[1] Showcasing a program of Canadian independent films,[2] it is held in March of each year and usually runs for five days.

The festival was launched in 2004, and ran annually until 2008 at the Royal Cinema.

It serves commonly, but not exclusively, as the Toronto premiere venue for films which premiered elsewhere on the Canadian or international film festival circuits in the previous year but have not yet screened in Toronto, although it also serves as the premiere venue for some films.

The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada; instead, the organizers partnered with the pay TV service Super Channel to provide television and streaming broadcasts of the films that had been slated to screen at the festival.

However, the films were still screened for the jury, and remained eligible for the festival awards.