TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 08, 2016) - Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF), North America's largest commuter film festival, celebrated its 10th birthday in style with a press conference to launch this year's milestone festival at Union Station on Wednesday. TUFF 2016 Guest Judge, Toronto Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Zaib Shaikh, and TUFF Organizer & Founder Sharon Switzer were among the speakers at the conference, discussing TUFF's achievements and the importance of promoting accessible art.

"TUFF is committed to showcasing cinema that challenges the boundaries of art, film and public space," says TUFF founder and organizer Sharon Switzer. "We are proud to offer travellers a uniquely urban cinematic experience that reminds them of the culture they have access to while living and working in Toronto. TUFF wants to inspire people to re-imagine their daily commute and daily lives."

Curated from 485 submissions from 60 countries, TUFF's 10-year-anniversary edition will be screening 72 official selections from 26 countries, 31 of which are from Canada. Reaching 1.4 million people daily on PATTISON Onestop subway platform screens and an additional 16 Toronto Public Library locations throughout the duration of the festival, TUFF's 10-year anniversary programming includes the following 10 programs:

• TUFF TEN (Sept. 10): new Canadian shorts from previous TUFF award winners;

• Outta My Way! (Sept. 11): a program of shorts that highlight tenacity and perseverance;

• Waterworld (Sept. 12): an exploration of scarcity, conservation and plumbing;

• Heads Up! (Sept. 13): cautionary tales for modern times;

• Slow Your Roll (Sept. 14): a collection of reminders to slow down/take the road less traveled;

• Labelles (Sept. 15): portrayals of women as witches, wives and everything in-between;

• Twist and Shout (Sept. 16): shorts that will keep you guessing;

• Solitary (Sept. 17): yearnings for connection and kinship;

• Waking Nightmare (Sept. 18): dark visions of lost souls and raccoons defeating evil

• In addition, Too TUFF For The TTC is a program of mature shorts hosted exclusively on the TUFF website

(Toronto Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Zaib Shaikh speaks at the TUFF 10 year anniversary press conference)

"I was delighted to watch all the films in this year's TUFF," said TUFF 2016 Guest Judge, Toronto Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Zaib Shaikh. "The range of subjects and styles were vast: from rough and ready to commercial and polished. The best films demonstrated an urgent reason to communicate along with the technique to support it," said Shaikh. "Viewers are sure to be captivated."

TUFF is produced by PATTISON Onestop, co-produced by Art for Commuters, and supported by the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Public Library. All TUFF films can be seen online and viewers are encouraged to cast their votes for the Viewers' Choice Award from September 10 to 18 at www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com.

About Toronto Urban Film Festival -- www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com | @TUFFest

North America's first, largest, and longest running subway film festival, the Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF), features silent, 60-second film video and animation from across the globe. Reaching more than one million daily commuters on subway platform screens across the Toronto transit system, TUFF blurs the line between art and reality within the utilitarian setting of public transit every September.