TORONTO — As the official airline of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Air France wasn’t going to let a surprise downpour dampen spirits on opening day. Under the shelter of umbrellas and a four-metre Eiffel Tower replica, the airline kicked off film festivities yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at a pop-up Parisian bistro on King Street.

This marks the first time Air France has been named a sponsor of TIFF, which Roland Coppens, Commercial Director Canada, says perfectly aligns with the vision of Air France.

“Cinema is very dear to Air France,” he said. “Air France operates one of the largest movie theatres in the world on the 38,000 personal screens that equip our long-haul fleet, with up to 1,200 hours of video on demand. It’s a great feeling to be part of one of Toronto’s premier festivals.”

Cinema has been an essential part of Air France’s history, ever since it screened its first in-flight film in 1966. Furthermore, in partnering with the festival, the airline has shone the spotlight on France’s love affair with film; an average of 10 films are shot in Paris each day, and 100 international productions each year.

Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, was also in attendance to lend its support. “We are glad to be supporting Air France with the ‘Air Bistro Paris’, and we hope to see a lot of festival-goers there,” said Mélanie Paul-Hus, Director for Canada. “France is the cradle of the cinematic arts. Its capital, Paris, brims with cultural sites that both filmmakers and travellers draw inspiration from.”

To help launch the festival, Air France announced a new contest that gives visitors the chance to win one of two upscale stays in France. The ‘Win a Trip to Cannes 2018’ includes two Business-class tickets from Toronto to Nice on Air France, one night at The Carlton Cannes hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a seven-night stay at Club Med’s Opio Resort in Provence from May 5-12, 2018. The prize also includes attending a 2018 International Cannes Film Festival Gala.

The second giveaway, ‘#ParisJetaime’ trip, includes Business class tickets to Paris with Air France, a five-night stay at the four-star Secret de Paris hotel with breakfast, dinner for two at the two-Michelin-star La Réserve Paris hotel’s Le Gabriel, two-day Paris Museum Passes courtesy of the Paris tourism office, and a visit to the famous Harcourt Studios in Paris.

Entries will be accepted online at france-prestige.ca.

Coppens also announced that effective Nov. 20, travellers on Air France’s daily service out of Toronto Pearson to Paris-Charles de Gaulle will fly aboard a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft comes equipped with 30 Business cabin seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 225 Economy seats.

Air France’s Air Bistro Paris will remain on King Street until Sept. 10. The 42nd edition of TIFF will run until Sept. 17.

For more information go to airfrance.ca.