The 2025 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival is turning 50 this year, and as per usual I wish time travel existed so I could go back and experience many years of this event that seems to completely take over the psyche of its enormous city. I have heard so many stories about not only unique screenings but the venues they have played in as well from when the festival had legendary screenings at the long-gone Uptown Theatre and its surrounding cinemas, or even memories of Midnight Madness at the Ryerson Theatre with its mammoth room and 1,200 seats. And so on.
As someone who lives in Western Canada and likes to travel to these festivals, TIFF has always had a special place in my heart.
How YOU do this festival also depends on your level of film fascination and what I have always loved about the programming is just how VAST it is. There really is something for all types of moviegoers AND of all ages. Last year my #1 movie of the festival was FLOW, and seeing that screening of the Princess of Wales venue
The festival opens this year with Colin Hanks’ new documentary JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME, a celebration of his life. While at this time I have not seen the movie, I am genuinely excited to see where Mr. Hanks takes the topic and its subject, someone who will still be missed. The documentary is also an Amazon Prime Video release slated for later this year, but I am also hoping it gets to play in some cinemas before then!
Always worth a mention this year is the Midnight Madness program, once again taking place at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. This year’s midnighters open with NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE, which I already got to see at South By Southwest this year and still consider it the funniest movie of 2025, if not the decade. Director Matt Johnson (THE DIRTIES, OPERATION AVALANCHE) has created his best work with co-writer Jay MacCaroll where two guys get into all sorts of antics when transported back to the late 2000s. If I say anymore I’ll spoil a major element of what makes the movie so great, but nevertheless I will be back to see it once again just to hear the Toronto reactions as the movie is also set here!
Earlier I mentioned the venues and how I wanted to time travel just to experience it all but to be honest, the setup in 2025 has been the same for a few years now and it’s by far my favourite setup and amazingly “convienent”! The venues are once again confined to the Entertainment District of downtown Toronto in and around King Street, making it easy to be in the middle of the action or make a very quick transfer from one venue to the next (if that IS your thing. It certainly is mine). In particular one can get lost in the 14 screen behemoth known as the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto with its legendary escalator and endless screening opportunities.
If I could describe all of the types of movies that are playing at the festival this year, we would be here for an eternity. Take a moment and check out the entire schedule HERE or at TIFFR, the latter of which is absolutely perfect for building an air-tight schedule for 11 full days of movies.
Follow here on www.getreelmovies.com along with our Get Reel Movies podcast where my partner-in-crime Daniel is doing podcast recordings on his TIFF adventures (many of which are separate from my own, unless we run into each other at screening! Hey it could happen!)