"The Tree of Cinema" Installation Brought Film History and Its Audiences Together at TIFF 2026
TORONTO - Oct. 18, 2026 - PRLog -- Created exclusively for TIFF at the festival's invitation, "The Tree of Cinema" by Toronto-based artists Yury Goncharov and Alina Tacmelova marked the opening of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The installation appeared on Festival Street near Roy Thomson Hall from September 10–13.
Standing 11 feet tall with a nine-foot-wide canopy, the sculpture reimagines a tree through the materials and imagery of filmmaking. Its patinated steel trunk evokes cinema's industrial foundations. Hundreds of flowing strips resembling film combine recognizable cinematic moments with photographs of audiences watching, gathering, laughing, crying, and reflecting.
Drawing on the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, the work explores how stories and experiences pass between generations. It also takes inspiration from Agnès Varda's human approach to memory, everyday life, and filmmaking.
"We wanted to give physical form to something that usually remains invisible: what people carry with them after a film ends," the artists explain.
Visitors could walk around and beneath the canopy, entering a structure that celebrates cinema as a shared experience. As films are increasingly watched alone on personal screens, the installation highlighted the social ritual of strangers gathering around the same story. Festival Street audiences responded enthusiastically, while TIFF organizers noted its emotional connection with viewers.
Art critic and AICA member Julia Sysalova observed that placing spectators alongside film imagery gives audiences a visible role in cinematic history, turning the act of looking into a spatial encounter.
Goncharov contributed sculptural thinking, engineering, and material experimentation; Tacmelova brought research into memory, human connection, and participation. Toronto-area studio Custom Engineered Arts fabricated the installation, translating the concept into a large-scale sculpture. Following its Festival Street presentation, the work will move to TIFF Lightbox, the festival's year-round Toronto home.
About the Artists
Yury Goncharov, born in Ukraine and based in Toronto, works across sculpture, collectible design, and public installation. His work has appeared at Isola Design Festival and Good Selection during Milan Design Week, the Interior Design Show Toronto, and DesignTO Festival.
Alina Tacmelova is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist and documentary filmmaker working across installation, moving image, and performance. Her film Pearls of Memories won Best Experimental Film at the 2026 Swedish International Film Festival and received an Honorable Mention in the Best Inspirational Film category at WSXA Paris in 2026.
[email protected]
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Source: Alina Tacmelova and Yury Goncharov
Read Full Story - "The Tree of Cinema" Installation Brought Film History and Its Audiences Together at TIFF 2026 | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
FC Goa Suffer Late Defeat To Regar-TadAZ In AFC Challenge League Opener
FC Regar-TadAZ of Tajikistan came from behind to defeat FC Goa 2-1 in the opening match in Group C of the AFC Challenge League 2026-27 at the Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium.
Chelsea Keeper Emiliano Martinez 'Back In A Few Weeks' After Jaw Fracture
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he would be fit to return "in a few weeks" following surgery on a fractured jaw sustained during his team's 2-0 Premier League win at Everton.
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Welcomes Athletes As Asian Para Games Open
As the Asian Para Games opening ceremony gets underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed all the athletes and officials from across Asia.
Sent Home, Stripped Of Captaincy: Pakistan Star Smashes Statement Century vs Sri Lanka
Salman Ali Agha, who was recently stripped of the T20I captaincy, slammed 107 off just 90 balls to lead Pakistan's charge in an otherwise disappointing batting display.
IND-W vs ZIM-W Live Score, 2nd T20I: India strike as Zimbabwe lose early wickets
India women vs vs Zimbabwe women Live Score, 2nd T20I: India have already won the first game against Zimbabwe. In fact, the ongoing T20I series is the first-ever between the two nations.
Aussies survives dramatic collapse to beat New Zealand in first women's T20
Australia survives a scare to down New Zealand by two wickets in the first T20 at North Sydney Oval.
"That’s Gotta Be AI": UFC Star Joaquin Buckley Faces Painful Reality After Mike Malott KO
Joaquin Buckley has shared a stunned reaction after watching his second-round knockout loss to Mike Malott at UFC Edmonton. Malott landed a devastating knee in front of a home crowd, handing Buckley a third straight defeat.
"There's Definitely A Reason": Dana White Breaks Silence On UFC Cutting 16-0 Farid Basharat
Dana White has hinted there was “definitely a reason” behind the UFC’s decision not to re-sign undefeated bantamweight Farid Basharat. The 16-0 fighter left with a 7-0 Octagon record after his contract expired.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score Updates, ODI Tri-Series
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score, ODI Tri-Series 2026: Former Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha smashed a century to power Pakistan to 305/8 against Sri Lanka in their ODI tri-series opener in Rawalpindi.
Britain's only female boxing referee faces backlash as she REFUSES to accept fighter's towel being thrown in twice - moments before technical knockout by a brutal headshot at the O2 Arena
It is the best-known sign of submission in sport - but a boxing referee at the O2 Arena on Saturday night twice refused to accept a heavyweight fighter 'throwing in the towel'.
Revealed: The day Roy Keane squared up to poppy protest footballer James McClean in half-time f-word rant about his photo with an Irish boxer
McClean won 103 caps for his country between 2012 and 2023, and came across Keane while the former Man United hardman was assistant manager to Martin O'Neill from 2013 to 2018.
Zac Purton hopes My Wish can stamp himself as Hong Kong’s top miler in Sha Tin Trophy
Bidding to bounce back from a heartbreaking The Everest defeat on Ka Ying Rising, Zac Purton has high hopes My Wish can take a step towards becoming Hong Kong’s top miler when he returns in Monday’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m). Purton will take his first race ride on the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish, who has trialled impressively under the champion jockey in preparation for his seasonal reappearance. Last season’s Group One Champions Mile victor has won each of his three dirt trials,...
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.
About Us
Everybody can’t get enough of sports be it football, rugby, cricket even athletics. From local cup to super cup to world cup, there’s enough sports to be enjoyed every minute of every day
News
