As the Toronto International Film Festival prepares to kick off Thursday, it害羞草研究所檚 doing so in a changed landscape 害羞草研究所� one organizers have responded to with a few powerful additions to the usual mix of glitz and glam.

With initiatives including the Share Her Journey women害羞草研究所檚 rally, a newly created hotline and an emphasis on its code of conduct, TIFF is making it clear it害羞草研究所檚 an inclusive and safe space after the tide of sexual misconduct allegations stemming from the Harvey Weinstein scandal last fall.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e making sure that everyone who害羞草研究所檚 taking part in the festival understands that there害羞草研究所檚 a standard of behaviour, that harassment and abuse won害羞草研究所檛 be tolerated and that there are repercussions for that,害羞草研究所� says Cameron Bailey, artistic director of TIFF.

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e on our ground and there害羞草研究所檚 zero tolerance,害羞草研究所� adds Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF.

害羞草研究所淵ou will not be welcomed back if you violate any of these rules.害羞草研究所�

This is the first TIFF since the Weinstein scandal last October led to a steady stream of allegations involving many others in the industry and the establishment of the #MeToo and Time害羞草研究所檚 Up movements to end abuse.

Weinstein has been a fixture at TIFF in the past, using it for the world premiere of films that went on to Oscar glory, including 害羞草研究所淭he King害羞草研究所檚 Speech,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Imitation Game害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淟ion.害羞草研究所�

Two misconduct accusations against him, from actresses Mira Sorvino and Montreal害羞草研究所檚 Erika Rosenbaum, allegedly took place in Toronto hotel rooms during past TIFFs.

TIFF has always had a zero-tolerance harassment policy and a code of conduct, but this year those elements will be more visible through signage around the festival, says Handling. All delegates must also agree to the code of conduct in their accreditation forms, and the press package includes a reminder of it.

害羞草研究所淔or the first time we actually have a hotline, so if anybody feels that they害羞草研究所檝e been harassed and they don害羞草研究所檛 feel they can approach us, they can go to a third party,害羞草研究所� he adds.

The hotline 害羞草研究所� 1-833-265-9835 害羞草研究所� allows callers to confidentially report wrongdoing or unethical conduct.

Handling notes they害羞草研究所檝e taken badges away from delegates in the past but that was 害羞草研究所渕ore for bad behaviour.害羞草研究所�

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Perhaps the biggest symbol of solidarity at this year害羞草研究所檚 festival will be seen on Saturday with the rally by TIFF害羞草研究所檚 Share Her Journey, a five-year commitment to support women in the industry.

Speakers at the event will include Dr. Stacy L. Smith, founder and director of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, and Canadian star Mia Kirshner, who co-founded the #AfterMeToo movement.

害羞草研究所淚 think that害羞草研究所檚 a great way to have a visual of women supporting each other and standing up for what they believe in and standing up against any harassment or any roadblocks in the industry that we have,害羞草研究所� says Canadian writer-director Jasmin Mozaffari, who is at the festival this year with 害羞草研究所淔irecrackers.害羞草研究所�

Meanwhile, at a pre-rally breakfast, Bailey will pledge TIFF害羞草研究所檚 commitment to the 5050x2020 initiative that supports gender parity and inclusion in film festivals.

Such initiatives can have a big impact, say those in the industry.

害羞草研究所淚 think the most important message that kind of stuff sends is that there are groups now behind this new standard that we all have, which is that kind of Harvey Weinstein-esque behaviour is not OK and if you are going to risk acting like that, then it害羞草研究所檚 no longer one or two fringe, really brave women who are going to come out and say something 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a streetful of women,害羞草研究所� adds Nikki Saltz, winner of TIFF害羞草研究所檚 inaugural 2018 Micki Moore Residency for female screenwriters.

This year TIFF has also increased the diversity of its press corps by about 20 per cent, adding up to 200 new journalists from under-represented groups. Inclusion and diversity will also be among the topics TIFF on panels at the TIFF Industry Conference.

Handling notes TIFF has embraced diversity and supported women害羞草研究所檚 cinema from the very beginning, through programming, seminars, panels and various programs.

This year害羞草研究所檚 overall TIFF lineup has 34 per cent films by women, up from 33 per cent last year.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 like it to get to 50 per cent but I think the industry has to actually itself step to the plate,害羞草研究所� says Handling.

害羞草研究所淲e can only go so far. More women have to be behind the camera directing films, and then we害羞草研究所檒l show them.害羞草研究所�

Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press

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