The TIFF Market has announced the first slate of projects for its inaugural Innovation Centre, a new section of programming dedicated to virtual reality, mixed reality and other immersive formats, presented by the Canadian Media Fund.
The first TIFF Market takes place September 10-16 alongside the 2026 Toronto Film Festival (September 10-20).
The Hub’s eight selected projects come from creators based in Canada, France, Denmark, the US, Germany, Belgium, Taiwan, Greenland and the Netherlands, and include a mix of world, international, North American and Canadian premieres. A nine-member committee reviewed applications for the inaugural program.
Projects include interactive explorations of indigenous culture, including Makwak: Now goodfrom Quantum Wampum/James Monkman Studio in Canada. The 360-degree interactive display installation, which draws on Cree cosmology to create a space for contemplation of the relationships between water, land and memory, will make its world debut at the TIFF Market Show.
Tartopaluka virtual reality piece by renowned Canadian-Greenlandic artist Lakolok Williamson, takes place on a small island in the Arctic within the territorial waters of both countries. Designed as a tour of a fictional republic, it invites participants to gain citizenship among a community the project describes as a nation of Arctic lovers, and examines the island’s history of competing territorial claims. It will be distributed by Hubblo and will have its world premiere at TIFF.
Other highlights include Lesbian simulationfrom Dutch director Iris van der Meul, is a VR video game centered around a character’s same-sex experiences and focusing on themes of sex, love, and discrimination. and The clouds are two thousand meters highfrom Taiwanese director Singing Chen, is a large-scale, single-user virtual reality experience, based on a story by Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi. The film revolves around a man processing his wife’s death through her unfinished novel. Both will have their Canadian premiere at the TIFF Innovation Hub.
The goal of this section is to give buyers a look at projects that combine new production methods with formats that go beyond traditional film and television, said Charles Tremblay, TIFF market president. “For buyers, it is an excellent opportunity to discover pioneering projects that transcend forms and boundaries and offer the high entertainment value that the public is looking for.”
“These eight projects are the perfect complement to a diverse lineup of market programming that elevates conversations about the future of global content,” added Jeff McNaughton, TIFF’s vice president of market and theater programming.
The Innovation Hub is part of Toronto’s ambitious TIFF Marketplace, which bills itself as an official platform for film and television projects as well as IP sales and immersive and innovative content across all platforms. The Innovation Hub will be located on the 200th floor of the Metro Toronto Convention Center and will be open to registered delegates for the duration of the seven-day market.
In addition to the fixtures, the market will hold a speaker summit featuring pivotal creators discussing their projects, along with panels on adapting intellectual property across multiple formats.
Hollywood Reporter It is the official media partner of the Innovation Center.
The full list of Innovation Center selections is below:
Makwak: Now good (Quantum Wampum/James Monkman Studio, Canada) – 360-degree interactive and immersive display; World premiere.
Tartopaluk (Lakulok Williamson/Cintella/Nation of Lovers Productions/Ánorâk Film; Canada, Greenland, Denmark) — Virtual Reality; World premiere.
The big picture – lunch on top of a skyscraper (Chloé Rochwell/Targoux; France) – Virtual Reality; World premiere.
Interstellar arc (Felix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphael/Felix and Paul Studios; Canada) – Free-roaming in virtual reality; International premiere.
Lesbian simulation (Iris van der Meul/Studio Biarritz/Art It Essay/Teamscapes/Podium Biarritz; Netherlands, Canada, Belgium) – Virtual Reality; Canadian premiere.
Solwata (Felix Gaedtke and Gayatri Parameswaran/Human Rights Watch/NowHere Media/AGOG; United States) – Mixed reality installation; Premiere in North America.
Body agent (Tender Claws; US) – AI glasses; Canadian premiere.
The clouds are two thousand meters high (Singing Chen; Taiwan, Germany) – Large-scale free-roaming VR; Canadian premiere.
