“TIFF Turns 50: Star-Packed Lineup Unveiled with Keanu Reeves, Sydney Sweeney, and Knives Out 3 Leading the Charge”
Here’s a glimpse at the energy building around the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), set to take place September 4–14, 2025.
TIFF 50 Lineup & Highlights: A Golden Anniversary Celebration
Opening & Closing
Opening Night: TIFF kicks off with John Candy: I Like Me, a heartfelt documentary by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds .
Closing Film: Dutch director Anne Émond’s Peak Everything will cap off the festival.
Stellar World Premieres & Galas
TIFF 50 brings an array of high-profile world premieres and gala films:
Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune—a comedic fantasy featuring Keanu Reeves as the angel Gabriel .
David Michôd’s Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney as boxing icon Christy Martin .
Alice Winocour’s Couture, featuring Angelina Jolie .
Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (third in the series) .
Other notable world premieres include Paul Greengrass’s The Lost Bus starring Matthew McConaughey, Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family, Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman with Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, Agnieszka Holland’s Kafka biopic Franz, and Clement Virgo’s Steal Away .
Special Presentations & Centrepieces
Additional films in Special Presentations include:
& Sons by Pablo Trapero
Dog 51 (Cédric Jimenez)
No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook)
The Fence (Claire Denis)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Kaouther Ben Hania)
The Wizard of the Kremlin (Olivier Assayas) .
Centrepiece highlights feature:
Erupcja (also known as Erupjca), starring Charli XCX in a story about connection and geography .
Youngblood, a Canadian sports drama and heartfelt remake about a Black junior hockey player’s journey .
Meadowlarks, the dramatic directorial debut of Tasha Hubbard, centered on Cree siblings reuniting after the Sixties Scoop .
Avant-Garde & Short-Form Gems
Wavelengths Programme: A bold selection featuring experimental and visionary works such as Lav Diaz’s epic Magellan, Ben Rivers’s Mare’s Nest, Nicolás Pereda’s Copper, and Maureen Fazendeiro’s The Seasons .
Short Cuts Programme: A curated lineup of 48 short films from 28 countries. Highlights include Idris Elba’s Dust to Dreams, The Contestant featuring David Hasselhoff, DISC, and animation honours with the new Best Animated Short Film Award .
Conversations & Events Beyond the Screen
TIFF’s “In Conversation With…” series promises candid sessions featuring international icons including Park Chan-wook, Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Tessa Thompson, and Nia DaCosta . TIFF will also spotlight creative communities through events like the Black Excellence Brunch and the Criterion Mobile Closet activation .
Why This Year Stands Out
This 50th edition marks a milestone for TIFF—blending star-studded premieres, bold auteurs, evocative documentaries, experimental cinema, and immersive programming. From opening with a nostalgic Canadian portrait to closing with a contemporary cinematic statement, the lineup reflects both TIFF’s past and its future.
Are you excited about any titles in particular? Maybe planning to attend? Let’s chat!
