Toronto International Film Festival

Students will travel as a group by bus to Toronto, Ontario, Canada a center for Canadian and international film, television, and media industries and the location for North American’s most prestigious film festival. Students are introduced to contemporary trends in global cinema, foster an understanding of the business operations and cultural activities of TIFF and explore pathways towards successful creative careers in the media industries.

Students spend the first day in Toronto getting oriented to the area and festival locations, pick up film badges and tour the local neighborhood. In the following days, students will attend Industry Conference panels, festival screenings and networking events.

Following the program, students return to Michigan from Toronto.

Requirements: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Students who don’t meet the GPA requirement may still be eligible and should speak with OU’s International Education Office prior to applying.

Course: FLM 3910: Toronto International Film Festival (4 credits). Students enroll in this course taught in the Fall semester.

The course is taught by OU faculty and consists study abroad trip to Toronto and lectures.

As part of the study abroad students will complete festival-based assignments with the opportunity to contextualize and reflect upon their experiences during and after the trip festival. 

After the first day or two of the festival, students will be encouraged to structure their own festival experience based on their interests as well as course assignments and activities. 

In addition to instruction time during the TIFF trip, the course will have a few in-person meetings throughout the semester during the designated class meeting for lecture and discussion.

Students will stay in the heart of Toronto at the HI-Toronto Hostel in dormitory-style rooms. Many of the festival’s activities, held at the Bell Lightbox, are only a five-minute walk from the hostel. The hostel is close to shopping, mass transportation and eateries.

Some meals are included in the program fee. Students can explore an array of nearby restaurants, cafes and pubs independent of included meals.

Cuisine in Toronto is varied and tasty: from Peameal Bacon sandwich and poutine, to Ketchup chips, Nanaimo bars, and butter tarts.

Tuition: 4 Credits

You will be charged for these credits on your eBill at your normal rate of tuition.

Program Fee: $1,500

To be paid to OU on our MarketPlace payment system and includes: Round trip bus transportation, housing and some meals, local transportation and all excursions while in Toronto, and health insurance.

Additional Costs: $525

You will need additional funds for these expenses not covered by program fee. Amounts are estimated.
Meals: $250
Incidental personal expenses: $100
Passport (if you don't have one): $175

Scholarships and Financial Aid: You are able to use financial aid to cover your full cost of attendance to this program (tuition, program fee and additional costs). Scholarships are also available through your study abroad application.