Toronto is buzzing in a different way this year. TIFF turning 50 isn’t just an anniversary—it’s a reminder of why this festival is still the heartbeat between filmmakers and audiences. From the morning rush on King Street to late-night debriefs outside Princess of Wales, TIFF 50 has been a celebration of bold stories, community energy, and the kind of big-tent movie love that first made me fall for this art form.
TIFF 50 at a glance
Dates: September 4–14, 2025. Opening night saluted a Canadian legend with Colin Hanks’ documentary John Candy: I Like Me; the festival is set to close with Anne Émond’s climate-tinged romantic comedy Peak Everything (Amour Apocalypse).
This year also marks Festival Street’s 10th anniversary, with free outdoor activations at David Pecaut Square extending the celebration beyond King Street’s pedestrian zone.
Red-carpet electricity & buzz titles I loved
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Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Benoit Blanc is back, darker and cheekier, with a world premiere that turned the Princess of Wales into a crime-scene of applause. Daniel Craig & an A-list ensemble (Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Josh O’Connor) delivered a crowd-pleaser with gothic edges—and serious meme potential. - Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine (dir. Benny Safdie)
This premiere drew one of the most curious cross-over audiences of the week, and Johnson opened up about his physical transformation for the role. Emily Blunt’s presence—and performance—added true dramatic ballast on and off the carpet. - Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great
Johansson’s directorial debut kept the red carpet glowing and the conversation thoughtful—especially around her casting of real Holocaust survivors—underscoring the festival’s power to platform stories with heart. - A city-wide mood
Reuters nailed it: TIFF 50 feels like a bridge—between industry and audience, stars and students, glamour and gutsy filmmaking. Programming is sprawling but purposeful, with stories ranging from ecological dread to political urgency.
Tribute Awards: who the festival celebrated this year
TIFF’s Tribute Awards remain the festival’s love letter to artists shaping the medium. 2025 honourees include Guillermo del Toro, Jodie Foster, HIKARI, Lee Byung-hun, Idris Elba, Kazu Hiro, Catherine O’Hara, Channing Tatum, Nina Hoss, plus Zacharias Kunuk and Jafar Panahi—with Brendan Fraser as Honorary Chair. Ceremony date: Sunday, September 7, 2025.
What’s working for me at TIFF 50 (as a filmmaker & festival regular)
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Range with intention. From community-healing docs to high-concept studio showcases, the curation balances discovery with marquee moments. That opening tribute to John Candy felt perfectly Toronto; that closing pick, Peak Everything, feels timely and tender
- Public-facing celebration. Festival Street at 10 proves access matters. Bringing free screenings and activations out into the city is how you nurture the next generation of movie lovers.
- Conversations that add value. Beyond the premieres, events like the “Knives Out” Dialogues session and In Conversation With Park Chan-wook show TIFF’s brain and heart—craft deep-dives that actually feed your filmmaking.
Final thought
At 50, TIFF still feels like a launchpad where a shot of festival energy can carry a film all the way to awards season or a grassroots theatrical run. More importantly, it still feels like Toronto: curious, welcoming, and relentless about story. That’s why I show up—with a notebook, an open heart, and a schedule that’s way too ambitious.