The Review/ Video/
Cannes Critics Week Panel
In celebration of Cannes' Critics Week's 50th anniversary, four film critics participated in a panel discussion focusing on the shifting definition of film criticism.
As part of a larger celebration of Semaine de la Critique's (Cannes Critics Week) fiftieth anniversary at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Higher Learning invited post-secondary students and faculty to take part in a panel discussion with four film critics. Reacting to a wave of layoffs of celebrated film critics, the panel weighed in on the recent marginalization of film criticism as a profession. Each critic considered how their engagement with film criticism has changed over the years, from writing for print publications to the current trend of online criticism and film blogging. At a time when the definition of film criticism is under re-evaluation, the panel reflected on the history of film criticism, while also offering guidance for a new generation of film critics. Other topics included: how each critic embarked upon their career, the difference between reviewing a film and critiquing a film, subjectivity vs. objectivity in forming opinions, the influence of colleagues' judgments, and how commercial interests can sway the opinion of critics. A Q&A session with the Higher Learning audience followed the panel discussion. This Higher Learning event was held on January 20, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
The event was co-presented with the Consulat général de France à Toronto.
Panelists include: Fabien Gaffez (film critic for France's Positif and member of the Cannes Critics Week selection committee), Peter Howell (film critic for The Toronto Star), Liam Lacey (film critic for The Globe and Mail), Jonathan Rosenbaum (author and former film critic for The Chicago Reader).
Moderated by Brad Deane, Manager of Film Programmes at TIFF Bell Lightbox.