Connect Media Network at TIFF 2026: Hollywood Stars, Red Carpets and Stories Behind the Cinema

Jasmine Singh

Toronto — The magic of cinema came alive once again in Toronto as filmmakers, actors, industry professionals and movie lovers from around the world gathered for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026. Among those capturing the excitement, conversations and cinematic moments was Connect Media Network, with hosts and filmmakers Jasmin Singh and Mandeep Singh bringing audiences closer to the people and stories behind some of the festival’s most talked-about films.

TIFF is one of the world’s most prominent film festivals, transforming Toronto each year into a meeting place for international cinema. Beyond its screenings, the festival is known for its red carpets, filmmaker conversations, industry events and opportunities to discover films from established as well as emerging voices. For audiences, TIFF offers a window into diverse cinematic cultures; for filmmakers and industry professionals, it provides a platform to connect, collaborate and engage with the wider film community.

For Connect Media Network, TIFF 2026 became an opportunity to experience that world from multiple perspectives — from packed screenings and star-studded red carpets to conversations with filmmakers, actors, industry professionals and audiences.

Inside TIFF’s Most Talked-About Screenings

The Connect Media Network team covered screenings of several much-discussed films, including Tenzing, Mr. Nelson did you kill people, and The Man I Love. The team went beyond simply reporting on the films, speaking with actors and filmmakers and capturing their reactions and experiences surrounding the festival.

The red carpets provided another memorable dimension to the coverage. Jasmin Singh and Mandeep Singh had the opportunity to meet and interview an impressive line-up of international talent, including Tom Hiddleston, Rami Malek, Willem Dafoe, Caitriona Balfe, Geoffrey Rush and Rodney Hicks.

From quick conversations to candid red-carpet moments, Connect Media Network brought viewers closer to the personalities whose work was attracting attention at TIFF.

Beyond the Red Carpet

While the glamour of the red carpet often becomes the most visible face of a film festival, TIFF extends far beyond celebrity appearances. The Connect Media Network team also explored the TIFF Industry Market, seeking to understand the business and creative ecosystem that supports filmmaking.

The experience offered a closer look at the many layers involved in bringing a film from an idea to the screen — including the conversations, collaborations and industry relationships that take place away from the cameras and premieres.

A Closer Conversation Around Phoolan

One of the highlights of Connect Media Network’s TIFF coverage was an in-depth sit-down conversation with the team behind Phoolan, directed by Richie Mehta and starring Sneha Kumari.

Mehta spoke about his experience making the film and why the story of Phoolan is a subject that holds particular significance for him. The conversation also offered an insight into the creative thought process behind the project and the filmmaker’s approach to telling a story rooted in a complex and compelling subject.

Rishi Mehta is also widely known for the acclaimed series Delhi Crime, adding another dimension to the conversation about his evolution as a filmmaker and storyteller.

Meeting the Creators Behind YAGA

Connect Media Network also caught up with award-winning screenwriter and actor Sam Krochmal to discuss his celebrated project YAGA.

The conversation explored the project and Krochmal’s creative journey, offering viewers an opportunity to hear directly from the artist about his work. The video interview is available through the Connect Cine YouTube channel, allowing audiences to experience the conversation in full.

TIFF Through the Eyes of Moviegoers

The Connect Media Network team also turned its cameras toward the people who make a film festival truly come alive — the audience.

Interviews with TIFF attendees offered a different perspective on the festival, with the team speaking to both first-time visitors and seasoned TIFF veterans. Their experiences reflected the many reasons audiences return to the festival year after year: the films, the filmmakers, the atmosphere, the chance encounters and the feeling of being part of a global celebration of cinema.

For first-time attendees, TIFF represented discovery and excitement. For returning festivalgoers, it was an opportunity to reconnect with a familiar cinematic tradition while continuing to discover new voices and stories.

Bringing TIFF Closer to Audiences

For Connect Media Network, TIFF 2026 was more than a series of red-carpet appearances. It was an exploration of the many worlds that exist within a film festival — the artists in front of the camera, the filmmakers behind it, the industry professionals working behind the scenes and the audiences whose passion for cinema brings the entire experience together.

Through interviews, screening coverage, red-carpet moments and industry conversations, Jasmin Singh, Mandeep Singh and the Connect Media Network team documented the energy of TIFF from multiple angles.

And at TIFF 2026, Connect Media Network was there to capture those stories.