Smoke-Free Movies

Toronto International Film Festival

Durham Youth

In order to obtain a policy change within the Ontario Film Review Board, it is vital to raise public awareness and gather support. To achieve this awareness, groups of students from Ontario communities have been mobilized to attend the Toronto International Film Festival and educate film goers about the importance of smoke-free movies.

In Action

Youth groups from the City of Hamilton and Durham Region attended the 2005 Film Festival and raised awareness by asking movie goers to count the amount of tobacco in the new films.  In 2006, Oshawa Youth Action Alliance held another demonstration.  Essentially the idea was to show up on the red carpet and let the stars, directors and movie producers know how tobacco depictions on screen affect youth. 

At the 2006 Toronto Film Festival

Prior to the red carpet, information cards were distributed to ticket holders who would be viewing the film.  Post red carpet, the youth handed out information cards to people milling about the trendy theatre district.

Once again, on Sept 8, 2007 the youth demonstrated at the Toronto International Film Festival to further build support for rating movies 18A that feature tobacco depiction.

With further media attention, comes greater public understanding of the issue. With further understanding comes further support.