The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), often stylized as tiff, is one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals globally, founded in 1976 as the "Festival of Festivals". It takes place annually in early September, typically starting the Thursday night after Labour Day and lasting for eleven days. The festival is known for showcasing a diverse selection of films from around the world and has become a significant platform for launching films into awards season, with its People's Choice Award often serving as an indicator of success at the Academy Awards. The organization behind TIFF also operates the TIFF Lightbox cultural centre in downtown Toronto, which serves as a permanent destination for film culture.