The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) marked its 50th edition between September 4–14, 2025, reaffirming its status as one of the world’s most inclusive and audience-driven film festivals. Over the decades, TIFF has built a reputation as a platform where both emerging voices and established masters share space, creating an atmosphere that is at once celebratory and forward-looking.

Unlike many other international festivals, TIFF places audiences at the center, turning Toronto each September into a vibrant meeting point for cinephiles, critics, filmmakers, and industry insiders. The 2025 edition once again reflected this spirit with a program that blended global diversity, intimate stories, and bold experiments, offering a panoramic view of contemporary cinema.

This year’s lineup included premieres from acclaimed auteurs, discoveries from new regions of cinema, and a strong presence of Canadian voices that echoed the festival’s local roots. The mix of Hollywood prestige titles and independent gems highlighted TIFF’s unique ability to act as a bridge between industry and art, glamour and experimentation.

Notable Awards & Highlights

• People’s Choice Award: Hamnet by Chloé Zhao
• First Runner-Up (People’s Choice): Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)
• Second Runner-Up (People’s Choice): Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson)
• International People’s Choice Award: No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook)
• Tribute Awards: Guillermo del Toro (Director Tribute); Jodie Foster (Share Her Journey Groundbreaker); Lee Byung-hun (Special Tribute)

The People’s Choice Award, long considered a precursor to the awards season, went to a film that resonated deeply with viewers, proving once again that TIFF’s democratic spirit can help shape global conversations around cinema. Alongside it, the Platform Prize, dedicated to bold directorial visions, and the Midnight Madness audience favorite continued to spotlight films that push the boundaries of storytelling.

Beyond screenings, TIFF 2025 emphasized its role as a cultural hub, hosting masterclasses, industry panels, and talks with filmmakers, while also expanding its accessibility initiatives to bring more people into the conversation. This balance of glamour, intellectual exchange, and public participation is what makes TIFF unique among major festivals.

Don’t forget to visit https://www.tiff.net/