painful chapter in Chinese history and crafted a beautiful story," he said, adding that "I think it's very good chance to be nominated the best foreign language film."

Compared with other film festivals, TIFF has its own unique features, said Cameron Bailey, adding that public audience makes TIFF different.

He explained that different from Venice International Film Festival, TIFF is a public festival and its major award is not jury prize, but public audience prize.

"It is very important for us that the public gets to vote on each film of the festival," he told Xinhua.

Films like "Slumdog Millionaire" make their world premier in Toronto, won the public prize and then it went on winning eight Oscar Awards.

"It's the public audience here that makes the big difference," Bailey stressed.

The other difference is the north American audience, according to Bailey. "The North American audience of course is very important to many film makers," he said.

"When you show film in Toronto predictably in front of audience, you could have good sense how the film will perform," said Bailey.

For instance, the film "King's Speech" will make the North America premiere here in Toronto, I think when the audience see it, and we will see what the chances of Academy Award, he continued.

"I think the value that Toronto offers is bigger audience and bigger prize core and opportunity to enter the North American market. If film maker who wants your film to be seen in U.S. for instance, Toronto is the place to be," concluded the TIFF co- director.

Established in 1976, TIFF has become one of the largest film festivals in north America, and generally regarded as the wind vane for the Academy Award.