Oscar voters have a strong preference for dramas, but at the Toronto International Film Festival, dramas were overshadowed by behind-the-scenes troubles in the genre. The festival, known for launching movies into award season contention, opened with the Charles Darwin drama "Creation" seeking a distributor. Many of the festival's 330 films lacked distribution, including titles like "Chloe" and "Dorian Gray." With audiences favoring escapism and comedies during the recession, distributors are focusing on those genres, leaving serious dramas struggling to find support. According to industry insiders, fans of high-quality dramas still exist and the genre is not dead. They believe the issue is more related to marketing and cost rather than a lack of creative content. However, filmmakers are facing challenges, even with successful movies like "No Country for Old Men" in 2007. Director Jon Amiel, known for his film "Creation" about Charles Darwin, described "drama" as a difficult genre in Hollywood currently. He mentioned that even indie distributors are not enthusiastic about buying films that focus on obscure historical figures like a deceased, bald Englishman. There are numerous movies that American viewers will not have the chance to see, as evident by the decreasing interest at box offices. Two notable successes in the art house category this summer were "The Hurt Locker" and "(500) Days of Summer," with the former earning $12 million and the latter earning roughly $29 million. Entertainment attorney Steven Beer from Greenberg Traurig noted that there is a prevailing conservative mindset in the industry, with dramas being perceived as risky ventures in the current market. Industry experts believe that dramas can attract fans and be profitable, but the key is to create a suitable production and marketing strategy that fits the current movie industry landscape. Many successful marketing campaigns target specific groups, such as science and period piece enthusiasts for films like "Creation." Due to decreased box office and DVD sales, production costs need to be decreased. Tough movies like these will continue to face challenges in the industry. "In a challenging economic environment that is becoming even more difficult, industry experts believe that the models for distributing films need to be adjusted," stated Tom Ortenberg, who is the president of theatrical films at The Weinstein Co. David Poland, an industry analyst from MovieCityNews.com, pointed out that the decline in DVD sales has played a significant role in distributors hesitating to support expensive dramas. However, experts agree that there is still a demand for this genre. Despite this, distributors are being more selective when considering dramas, which may limit the potential for a breakout film like "Slumdog" from Toronto 2009. Tom Bernard, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, noted that buyers at Toronto are now more cautious than in the past, signaling a shift in the industry.