TIFF Director Kerri Craddock on Netflix, Youth Engagement, and the Future of Film Festivals

In an interview with Artribune, Kerri Craddock, director of programming for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), addressed the festival's stance on streaming platforms like Netflix amid the Cannes controversy. Craddock stated that TIFF evaluates films solely on merit, not distribution models, and that limiting audience access based on release windows would deprive viewers of worthy cinema. She cited Bong Joon-ho's 'Okja' as an example of a Netflix film that TIFF was eager to screen. Regarding youth engagement, Craddock explained that TIFF's Next Wave Committee—a group of 12 high school students—selects 10-15 films for audiences aged 14-25, with discounted weekday tickets for those under 25. The festival also programs 3-5 family films. On the future of festivals, Craddock argued that as long as people make films and curators select them, festivals will exist, offering a unique communal experience distinct from home viewing. She emphasized that festivals must remain relevant and lead cultural conversations. The interview was conducted by Margherita Bordino and published in Artribune Magazine #44.