Last night's L.A. Premiere of PRIMATE. In theatres this Friday via @ParamountCanada.
Review: https://www.mrwillwong.com/review/review-primate/
tiff
#TIFF: TIFF ANNOUNCE 2025 CANADA’S TOP TEN LIST
TIFF is announcing its annual Canada’s Top Ten list, celebrating the year’s most outstanding Canadian feature films and shorts. The 25th edition of Canada’s Top Ten, presented by MUBI, runs February 5–8, 2026 at the Lightbox. Audiences will have an opportunity to catch screenings of these films during the four-day showcase.
Among the 10 features in the 2025 selection is Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband), the winner of the Best Canadian Feature Film Award at TIFF ’25, at which director Zacharias Kunuk was also honoured with a Special Tribute Award. Two more highlights of this year’s Canada’s Top Ten, Chandler Levack’s second feature Mile End Kicks and Bretten Hannam’s third feature and Platform selection Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts), both made their World Premieres at TIFF ’25. This year’s lineup also features four debut feature-length films: Sophy Romvari’s Blue Heron, recipient of the Best Canadian Discovery Award at TIFF ’25 and the First Feature Award at the Locarno Film Festival; Eric K. Boulianne’s French-language comedy Follies; Kid Koala’s animated film Space Cadet; and Amalie Atkins’ Agatha’s Almanac, named Best Canadian Feature Documentary at Hot Docs 2025. Another standout, Tuner, marks the narrative debut of Daniel Roher, whose documentary Navalny won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2023.
Further highlights include Matt Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, recipient of the TIFF ’25 People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award; and The Things You Kill, Canada’s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature, from Iranian-Canadian director Alireza Khatami.
The short film lineup includes seven films that screened at this year’s Festival, including Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’s The Girl Who Cried Pearls, which won the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film and was recently included on the Academy Awards shortlist in the category of Best Animated Short Film; Heather Young’s A Soft Touch, which earned an honourable mention from the jury; and Klee, a mashup of body horror and Prairie Gothic by director Gavin Baird. See the full list of short films below.
“This year’s Canada’s Top Ten films reflect the remarkable breadth of perspectives shaping contemporary Canadian cinema,” said Anita Lee, TIFF’s Chief Programming Officer. “Spanning globally minded stories and deeply personal visions, these films reveal the profound ways Canadian artists are interpreting the world around them. I’m especially inspired to see four first features in the lineup, an exciting testament to the bold new voices emerging across the country. I’d like to acknowledge all the Canadian programmers from coast to coast that participated in Top Ten.”
The opening ceremony for Canada’s Top Ten will take place on February 5 to celebrate this year’s selections, including a presentation of the second annual Charles Officer Legacy Award by TIFF: The Market and CBC. This award recognizes a Black Canadian director and/or writer whose body of work exemplifies the creative excellence, strong point of view, and community-mindedness of the award-winning late filmmaker. Last year’s winner was Montreal-based filmmaker Miryam Charles.
A selection of Canada’s Top Ten films will once again be featured in TIFF’s popular Donald Shebib Film Circuit. The programme provides access to 100+ Circuit locations in rural, remote, and under-served communities that otherwise would not have an opportunity to see these films, extending their theatrical life beyond their initial release.
TIFF Members have early access to tickets starting Thursday, January 15 at 12pm, and public tickets go on sale on Friday, January 16 at 12pm.
Canada’s Top Ten Feature Films
Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts) | dir. Bretten Hannam | English, Mi’kmaw, French
This is directed by acclaimed Two-Spirit, L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam, has been selected as part of TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten for 2025, celebrating the year’s outstanding Canadian feature films and shorts.
The film will screen at TIFF Lightbox from February 5–8, 2026, ahead of its theatrical release on March 6, 2026 by VVS Films.
Siblings Mise’l and Antle, close confidants as children, have drifted apart as adults. When a malevolent spirit begins tormenting them, the siblings are forced to reunite and journey into Sk+te’kmujue’katik (the Place of Ghosts), a primordial forest that exists outside of time, to confront their violent upbringing.
Agatha’s Almanac | dir. Amalie Atkins | English
Blue Heron | dir. Sophy Romvari | English, Hungarian
Follies | dir. Eric K. Boulianne | French
Mile End Kicks | dir. Chandler Levack | English
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie | dir. Matt Johnson | English
Space Cadet | dir. Kid Koala | no dialogue
The Things You Kill | dir. Alireza Khatami | Turkish
Tuner | dir. Daniel Roher | English
Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) | dir. Zacharias Kunuk | Inuktitut
Canada’s Top Ten Short Films
A Soft Touch | dir. Heather Young | 20 minutes | English
Ambush | dir. Yassmina Karajah | 21 minutes | Arabic
Jazz Infernal | dir. Will Niava | 16 minutes | French
Klee | dir. Gavin Baird | 20 minutes | English
La Mayordomía | dir. Martin Edralin | 23 minutes | Spanish
Lloyd Wong, Unfinished | dir. Lesley Loksi Chan | 29 minutes | English
Pidikwe (Rumble) | dir. Caroline Monnet | 10 minutes | no dialogue
Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts | dir. Shervin Kermani | 8 minutes | Spanish
ripe | dir. Solara Thanh Bình Đặng | 19 minutes | Vietnamese
The Girl Who Cried Pearls | dirs. Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski | 17 minutes | English, French
On February 5, TIFF: The Market will host a session focused on the Canadian screen sector. Charles Tremblay, Head of Market, and Geoff McNaughton, Vice President, Market Programming & Theatrical, will lead an in‑depth discussion, followed by a panel featuring Market Advisory Committee members, offering guidance to Canadian creators and companies on navigating next September’s launch of The Market. For registration details, please visit here.
Canada’s Top Ten is selected by TIFF programming in consultation with programmers from festivals across the country, including:
Atlantic International Film Festival
Calgary International Film Festival
Edmonton International Film Festival
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal
Gimli International Film Festival
imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival
REGARD: Le Festival international du court métrage au Saguenay
Reel Canada
Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM)
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
Windsor International Film Festival
#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL’S TOP THREE FILMS OF 2025
It’s that time of year again, and we’re so grateful for your readership and support all these years! The Team – David Baldwin, Amanda Gilmore, Nicholas Porteous, and Justin Waldman… and I, celebrated with our annual Holiday Brunch, this year at the Drake Hotel. It was a meeting of the minds and though it was tough, we landed on each of our top films of the year.
We got to play around with the Camp Snap 8, a digital hand-held Super 8 camera which Taylor Swift recently was seen playing with on TMZ! The likes of Tessa Thompson and Brie Larson also own one! These are flying off the shelves, so hurry!
See our picks below:
We know some of you get a kick out of this too, our year in Review with the amazing talent we met in 2025!
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, happy Holiday. We look forward to more cinematic adventures with you in 2026!
Mr. Will & beanie
#TIFF: TIFF ANNOUNCE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 PROGRAMMING HIGLIGHTS INCLUDING SCREENING OF “THE RUNNING MAN”, ROBERT REDFORD TRIBUTE AND MORE
After a milestone 50th Festival, TIFF is finishing the year strong with a winter slate featuring three retrospectives, tributes, anticipated new restorations, a selection of offbeat and traditional holiday films, and special guests at the Lightbox. Luc Moullet: High Altitude celebrates the reappraisal of the irreverent French filmmaker and one of the last living members of the nouvelle vague with newly-restored features and rarely-screened shorts, following retrospectives in New York and Los Angeles. Lyon-born Lucile Hadzihalilovic is spotlighted in Growing Pains: Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s New Worlds, a retrospective timed with the release of her latest film, The Ice Tower. Joining a North American tour organized by leading film institutions, TIFF Cinematheque presents its most extensive retrospective of Japanese visionary Mikio Naruse since his centennial in 2005.
TIFF also pays tribute to screen legend Robert Redford with Special Screenings of Ordinary People and The Sting, celebrating his legacy as a director and actor. Ahead of Viola Desmond Day on November 8, TIFF presents a free 35mm screening of Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit hosted by Jully Black on November 7. Other highlights include the Canadian premiere of the 2K restoration of Mary Stephen’s Ombres de soie; a centennial screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush and a 30th anniversary screening of The White Balloon in 35mm by Jafar Panahi, whose TIFF 50 Official Selection It Was Just an Accident opens at the Lightbox on October 24.
For the holidays, the popular Magnificent 70mm series returns with widescreen classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Top Gun. Alternative festive favourites include the 25th anniversary screening of American Psycho with filmmaker Mary Harron in attendance on December 5, the 35th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands; and Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar starring Samantha Morton, both screening in 35mm. Audiences can also catch Ramsay’s latest, Die My Love, at the Lightbox starting November 7. Plus, TIFF will once again screen Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, continuing its New Year’s Eve tradition. Rounding out the celebration is the return of TIFF’s popular Sing Along series hosted by local performers and packed with fun!
Look out for buzzworthy New Releases playing at the Lightbox in November, including Richard Linklater’s TIFF 50 features Blue Moon and the much-anticipated Nouvelle Vague; Harris Dickinson’s directorial debut Urchin, and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt, screening in glorious 35mm. An exciting December lineup including Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent (TIFF 50), is on the way, just in time for the holidays, packed with awards-season hopefuls and hidden gems. Visit tiff.net for more details.
Tickets for November programming will be available to TIFF Members on Wednesday, October 15, and to the public on Friday, October 17. Tickets for December programming will be available to TIFF Members on Wednesday, November 12, and to the public on Friday, November 14. See tiff.net for up-to-date programming.
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
TIFF CINEMATHEQUE
Luc Moullet: High Altitude with series curator Andréa Picard
November 1–23
TIFF Cinematheque is presenting a tribute to Luc Moullet, a major figure in French independent cinema and one of the last living filmmakers and critics from la nouvelle vague. Luc Moullet: High Altitude includes seven new feature restorations (courtesy of Cinema Guild) and four rarely-screened short films, which testify to Moullet’s singular brand of irreverence, satirical social commentary, and his passion for a certain Alpine landscape. Highlights include his 1966 debut feature, Brigitte et Brigitte, which Godard hailed as “revolutionary,” his Jean Vigo Prize–winning The Comedy of Work, and one of the greatest films made about cinephilia, Les Sièges de l’Alcazar. Curated by TIFF Senior Curator Andréa Picard, guests in this series include Dylan Adamson and Will Sloan.
Growing Pains: Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s New Worlds with guest curator Saffron Maeve
November 7–23
Spanning 30 years, Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s five features and three shorts offer a cinema of domestic dystopias — cloistered children, their odd caretakers, and the ominous higher-ups who pull the strings. Enduringly attuned to the ways that childhood is thwarted by the disorienting (and often violent) shift into adolescence, the French filmmaker has spent her career fashioning perverse fairytales, from the dreamy and sinister boarding school reverie Innocence to her latest, Marion Cotillard–starring The Ice Tower. Curated by film critic and curator Saffron Maeve.
Daughters, Wives, and Mothers: The Films of Mikio Naruse with series curator Robyn Citizen
November 28 – January 25
TIFF Cinematheque celebrates the 120th anniversary of Japanese filmmaker Mikio Naruse with a 19-film retrospective. Featuring six imported 35mm prints from the Japan Foundation, the tribute is currently touring North America with stops including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. A devoted chronicler of Japan’s “shomin” — the common people — Naruse focused on resilient, flawed women navigating postwar social upheavals. The filmmaker’s frequent collaborations with Hideko Takamine and novelist Fumiko Hayashi are highlighted in this retrospective following his evolution from the stylistic flair and optimism of early films like Morning’s Tree-Lined Street to the understated visuals and emotional precision of later masterpieces such as Floating Clouds and When A Woman Ascends the Stairs. Curated by Robyn Citizen, TIFF Director of Programming & Platform Lead.
Generously supported by the Japan Foundation, Toronto.
See the North presented by MUBI
November 4, 6:30pm: Jean of the Joneses (2016) dir. Stella Meghie, with recorded introduction by the director
December 9, 6:30pm: Meditation Park (2017) dir. Mina Shum
TIFF Family Films
November 8, 1:15pm: The White Balloon (1995) dir. Jafar Panahi, 30th anniversary, 35mm!
From the Collection with Cameron Bailey
November 11 , 6:30pm: A Separation (2011) dir. Ashgar Farhadi, 35mm!
December 2, 6:30pm: An Education (2009) dir. Lone Scherfig, 35mm!
TIFF Wavelengths Presents
November 12, 6:30pm: Hair, Paper, Water… (2025) dirs. Nicolas Graux & Trương Minh Quý, with recorded introduction by the directors
December 3, 7:00pm: Heart of the World: 50 years of the Winnipeg Film Group with guest curator Vivian Belik
MDFF Selects
November 27, 6:30pm: Fiume o morte! (2025) dir. Igor Bezinović
TIFF Next Wave Presents
November 26, 6:30pm: The Pee Pee Poo Poo Man (2024) dir. Braden Sitter Sr., with New Toronto Bizarre, post-screening Q&A with the director
TIFF Special Screenings
November 1, 3:30pm and November 2, 4pm: Robert Redford tribute featuring Ordinary People (1980) dir. Robert Redford, 45th anniversary, and The Sting (1973) dir. George Roy Hill
TIFF Cinematheque New & Restored
November 15, 2pm: The Gold Rush (1925) dir. Charlie Chaplin, 100th anniversary, new 4K restoration!
November 15 & 25, 6:30pm: The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005) dir. Cristi Puiu, 20th anniversary, digital restoration
November 20, 6:30pm: Ombres de soie (1978) dir. Mary Stephen, post-show recorded Q&A with the director, Canadian Premiere of new 2K restoration
TIFF PUBLIC PROGRAMMING SPOTLIGHT: SPECIAL GUESTS & SIGNATURE EVENTS
November 7, 9:30pm: Free event! Viola Desmond Day: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) dir. Bill Duke, with special guest Jully Black
To commemorate the 79th anniversary of Viola Desmond’s historic stand against racial segregation on November 8, 1946, TIFF proudly presents a free 35mm screening of Bill Duke’s beloved sequel to Sister Act, co-curated by “Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul” Jully Black. Before the screening, Black will join TIFF for an onstage conversation moderated by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, host-producer of The Block on CBC Music, about how the film shaped her voice and its enduring message, in Black’s words, “that music can be protest and praise all at once.”
November 12, 8pm: TIFF Advance Screening: The Running Man (2025) dir. Edgar Wright, in-person Q&A with the director
Edgar Wright attending! TIFF Members’ exclusive special screening of The Running Man, followed by a conversation with screenplay writer-director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Last Night in Soho) about the process of adapting Stephen King’s prescient novel for the big screen. Tickets will go on sale for TIFF Members on Wednesday, October 22 at 10am.
November 22, 1pm: Princess Mononoke (1997) dir. Hayao Miyazaki, with Skills for Change
Marking the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli, TIFF Community Impact is thrilled to join Skills for Change to co-present a new 4K restoration of Hayao Miyazaki’s eco-masterpiece Princess Mononoke. Before the screening, representatives from Skills for Change’s Youth Climate Action Initiative (YCAI) will join TIFF for an onstage conversation about mobilizing youth as leaders in building sustainable futures.
December 6, 12pm: Free event! Silver Screenings: Amélie (2001) dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, with TIFF Next Wave
TIFF Silver Screenings, a film community for seniors, teams up with the TIFF Next Wave Committee for an intergenerational screening of Amélie, winner of the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’01. Audrey Tautou stars as the titular character in this nostalgic romantic comedy about a quirky waitress who combats isolation through her vivid imagination, and seeks connection with her fellow Parisians through random acts of kindness. Before the screening, audiences can join TIFF for a talk and activities inspired by the film’s bold visual style.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING LISTINGS
Tickets to Cinematheque series are free to TIFF Members. 70mm and Special Presentations have paid ticketing.Ticket pricing can be found here.
TIFF PUBLIC PROGRAMMING SPOTLIGHT: SPECIAL GUESTS & SIGNATURE EVENTS
Sing Alongs: Mary Poppins, The Greatest Showman, and The Lion King
December 14, 18, 20
TIFF’s Sing Along screenings return with a lineup of beloved movie musicals for all ages that celebrate spectacle, everyday magic, and finding joy together. Award-winning comedian Martha Chaves hosts Mary Poppins on December 14, and The Greatest Showman on December 18. Actor Salvatore Antonio, who played Scar in the latest Toronto production of Disney’s The Lion King, hosts the beloved 1994 animated story of Simba on December 20. Fun for the whole family, these immersive events will feature warm-up activities, prop bags, and onscreen lyrics.
TIFF CINEMATHEQUE
Magnificent 70mm
December 5 – January 1
Spend your winter in widescreen with the return of Magnificent 70mm. This holiday season, TIFF Cinematheque presents a slate of rare 70mm prints including favourites like 2001: A Space Odyssey, North by Northwest, and Top Gun.TIFF is one of the few theatres in Toronto where audiences can watch classics on 70mm and celebrate the way these films were meant to be seen.
TIFF Special Screenings
November 8, 4:15pm and November 22, 4pm: Morvern Callar (2002) dir. Lynne Ramsay, 35mm!
December 5, 6:30pm: American Psycho (2000) dir. Mary Harron, in-person Q&A with the director, 25th anniversary
December 31, 6:30pm: Eyes Wide Shut (1999) dir. Stanley Kubrick
TIFF Family Films
December 28, 4pm: Edward Scissorhands (1990) dir. Tim Burton, 35th anniversary, 35mm!
#TIFF25: COLIN HANKS AND RYAN REYNOLDS “JOHN CANDY: I LIK EME” VINTAGE CHRYSLER LEBARON STUNT
In case you missed it..
Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds arrived at the World Premiere of JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME at the Toronto International Film Festival red carpet in a vintage Chrysler LeBaron inspired by one of John Candy’s most beloved comedy classics – PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES.
Check out the below for an exclusive look behind the scenes with Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds and Hacksmith Industries to see how they created this memorable car!
Launching globally on Prime Video October 10, 2025
From director Colin Hanks and lifelong John Candy fan Ryan Reynolds comes John Candy: I Like Me, an exploration of the life of the Canadian comedic icon. This John Candy film documents his on- and off-camera existence, featuring never-before-seen home videos, intimate access to his family, and candid recollections from collaborators to paint a bigger picture of one of the brightest stars of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. It’s the story of a son, husband, father, friend, and professional driven to bring joy to audiences and loved ones while battling personal ghosts and Hollywood pressures.
Director: Colin Hanks
Producers: Colin Hanks, Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper, Ryan Reynolds, George Dewey, Johnny Pariseau, Shane Reid
Executive Producers: Ashley Fox, Patrick Gooing
Co-Executive Producers: Chris Candy, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, Rosemary Candy
Director of Photography: Justin Kane
Editors: Shane Reid, Darrin Roberts
Music by: Tyler Strickland
About Prime Video
Prime Video is a one-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one application available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can find their favourite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports, including Prime Monday Night Hockey – also Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Fallout, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, and Roadhouse; licensed fan favourite Vampire Diaries; exclusive entertainment such as Prime Monday Night Hockey, ONE Championship; and programming from channels such as Sportsnet, Paramount+, Crave, Citytv+, STARZ, AMC+, Super Channel, BritBox, Hayu, STACKTV, a multi-channel service featuring 16 top-tier networks (Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, W Network, The HISTORY® Channel, Adult Swim, Lifetime, Slice, Showcase, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, Treehouse, YTV, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD), via Prime Video Channels add-on subscriptions. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles, including blockbusters such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, via the Prime Video Store. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favourite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.primevideo.com
#TIFF25: “HAMNET” WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
TIFF is announcing 12 awards today, including the Platform Award, TIFF’s only juried competition, and the coveted People’s Choice Awards presented by Rogers. This year’s awards include two exciting new additions: the International People’s Choice Award and the Short Cuts Award for Best Animated Short Film. As TIFF’s 50th edition comes to a close, the Festival is proud to have welcomed over 700,000 guests, nearly 2,000 accredited media, 6,000 Industry delegates, 1,200 screenings, and a stellar lineup of talent who graced 110 red carpets.
Audiences can catch this year’s People’s Choice Award–winning films at TIFF Lightbox screenings starting at noon today, with free tickets available to the public (visit here for more information).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS PRESENTED BY ROGERS
The 48th edition of TIFF’s People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, presents the audience’s top titles at the Festival as voted by the viewing public. All feature films and Primetime series in TIFF’s Official Selection are eligible.
People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers: Hamnet, dir. Chloé Zhao
First runner-up: Frankenstein, dir. Guillermo del Toro
Second runner-up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, dir. Rian Johnson
International People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers: No Other Choice, dir. Park Chan-wook
First runner-up: Sentimental Value, dir. Joachim Trier
Second runner-up: Homebound, dir. Neeraj Ghaywan
People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers: The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, dir. Barry Avrich
First runner-up: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, dir. Baz Luhrmann
Second runner-up: You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution…, dir. Nick Davis
People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers: Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, dir. Matt Johnson
First runner-up: Obsession, dir. Curry Barker
Second runner-up: The Furious, dir. Kenji Tanigaki
SHORT CUTS AWARDS
Short Cuts Awards are presented to the Best International Short Film, Best Canadian Short Film, and Best Animated Short Film, as awarded by the Short Cuts jury. Each of the three winning films will receive a bursary of $10,000 CAD. The 2025 jurors for the Short Cuts Awards are Ashley Iris Gill, Marcel Jean, and Connor Jessup.
Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film:
Talk Me, dir. Joecar Hanna | Spain/USA
Short Cuts jury’s statement: “This film sparked one of the most interesting conversations around the jury table. Talk Me is bold in its portrayal of intimacy and the universal longing for connection. The characters fit so naturally into the film’s unique, evocative world that everything feels normal very quickly. Its cinematography is beautiful, delicate yet deliberate, each frame carefully crafted to draw us deeper into the story. By allowing the visuals to lead, the film creates an immersive experience of vulnerability and honesty. For its courage, craft, and sensitivity, the jury presents the Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film to Joecar Hanna’s Talk Me.”
Honourable Mention:
Agapito, dirs. Arvin Belarmino & Kyla Danelle Romero | Philippines
Short Cuts jury’s statement: “For its formal precision, command of a delicate tone, poetic awareness of space and movement, and deeply personal reflections on family, the jury is thrilled to present an Honourable Mention to Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero’s remarkable Agapito. The jury also wants to acknowledge the brilliantly nuanced and committed performances of the film’s young cast.”
Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film:
The Girl Who Cried Pearls, dirs. Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski | Canada
Short Cuts jury’s statement: “In addition to highlighting the film’s daring technical achievement and sumptuous artistic direction, the jury also wants to recognize a fable about greed and the capacity of artists to create a fantastic world by the power of their narrative voice. The Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski for The Girl Who Cried Pearls.”
Honourable Mention:
A Soft Touch, dir. Heather Young
Short Cuts jury’s statement: “A Soft Touch really pierced our hearts. It finds a way to transform routine, everyday moments into a quietly devastating portrait of neglect and resilience. With searing precision and simplicity, the film illuminates how easily older folks can be overlooked, and in doing so, demands our attention, empathy, and accountability. The jury awards an Honourable Mention to Heather Young’s A Soft Touch.”
Short Cuts Award for Best Animated Short Film:
To the Woods, dir. Agnès Patron | France
Short Cuts jury’s statement: “This wordless journey into the bond between two siblings becomes a transcendent meditation on the mysteries of time and memory, love and loss, connection and transformation. Animated with lush, cosmic beauty and vibrating with tenderness and insight, the film plunges its viewer into deep, deep feeling. For its overwhelming artistry, luminous spirit, and soul-expanding sense of mystery, the jury presents the Short Cuts Award for Best Animated Short Film to Agnès Patron’s To the Woods. The jury also wants to note the film’s jaw-dropping sound design and the work of composer Pierre Oberkampf, whose score ranks among the best film music of recent years.”
FIPRESCI PRIZE
The FIPRESCI jury is awarding the International Critics Prize, dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery or Centrepiece programmes. The 2025 FIPRESCI jury members are: Katharina Dockhorn (Germany), Francisco Ferreira (Portugal), Jean-Philippe Guerand (France), Andy Hazel (Australia), and Justine Smith (Canada).
FIPRESCI Prize:
Forastera, dir. Lucía Aleñar Iglesias | Spain/Italy/Sweden
FIPRESCI jury’s statement: “Spanish cinema, long shaped by the exuberance of Pedro Almodóvar, has found a new distinctive voice in Lucía Aleñar Iglesias. Set on sun-drenched Mallorca, Forastera follows 16-year-old Cata, whose carefree family holiday is brought to a halt by the death of her grandmother. In her grief, the teenager takes on the older woman’s persona — wearing her clothes, adopting her gestures and silences. Aleñar Iglesias directs with restraint and precision, finding power in understatement. Performances from newcomer Zoe Stein and veteran Lluís Homar anchor the film’s dreamlike rhythms. What might sound slight becomes luminous: a meditation on an adolescent’s first encounter with death, and a ghost story about how the past lingers in the present. Forastera is a quietly assured debut, simple yet transformative, marking Aleñar Iglesias as a filmmaker the FIPRESCI jury would like to bet on.”
NETPAC AWARD
Presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, the NETPAC Award recognizes films specifically from the Asian and Pacific regions. The jury consists of three international community members selected by TIFF and NETPAC, who award the prize to the best Asian film by a first or second-time feature director. The 2025 NETPAC jury members are Dina Iordanova, Helen Lee, and Keoprasith Souvannavong, who is serving as Jury Chair.
NETPAC Award:
In Search of The Sky (Vimukt), dir. Jitank Singh Gurjar | India
NETPAC jury’s statement: “For offering an indelible tale of tolerance, desperation and faith, conveyed through a unique lens of realism and poetics, elevated by striking performances. In Search of The Sky (Vimukt) is a truly independent achievement by Indian filmmaker Jitank Singh Gurjar. The film transports the audience to rural central India, where an impoverished elderly couple contends with their cognitively challenged adult son and the villagers who threaten their existence. A beacon of hope comes in the form of the Maha Kumbh Mela, a pilgrimage to the world’s largest spiritual gathering where they seek renewal and new possibilities of life.”
BEST CANADIAN DISCOVERY AWARD
The Best Canadian Discovery Award celebrates works of emerging filmmakers who contribute to enriching the Canadian film landscape. All Canadian first or second feature films in Official Selection are eligible for this award. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 CAD.
Jury members presiding over both the Best Canadian Discovery Award and Best Canadian Feature Film Award are: Jennifer Baichwal, Sophie Jarvis, and R.T. Thorne:
“Thirty-five films in 10 days gives you some perspective on the cinematic zeitgeist in our country. As a jury, we were particularly impressed by the wonderful variety, breadth, and strength of storytelling in the Indigenous films supported by the Indigenous Screen Office. This was a powerful indicator of the future of cinema in this country, and we look forward to seeing more in the future.”
Best Canadian Discovery Award:
Blue Heron, dir. Sophy Romvari | Canada
Jury’s statement: “Blue Heron, written and directed by Sophy Romvari, is a film centered on a family struggling with a troubling personal crisis, where all elements — script, direction, cinematography, performance and editing — unite to powerfully transcend the sum of their parts. The complexity of story, perspective, and emotion is conveyed with understated simplicity — nothing is superfluous — and the transitions between real and imagined, past and present, are seamless, as well as heartbreaking. Blue Heron is a stunning and assured feature debut about love, grief, memory, and the yearning to go back to the moment before everything changed.”
Honourable Mention:
100 Sunset, dir. Kunsang Kyirong | Canada
Jury’s statement: “We as a jury were struck by the remarkable world-building in 100 Sunset, Kunsang Kyirong’s directorial debut. She invites us into the apartment complex that is home to members of the Tibetan immigrant community in Toronto, where we experience the gossip, rivalries, and intrigues through the eyes of an observant young thief who rarely speaks but seems to register everything. The growing friendship between the thief and a newly arrived young wife is a study in seeing and being seen, and the interplay of an old DV camera perspective takes us along on their journey of expanding horizons.”
BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM AWARD
The Best Canadian Feature Film Award honours the unique craft and storytelling in Canadian cinema. All Canadian feature films in Official Selection — excluding first or second features — are considered for the award. The winning filmmaker will receive a $10,000 CAD cash prize.
Best Canadian Feature Film Award:
Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband), dir. Zacharias Kunuk | Canada
Jury’s statement: “Wrong Husband, directed by Zacharias Kunuk, is a love story from thousands of years ago that blends the epic and intimate and immerses viewers in a mesmerizing and unique cinematic experience. The supernatural is ever-present and matter of fact alongside exquisite details of the daily rhythms of ancient Inuit life. The humour, gentleness and stoicism in the characters’ interactions is deeply moving, and the landscape is both a sublime setting and a character in itself. This is a beautiful and not unexpected achievement from a master storyteller.”
Honourable Mention:
There Are No Words, dir. Min Sook Lee | Canada
Jury’s statement: “An Honourable Mention goes to There Are No Words, written and directed by veteran documentarian Min Sook Lee. This film is a profound and devastating story of unspeakable loss; the shifting shape and mingling of individual and collective memory; the sometimes brutal immigrant experience; and how past violent personal and political realities can continue to define the identity of a family.”
PLATFORM AWARD
Marking the tenth anniversary of the Festival’s competitive section, Platform champions bold directorial vision and distinctive storytelling on the world stage. The Platform Award is a prize of $20,000 CAD given to the best film in the programme, selected by an in-person international jury: Carlos Marqués-Marcet (Jury Chair), Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Chloé Robichaud.
Platform Award:
To The Victory!, dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych | Ukraine/Lithuania
Platform jury’s statement: “To The Victory! is the unanimous choice for this year’s Platform Award amongst a very strong selection. Bringing cinematic language to its roots and, at the same time, masterfully playing with audience expectations, this film dismantles convention to reveal deeply resonant universal emotions. Director Valentyn Vasyanovych has choreographed a mise-en-scène rendered with masterful precision, arriving at the kind of refined simplicity that can only be achieved with artistic maturity and bold vision. He has deftly used comedy to address a very complicated and complex situation into a work that is both audacious and profoundly beautiful. Ultimately, the film returns us to the very essence of cinema — reminding us why we are compelled to tell stories on film, and why we continue to do so.”
Honourable Mention:
Hen, dir. György Pálfi | Germany/Greece/Hungary
Platform jury’s statement: “The jury also wishes to recognize the extraordinary artistry of director György Pálfi, whose work exemplifies boldness, intelligence, and creative ingenuity. Blending cinematic genres in an inventive and seamless manner, Hen demonstrates remarkable precision in its camera movement and shot composition, resulting in an exceptionally effective narrative. György’s unwavering commitment to exploring humanity through the perspective of the hen yields a singularly original vision — a work of stunning originality, unlike anything else in contemporary cinema.”
Awards descriptions including eligibility can be found here: tiff.net/awards. Information on the People’s Choice Award voting process can be found here: tiff.net/vote.
Last Sunday, TIFF hosted its seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards, in partnership with Rolex. Photos of the event can be found here.
The 50th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, concludes today. The 51st edition of the Festival will take place September 10–20, 2026.
Social:
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X: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
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Facebook.com/TIFF
About TIFF:
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution program; and TIFF: The Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.
TIFF is generously supported by Festival Presenting Sponsor Rogers Communications.
TIFF is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC and Visa and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.
The People’s Choice Awards are presented by Rogers.
#TIFF25: DAY NINE (WRAP) – SAM NIVOLA, BOBBY FARRELLY, MOLLY SHANNON AND MORE
so hard to believe we’re reached the end of tiff50! what wondrous ride it’s been and we thank you so much for joining us along the way! we really enjoy every time someone who reads the site, taps our shoulder to say “hi” and we hope we continue being able to connect with you. we’re here year-round for you!
some highlights from day nine, plus some thoughts on films we saw!
•bobby farrelly
•molly shannon
•sophie telegadis
•finn harry
•aidan laprete
•sam nivola
until next year!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF25: “POETIC LICENSE” REVIEW
By Mr. Will Wong
Maude Apatow (Euphoria) is definitely going places and she delivers a very polished and accomplished directorial debut in POETIC LICENSE.
This quirky Comedy centers on Liz (Leslie Mann, Apatow‘s actual mother) who relocates with her family as her husband (Method Man) takes on a new assignment at a college. She is an Auditor, and sits-in on a Poetry class at the college, but before she knows it, she finds herself unwittingly caught in an emotional “love” (or not) triangle between two best friends, Sam (Andrew Barth Feldman) and Ari (Cooper Hoffman). All the while she is navigating her daughter Dora (Nico Parker) coming-of-age and about to head off to college, beginning to distance herself about from Liz. She is confused and trying to understand her place, feeling like a complete outsider at home and in her new surroundings.
POETIC LICENSE is quirky, yet so smartly-written and well-acted and we go through a real journey among these lost souls who are each at their own respective crossroads and intersecting in this story. Our three leads are terrific, but the real scenestealer is Euphoria alumni Martha Kelly with her deadpan delivery in the classroom as Poetry Professor Greta – worth the price of the ticket itself.
Kidding aside, it is refreshing to see interesting, well-rounded characters on the big screen here. Things are looking promising for Apatow and we are looking forward to more.
POETIC LICENSE screens at TIFF ’25:
Saturday, September 6
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Premium
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
5:15 pm
Sunday, September 7
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
9:45 pm
Friday, September 12
VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Audio description (AD),
Open captions (OC)
9:30 pm
Sunday, September 14
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
9:30 pm
#TIFF25: “DRIVER’S ED” REVIEW
By Amanda Gilmore
Director Bobby Farrelly’s latest is an endearing romantic comedy that pays homage to the classic 80s comedies we’ve loved.
It follows high school senior Jeremy (Sam Nivola) whose relationship has become a long-distance one due to his girlfriend Samantha (Lilah Pate) attending college as a freshman. After a call that may or may not be the break-up call, he impulsively plans to make a grand romantic gesture to keep her. He steals his driver’s education car with the three other students inside and heads to her campus. But will he make it before his principal (Molly Shannon) and driving instructor (Kumail Nanjiani) catch them? And if he does, will Samantha still want the relationship?
Driver’s Ed is a fun teen rom-com that brings us back to young love. How intense it feels, but how fleeting it all is. Nivola plays the lovelorn Jeremy with empathy. He’s a young man holding out hope when those around him are aware that hope is probably lost. The group of driver’s ed students forced to come along on his love quest is an impressive ensemble of young talent. Particularly, Aidan Laprete, who plays drug dealer/stoner Yoshi. Laprete delivers a brilliant deadpan performance that also gives layers to this usually stereotypical character.
The real scene stealers are Shannon and Nanjiani. Their years of talent and charisma playing off-beat characters if perfectly suited to these quirky high school tropes. Shannon is at her typical best, and Nanjiani performs the driving instructor as a bright light of positivity while literally going through the worst time in his life. We just wish there were more time with them.
Overall, Driver’s Ed is a cute road-trip Rom-Com that we may feel like we’ve seen before…but hey, don’t fix something that isn’t broke.
Driver’s Ed screens at TIFF:
Fri. Sept 12 at 9:30 PM at Roy Thompson Hall
Sat. Sept 13 at 3:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales
Sun. Sept 14 at 9:05 AM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
#TIFF25: “WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY” REVIEW
By David Baldwin
A priest at a small church in rural New York has been killed under mysterious circumstances and Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is the main suspect. The local police are stumped as to what happened, so they call in Master Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to help solve the case.
WAKE UP DEAD MAN, the latest in Writer/Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series is very much what fans of this series (which have all World Premiered at TIFF) have come to expect: clever twists, simultaneously hilarious, ingenious and outrageous dialogue, and one of the best ensembles in recent years. Rather than play into the maximalist approach of Glass Onion, WAKE UP DEAD MAN feels more streamlined and back to the whodunit basics of what inspired the franchise in the first place. And while it is nice to have a lot less asides and references to Jeremy Renner hot sauce (who, in true meta fashion, shows up as a supporting character this go-round), the narrative gets bogged down by immense exposition and having its explanations be needlessly overcomplicated.
What also suffers as a result of the endless exposition is that there is not enough time for the large ensemble to really develop their characters. They are all great in their large and small roles (O’Connor and Glenn Close are highlights, as is the young Daryl McCormack who continues to impress), but many of them feel underutilized in ways that the previous films’ ensembles were not. Even Craig seems to have been cut back. He still gets to chew the scenery and have a blast with his Kentucky Fried Foghorn Leghorn accent, just with a very minimized screen presence.
WAKE UP DEAD MAN still succeeds at being a crowdpleaser despite these issues, and still fits in nicely with its predecessors. I feel like I will like it more when I have the opportunity to rewatch and see how all the pieces fit in together. As it stands though, it is a movie I liked and enjoyed watching. But I wish I genuinely loved it.
Also – how great a line is “Young, dumb and full of Christ” with or without context?
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY screens at TIFF ‘25:
Sat. Sept 6 at 6:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Sun. Sept 7 at 8:30 AM at TIFF Lightbox
Wed. Sept 10 at 9:00 AM at TIFF Lightbox
Wed. Sept 10 at 7:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox
Thurs. Sept 11 at 2:30 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Fri. Sept 12 at 2:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Sat. Sept 13 at 9:45 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
#TIFF25: “OBSESSION” REVIEW
By David Baldwin
Bear (Michael Johnston) has been pining for Nikki (Inde Navarrette) for a long time. He is unsure if she has similar feelings and is too nervous and indecisive to tell her how he really feels. So, with the help of a mysterious wooden trinket, Bear wishes that Nikki would fall madly in love with him. Rather suddenly, his wish comes true and the two become the couple Bear always wished they would be. But weird things start happening and Bear quickly realizes that he might not want what he wished for.
What follows is something I can only properly describe as batshit crazy and certifiably deranged. I had heard some insane things going into my screening of Editor/Writer/Director Curry Barker’s feature-length directorial debut OBSESSION earlier this week and shrugged them off as festival hyperbole. What a wild surprise it was for me to realize the hyperbole was actually downplaying how unpredictable and bonkers this film becomes after it puts our two lead characters in place for the madness and viciously gnarly violence to come. I do not want to spoil the fun, but this is a movie tailor made for the Midnight Madness crowd and it should shock absolutely no one that it got picked up for distribution so quickly.
While the scares and cringe humour are plentiful – as are the nasty gross-out moments and the at least partial deconstruction of toxic co-dependent relationships – the real joy of OBSESSION is watching Navarrette’s star-making breakout performance as Nikki, or Freaky Nikki as she loathes being called. It is multi-faceted and for lack of better terminology, almost bi-polar in nature. She switches tones and emotions on the fly, often within the same breath, and goes to some positively haunting and downright devastating places over the course of this journey through Hell. The physicality Navarrette brings to the performance is intense, and the way she captivates even in the freakiest of circumstances is a thing of beauty. Johnston is very good too, but his work here is not what is going to have you keeping the lights on after experiencing OBSESSION.
OBSESSION screens at TIFF ‘25:
Fri. Sept 5 at 11:59 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre
Sat. Sept 6 at 6:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Thurs. Sept 11 at 6:00 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
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