YouTube is breaking into the festival circuit, with several of the Internet video site’s content creators to be featured at an in-the-flesh-and-blood fest in the Great White North.
The Buffer Festival will be held from Nov. 8 to 10, at several Toronto theaters: TIFF Bell Lightbox, Scotiabank Theatre, Glenn Gould Studio and the Jane Mallett Theatre.
Fest organizers describe the event as a digital version of the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off this week. The Buffer Festival is being presented by Canadian YouTuber Corey Vidal and his ApprenticeA Prods., co-produced with the Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab (CFC Media Lab). Partners include YouTube, Contiki, Blue Ant Media, Canon, TIFF Next Wave Committee, Cineplex Entertainment and InsideDigital.org.
YouTube content has been incorporated into film fests before, including Sundance. And in fact, YouTube is working with TIFF to screen 40 films in its Short Cuts Canada program at YouTube.com/TIFF 24 hours after their fest premieres. But there’s never been a festival entirely dedicated to YouTube content.
Fest will include 50 feature-length shows with two different types of shows: themed screenings that highlight YouTube content across broad genres, and screenings presented by celebrity YouTubers, who are also set to premiere new content.
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“There is so much incredible content being made specifically for YouTube, and as a full-time YouTuber I am delighted to showcase some of that talent,” Vidal said in a statement.
The Internet video biz has spawned trade shows, including VidCon in Anaheim, Calif., for which YouTube was the title sponsor this year.
The full schedule for the Buffer Festival will be released Sept. 23. YouTube content creators and personalities skedded to participate include: Vidal (whose YouTube username is “coreyvidal”), The Fine Bros. (thefinebros), Charles Trippy (CTFxC), Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoollike), Craig Benzine (wheezywaiter), Grace Helbig (dailygrace), Hannah Hart (myharto), Jack Douglas (JacksFilms), Jesse Wellens (PrankvsPrank), Michael Buckley (whatthebuckshow), Peter Chao (pyrobooby), Tay Zonday (tayzonday) and ASAPScience.
Tickets are slated to go on sale Sept. 15 at $15 for individual screenings with package deals available. online at BufferFestival.com or for purchase directly from the TIFF Bell Lightbox box office.
Watch a video about the Buffer Festival:
