#TIFF25: ADDITIONAL TRIBUTE AWARD HONOUREES ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, is sharing the final list of honourees for the seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards, the fundraising gala that celebrates outstanding contributions to cinema. Award-winning actor, producer, director, and musician Idris Elba will receive the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media; Kazu Hiro, the Academy Award–winning artist will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; acclaimed German actor Nina Hoss and Hollywood star Channing Tatum will be presented with TIFF Tribute Performer Awards; Academy Award–winning Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi and celebrated Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk will be presented with TIFF Special Tribute Awards; and Canadian icon Catherine O’Hara will receive the TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. These seven will be honoured alongside the previously announced recipients: Guillermo del Toro, Jodie Foster, HIKARI, and Lee Byung Hun. The TIFF Tribute Awards in partnership with Rolex, will take place on Sunday, September 7, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, with Brendan Fraser serving as the Honorary Chair.

“The 2025 Tribute Award honourees represent the very best of what cinema can achieve,” said Bailey. “Hailing from different corners of the world, Idris Elba, Kazu Hiro, Nina Hoss, Zacharias Kunuk, Catherine O’Hara, Jafar Panahi, and Channing Tatum have created work that moves us, challenges us, and expands our understanding of the human experience. Their artistry and commitment to storytelling cross borders and cultures, inspiring audiences everywhere.”

The TIFF Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser and a world-class celebration of cinematic excellence. Proceeds support TIFF’s 50th edition campaign, Transform Together, advancing TIFF’s talent development, honouring visionary artists, and deepening community impact. Presented in partnership with Rolex, with support from RBC, Don Julio, and Fairmont Royal York.

2025 TIFF Tribute Awards Honourees

Idris Elba – TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media, presented by Anne-Marie Canning

Celebrated for his versatility and global impact, and a frequent presence at TIFF, Elba has brought some of his most acclaimed work to the Festival, including RocknRolla (TIFF ’08), Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (TIFF ’13), Beasts of No Nation (TIFF ’15), The Mountain Between Us (TIFF ’17), and Molly’s Game (TIFF ’17). He returns to TIFF this year with his directorial debut, the World Premiere of his short film Dust to Dreams, starring Seal. Known for his iconic roles in The Wire, Luther, and The Harder They Fall, Elba made history in 2016 as the first male actor to win two SAG Awards in one night. Beyond the screen, he is a dedicated advocate for social change, having co-founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which focuses on advancing equity through youth advocacy, opportunity access, employability, and education across the UK, Africa, and the United States. Previously bestowed upon such visionaries as Angelina Jolie, Pedro Almodóvar, Mira Nair, and Alanis Obomsawin, the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media is presented by Anne-Marie Canning and recognizes leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema.

Kazu Hiro – TIFF Variety Artisan Award

Kazu Hiro is a prosthetic makeup designer and contemporary hyperrealist sculptor. He is a self-taught pioneer in the craft of using contemporary materials to create the illusion of life, and as an early pioneer in Japan, Kazu founded one of the country’s first companies of its kind, Makeup and Effects Unlimited, and worked with director Akira Kurosawa in the production of Rhapsody in August. In 1996, Kazu was sponsored by Rick Baker to work on Men In Black which prompted a decade-long collaboration with Baker where Kazu was project supervisor and makeup artist. In 2007, Kazu started KTS Effects Inc. in Los Angeles. In 2018, Kazu received numerous awards and nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, for his work in Darkest Hour to help Gary Oldman portray Winston Churchill, and again in 2020 for his work in Bombshell. He received further recognition in 2024 for his work on Maestro to help Bradley Cooper portray Leonard Bernstein, and he will be coming to TIFF for his work transforming Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. The TIFF Variety Artisan Award recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Previous recipients of the TIFF Variety Artisan Award include Clément Ducol and Camille (2024), Łukasz Żal (2023), Hildur Guðnadóttir (2022), Ari Wegner (2021), Terence Blanchard (2020), and Roger Deakins (2019).

Nina Hoss – TIFF Tribute Performer Award

Renowned for her emotionally resonant portrayals of complex women, Nina Hoss returns to the Festival for the World Premiere of Hedda, Nia DaCosta’s modern reimagining of Ibsen’s classic, in which she stars as Eileen Lovborg. A TIFF alum, Hoss has previously attended with The White Masai (TIFF ’05), Phoenix (TIFF ’14), for which she won Best Actress from the Toronto Film Critics Association, and The Audition (TIFF ’19), which earned her Best Actress at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Her international film credits include Tár, A Most Wanted Man, Barbara, and Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World. Her television credits include Homeland, Jack Ryan, and The Defeated.

Channing Tatum – TIFF Tribute Performer Award, presented by Cineplex

Known for his action roles, critically acclaimed dramatic performances such as Foxcatcher (TIFF ’14), and career highlights including Step Up, Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, The Hateful Eight, and Logan Lucky, Channing Tatum has consistently showcased remarkable versatility. His latest performance is in Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, having its World Premiere at TIFF on September 6, and based on the true story of former United States Army Reserve officer Jeffrey Manchester, who escapes prison and secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us.

The TIFF Tribute Performer Award recognizes an overall body of work. Past recipients are Amy Adams and Jharrel Jerome (2024), Colman Domingo and Vicky Krieps (2023), Brendan Fraser and the ensemble cast of My Policeman (2022), Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch (2021), Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins (2020), and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix (2019).

Jafar Panahi – TIFF Special Tribute Award

Panahi returns to TIFF with Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, his first film following his most recent prison sentence. Panahi’s films, including The Circle (TIFF ’00), Crimson Gold (TIFF ’03), Offside (TIFF ’06), and Jafar Panahi’s Taxi (TIFF ’15) have won major awards on the festival circuit, often spotlighting social issues. Despite a 20-year ban on filmmaking imposed in 2010, he continued to create clandestinely, earning global recognition and support. His debut feature The White Balloon (TIFF ’95) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, launching a career marked by international acclaim and domestic censorship. Born in Mianeh, Iran, Panahi studied film at Iran Broadcasting University before working as Abbas Kiarostami’s assistant on Through the Olive Trees (1994).

Zacharias Kunuk – TIFF Special Tribute Award

Kunuk returns to the Festival with his latest enthralling imagining of ancient Inuit stories in Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband). Over a groundbreaking career spanning more than four decades, Kunuk has become renowned for telling stories from an Inuit perspective. His landmark film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (TIFF ’01) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes and was voted the Best Canadian Film of All Time by the Toronto International Film Festival Critic Poll in 2015. He has premiered several works at the Festival, including The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (TIFF ’06), Maliglutit (Searchers) (TIFF ’16), and One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk (TIFF ’19), which also headlined the Canadian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale. His first animated film, Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice, won the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film at TIFF ’21. In recognition of his cultural and artistic contributions, Kunuk was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2015 and an Officer of the Order of Nunavut in 2019.

Three Special Tribute Awards will be presented this year. Kunuk and Panahi join (the recently announced) Lee Byung Hun as recipients of this prestigious award, which recognizes an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019).

Catherine O’Hara — TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award, presented by The Budman Family

A comedic legend, Catherine O’Hara brings fearless versatility to comedy and drama alike. From her groundbreaking work on SCTV to iconic roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and as the over-the-top matriarch Moira Rose on the Canadian hit series Schitt’s Creek, she has shaped pop culture with her unforgettable characters and incredible wit. O’Hara attended the Festival with the following films: For Your Consideration (TIFF ’06), Penelope (TIFF ’06), The Right Kind of Wrong (TIFF ’13), and The Wild Robot (TIFF ’24). Recently starring in Seth Rogen’s The Studio (2025), she continues to champion Canadian film and television while inspiring generations of performers. Introduced in 2023, this award recognizes Canadians in the film industry who have made a global impact with their careers. Past recipients include David Cronenberg (2024) and Shawn Levy (2023).

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025. Stay tuned for more TIFF announcements

#FIRSTLOOK: GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS “STORIES THAT MADE US” CONCLUDES TIFF ’25 OPENING NIGHT

MADE | NOUS ambassador George Stroumboulopoulos will conclude his cross-Canada journey at the TIFF Opening Night Gala, John Candy: I Like Me, on September 4, pulling up to the red carpet after a multi-province road trip documenting the Canadian screen stories that MADE us. The TIFF and MADE | NOUS partnership will celebrate Canada’s vibrant screen heritage in front of a global Festival audience.

MADE | NOUS’s ambitious “Stories That MADE Us” campaign launched on July 25 in Vancouver, journeying through cities and small towns in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, PEI and Nunavut, among other provinces, before reaching the end of the road in Toronto. After traveling thousands of kilometres by car, boat and plane, and speaking to Canadians at every stop, George will arrive at TIFF’s Opening Night Gala carpet to debut an exclusive first look at the docuseries chronicling his journey. In the days following his arrival, George will continue engaging with festival-goers and Torontonians, offering them a unique opportunity to join the ongoing national conversation.

Québécois comedian and MADE | NOUS ambassador Rosalie Vaillancourt also embarked on a tour across Quebec and the Maritimes, shining a light on French-language Canadian screen stories that reflect and shape francophone culture. Her journey will be featured alongside George’s in the upcoming docuseries.

Created in partnership by the Canada Media Fund, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, and Telefilm Canada, the MADE | NOUS initiative has been spotlighting Canada’s world-class talent in film, television, gaming, and digital entertainment since 2019. Its mission is to redefine how Canadian content is perceived both at home and around the world.

#FIRSTLOOK: “BLACK RABBIT” TRAILER

Netflix today debuted the official trailer for the propulsive new limited series, BLACK RABBIT. Starring and executive produced by Jude Law and Jason Bateman, this gripping crime thriller premieres Thursday, September 18, 2025 only on Netflix. This will.be part of TIFF ’25‘s Primetime Programme as well.

From creators Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, Black Rabbit also stars Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and Troy Kotsur, with Abbey Lee, Chris Coy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Forrest Weber, Odessa Young and Robin De Jesus.

ABOUT BLACK RABBIT:
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s high-pressure nightlife scene, Black Rabbit centers around two brothers who learn just how far family, and the pursuit of success, can push them to the edge. Jake Friedkin (Jude Law) is the charismatic owner of The Black Rabbit, a restaurant and VIP lounge, poised to become the hottest spot in New York. But when his brother, Vince (Jason Bateman), returns to the business unexpectedly, trouble soon follows; opening the door to old traumas and new dangers that threaten to bring down everything they’ve built. Black Rabbit is a propulsive thrill ride and character examination about the way an unbreakable bond between two brothers can shatter their world and everything in its orbit.
The series is created and executive produced by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for Youngblood Pictures. Executive producers include Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan and Roxie Rodriguez for Aggregate Films; Jude Law and Ben Jackson for Riff Raff Entertainment; Bryan Kavanaugh Jones from Automatik; Andrew Hinderaker, Zac Fognowski, Justin Levy, Dave Bernon and Erica Kay.

Series Credits:
Creators: Zach Baylin, Kate Susman
Executive Producers: Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan and Roxie Rodriguez’s Aggregate Films; Jude Law and Ben Jackson’s Riff Raff Entertainment; Zach Baylin and Kate Susman’s Youngblood Pictures; Bryan Kavanaugh Jones from Automatik; Andrew Hinderaker, Zac Fognowski, Justin Levy, Dave Bernon and Erica Kay
Cast: Bateman, Law, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Chris Coy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Odessa Young and Robin De Jesus, with Amir Malaklou, Don Harvey, Forrest Weber, Francis Benhamou , Gus Birney, John Ales and Steve Witting.
Directors: Jason Bateman (101, 102), Laura Linney (103, 104), Ben Semanoff (105, 106), Justin Kurzel (107,108)
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#TIFF25: TIFF50 INDUSTRY CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING

The TIFF 50 Industry Conference presented by Christie Digital, is taking place September 5–9, welcoming thousands of Canadian and international delegates to Toronto. TIFF Industry programming includes business development, deal-making opportunities, and networking, with sessions spotlighting the trends and decision-makers shaping today’s global screen sector. In 2026, TIFF will build on its strong foundation of industry offerings by launching TIFF: The Market — a seven-day event designed to drive the global film, television, and innovation industries forward, funded by the Government of Canada and by Major Supporter Telefilm Canada.

The Industry Conference Presented by Christie Digital includes six pillars: Visionaries, Dialogues, Perspectives, Microsessions, Spotlight, and — new this year — Buyers in Focus, a series of panel conversations with global acquisition executives. TIFF’s Media Partners return with an expanded slate of highly anticipated Special Events, including live podcasts. The TIFF Talent Development programming also returns with impactful labs, fellowships, and funds that support emerging creators and their projects.

VISIONARIES
The Visionaries lineup, supported by Media Partner The Hollywood Reporter, includes inspirational onstage conversations with an illustrious list, including Donna Langley DBE, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios; Andrea Scrosati, Group Chief Operating Officer and CEO Continental Europe, Fremantle; Yelena Rachitsky, Head of Emerging Formats at Meta; Edward Berger (Ballad of a Small Player); and Sterlin Harjo (The Lowdown), presented by the Indigenous Screen Office.

DIALOGUES

Moderated conversations between directors, screenwriters, and producers about their creative craft. The Media Partner for Dialogues is Variety, supported by Ontario Creates.

Creative Visions in Animated Feature Films with Domee Shi (Elio), Momoko Seto (Dandelion’s Odyssey), and Mamoru Hosoda (Scarlet)

Indie Producers on a Shifting Landscape with Diana Bustamante, Julia Lebedev, Yulia Evina Bhara, Alex C. Lo, and Daniel Bekerman

New Comedic Voices in Feature Film with Maude Apatow & Raffi Donatich (Poetic License), Jonatan Etzler & Jess O’Kane (Bad Apples), and Chandler Levack (Mile End Kicks)

Short Cuts to First Features with Lloyd Lee Choi (Lucky Lu), Sasha Leigh Henry (Dinner With Friends), Taratoa Stappard (Mārama), and Eva Thomas (Nika & Madison) – Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada

Modern Whore: From Book to Screen with Nicole Bazuin

PERSPECTIVES

Moderated panel discussions on the current state of industry. The Media Partner for Perspectives is Screen International, with additional speakers to be confirmed.

Accessible Productions: Best Practices – Co-programmed with the Disability Screen Office and supported by Telefilm Canada

Building Inclusive and Collaborative Productions with Jennifer Podemski, Ama Ampadu, Karen Harnisch, and Tamara Dawit

Latin American Cinema in Challenging Times with Manuel García, Nicolás Celis, Claudia Triana Soto, and Fernando Juan Lima

Producing Elevated Art-House Series with Baltasar Kormákur, Sameer Nair, and Gwen Gorst

Sourcing Stories in a Multi-Platform World with Adam Levine and Bradley Hope

Unlocking New Possibilities for Storytelling with AI with Nikola Todorovic, Christina Lee Storm, Ángel Manuel Soto, Seungwoo Kim, and Don Allen Stevenson III

Cinema on the Rise: Expanding Opportunities Across MENA with Zain Duraie (Sink) and Seyhmus Altun (As We Breathe) —

Indigenous Perspectives on Creative Sovereignty in Co-Productions

MICROSESSIONS

Moderated panel discussions with key subject matter experts programmed in collaboration with industry partners.

Coming Soon: Developing New Work in South Korea – Presented in Partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre Canada

SIRA | Inside the African Grid Shaping Our Future: Creating Roadmaps to Co-Production and Sales in the Global Marketplace – Presented by SIRA – The African Hub

Maximizing Co-Production with Canada: Meet the Provinces – Presented by Ontario Creates

Are You Ready to Apply to Telefilm Canada? – Presented by Telefilm Canada with media partner Playback

Exploring the Futures of Distribution – Presented by Telefilm Canada with media partner Playback

The UK: Where Partnerships Bring Stories to Life – Presented by British Film Commission, British Film Institute, UK Department of Business and Trade, and VisitBritain

SPOTLIGHT

Breakfast events with national and regional promotion agencies and industry organizations focusing on pitching, networking, and project financing.

Gold Pitch Filmmaker Showcase – Presented by Gold House

Northern Ontario: Above and Beyond – Presented by Cultural Industries Ontario North

Italy, Your Strategic Film Partner! B2B Co-Producing with Italy – Presented by Italian Trade Agency

Italy, Your Strategic Film Partner! Filming in Italy Forum – Presented by Italian Trade Agency

Producing the Vision: Balancing Artistry and Efficiency – Presented by Greenslate, Circus, and Angle on Producers

AI on the Roof – Presented by AI on the Lot

New HERizons: Asian Women Shaping Film – Presented by Taiwan Creative Content Agency

BUYERS IN FOCUS (new this year)
As TIFF marks its 50th edition, Buyers in Focus emerges as a new pillar of the TIFF Industry Conference, offering attendees more access to decision-makers, and laying the groundwork for TIFF: The Market in 2026. This series of conversations offers an inside look at the evolving strategies, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s film marketplace and distribution landscape.

Featured companies include: BF Distribution, Bir Film, Blue Pictures Entertainment, Constantin Film, Curzon Film, FilmOne Entertainment, Filmladen Filmverleih GmbH, Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A., Impact Films, La Subterránea, MAD Solutions & Arab Cinema Center, Madman Entertainment, Mongrel Media, NonStop Entertainment, RAI Cinema, September Film, Sony Pictures Classics, and more.

SPECIAL EVENTS

TIFF’s partners host exclusive conversations, including onstage podcasts, with some of the Festival’s most exciting directors and actors. More Industry Conference Special Events will be shared soon to registered professionals.

Academy Conversation: The Changing Landscape of Distribution – Co-programmed by AMPAS

Series Up Close with Mae Martin – Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario and Media Partner, Deadline

The Ankler & Pure Nonfiction LIVE with Mariska Hargitay and Thom Powers (TIFF Docs)

Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch – Creators pitch their feature film or episodic scripts featuring science and technology themes in front of a live audience and a panel of decision-makers.

Sloan Science on Film Showcase – A scientific expert joins the director Ildikó Enyedi of Silent Friend at this Official Selection film’s Q&A to discuss its science and technology themes. Funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science and Technology program.

TIFF TALENT DEVELOPMENT at the TALENT HUB

The following programmes are designed to support the development of emerging directors, producers, writers, and showrunners, and their projects:

Labs

Directors’ Lab – Returning in 2025, reimagined to include more business development support, and fall under future Market plans

Series Accelerator – Presented by Canada Media Fund

Every Story Accelerator – Supported by RBC Foundation

Summit, Showcases & Funds

CHANEL Women Creators’ Network Micro Talent Summit – Supported by CHANEL

CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund – Supported by CJ Cultural Foundation and The Korean Film Council

Monkeypaw Productions’ NO DRAMA Short Film Showcase – Powered by the Universal Filmmakers Project and TIFF

The Industry Conference schedule and more information on all sessions is now available on tiff.net. Industry accreditation, including access to the Industry Conference, can be purchased online until August 22 and onsite at the Hyatt Regency starting September 2. The TIFF Industry Conference is supported by Major Supporters Ontario Creates and Telefilm Canada. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

#TIFF25: 2025 INDUSTRY SELECTS LINEUP ANNOUNCED

TIFF announces its 2025 Industry Selects lineup – 10 standout, audience-ready titles from around the world, available for acquisition during the Festival’s 50th edition. The slate spans genres including drama, thriller, comedy, and documentary. This year’s group represents a range of global perspectives, offering buyers a focused selection of titles with international sales and distribution potential.

As TIFF expands its industry offerings ahead of TIFF: The Market launching in 2026, Industry Selects continues to offer accredited professionals a curated showcase of titles positioned for the global marketplace, including compelling stories, established talent, and breakout debuts from around the globe.

2025 Industry Selects (in alphabetical order):

A Survivor’s Tale | Micha Wald | Belgium, France | Pulsar Content

Dolph: Unbreakable | Andrew Holmes | Canada, USA, Sweden | Upstream Flix Inc.

Falling | James Krisel, Colin Krisel | UK | Gulfstream Pictures, UTA

Find Your Friends | Izabel Pakzad | USA | CAA

Hana Korea | Frederik Sølberg | Denmark, Korea | REinvent International Sales

Holy Days | Nathalie Boltt | New Zealand, Canada | Blue Fox Entertainment

Killing Castro | Eif Rivera | USA | CAA

On the End | Ari Selinger | USA | The End Movie Inc. (still seen above)

Stitches | Shirley Frimpong-Manso | Nigeria | Blue Pictures Entertainment

Straight Circle | Oscar Hudson | UK | Global Constellation

Industry Selects is programmed by Liane Cunje.

Note: All rights availability details are subject to change. Accredited industry professionals, including buyers, can download the 2025 Rights List Preview from the delegate resources site on August 21 The complete and final list will be posted to delegate resources by August 29.

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

#FIRSTLOOK: “IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT” TRAILER

We get a new Trailer for TIFF ’25 selection, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

Directed by: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his former sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal’s identity. As the bickering group drives around Tehran with the captive, they must confront how far to take matters into their own hands with their presumed tormentor. From master filmmaker Jafar Panahi comes a searing moral thriller that engages with complex ideas about the uncertainty of the truth and the choice between revenge and mercy, as Panahi turns his personal dissonance into a profound and galvanizing work of art.

#TIFF25: TIFF ANNOUNCE IN-CONVERSATIONS AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

With just three weeks until the Festival, TIFF is proud to share a preview of this year’s programming and events that go beyond the big screen, offering a broader lens on the global entertainment industry’s influence. TIFF’s iconic In Conversation With… (ICW) series is set to welcome international superstars Park Chan-wook, Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Tessa Thompson alongside Nia DaCosta, five bold, original voices who will engage audiences through candid, in-depth conversations about their careers, craft, and creative journeys. The 50th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

TIFF Next Wave presents an inaugural TIFF: Close-Up conversation with Project Y co-stars Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo. Programmed specifically for TIFF’s Under-25 audience, this is an opportunity to hear from two of the most exciting global rising stars at this year’s Festival.

“As we mark TIFF’s 50th edition, our programming continues to reflect our belief that film and creative expression can spark dialogue, challenge perspectives, and build connection,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “From intimate ICWs and a Close-Up event with today’s biggest stars, to events designed to elevate and celebrate creative communities, we’re proud to offer Festival goers opportunities to further engage.”

Now in its third year, TIFF’s invite-only Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC, hosted at RBC House (Petros82), and supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is a vibrant celebration of the Black creative community. The event fosters connection, shared experience, and collective growth by bringing together both local and international voices. This year’s brunch will also shine a spotlight on the 30th anniversary and enduring legacy of Planet Africa, the groundbreaking Festival programme founded by Cameron Bailey in 1995.

Announced last week, the Criterion Mobile Closet is making its sixth stop and its Canadian debut as part of TIFF’s Festival Street, Sept 4–7. Open to the public, visitors are invited to explore its extensive collection of 1700 films and to make your very own Closet video. And if you miss your chance to visit, part of the collection and Criterion merchandise will be available in the TIFF Shop. More news about other Festival Street activations will be shared closer to the Festival.

More info on: In Conversation With…

In Conversation With… Park Chan-wook, presented by The Korean Film Council

Director Park Chan-wook’s blend of striking visuals and masterful tension has cemented his status as one of contemporary cinema’s most influential auteurs. His elegant, genre-defying storytelling has consistently challenged cinematic conventions while exploring themes of obsession, morality, and the human psyche. Join us for a rare opportunity to hear Park Chan-wook, in conversation with Don McKellar, about the evolution of his craft, his impactful career, and the making of No Other Choice — a film co-written with McKellar, and an essential new addition to one of the most celebrated filmographies of the 21st century.

In Conversation With… Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is truly one of a kind: the professional wrestler turned movie superstar has a powerful connection with his global fan base, which includes diehard adult wrestling fans, young Maui devotees, and everyone in between. Johnson joins TIFF for an exclusive conversation about his journey from the ring to Hollywood, his work as a producer and co-owner of Seven Bucks Productions, and his creative collaboration with A24, Benny Safdie, and long-time friend and co-star Emily Blunt to bring the true story of MMA legend Mark Kerr to the big screen in The Smashing Machine.

In Conversation With… Ryan Reynolds, presented by Prime Video

Creator, producer, writer, actor, entrepreneur, and co-owner of one of the oldest football clubs in the world, Ryan Reynolds is a creative force in Hollywood and beyond. Recently named an Officer of the Order of Canada, Vancouver-born Reynolds is proudly Canadian with a healthy dash of global ambition. As TIFF opens the Festival with John Candy: I Like Me, Reynolds will discuss his work as a producer on the film, the influence of John Candy on his own career, and his work in front of and behind the camera at his company Maximum Effort.

In Conversation With… Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta

Actor-producer Tessa Thompson and director-screenwriter Nia DaCosta discuss their bold new collaboration Hedda, a striking reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler. This intimate conversation will take audiences behind the scenes of one of the year’s greatly anticipated films, while delving into Thompson and DaCosta’s creative partnership and their respective careers. Join us for a revealing conversation about artistry, risk, and the power of creative collaboration.

More information on Close Up:

Close-Up (클로즈업): Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo

The World Premiere of Lee Hwan’s highly anticipated Project Y is part of #TIFF50, and TIFF Next Wave is presenting a special Close-Up (in Korean: 클로즈업) event with film co-stars Han So-hee and Jun Jong-seo. So-hee and Jong-seo will speak about their friendship, creative collaboration on Project Y, and their respective journeys in the entertainment world, with special focus on their starring roles in such K-Pop music videos as Seven by Jung Kook and Derre by Bibi.

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “SWIPED”

The Hulu Original film “Swiped” from 20th Century Studios will debut exclusively September 19, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada. The film will hold its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2025.

Inspired by the provocative real-life story of the visionary founder of online dating platform Bumble, “Swiped” introduces recent college grad Whitney Wolfe, played by Lily James, as she uses extraordinary grit and ingenuity to break into the male-dominated tech industry and launch an innovative, globally lauded dating app (two, actually), paving the way to becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. “Swiped” is directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg and written by Bill Parker & Rachel Lee Goldenberg and Kim Caramele. The film also stars Jackson White, Myha’la, Ben Schnetzer, Pierson Fodé, Clea DuVall, Pedro Correa, Ian Colleti, Coral Peña, and Dan Stevens. Jennifer Gibgot, Andrew Panay, and Lily James produce.

#TIFF25: TIFF ANNOUNCE CLASSICS PROGRAMME AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF is celebrating its 50th edition with a robust Classics programme, presented by MUBI, and supported by Ontario Creates and the Canada Council for the Arts. Programmed by Robyn Citizen, TIFF’s Director of Programming, and Senior Curator Andréa Picard, TIFF Classics offers audiences a curated selection of influential classic films from around the world. Presented in a slate of new 4K restorations, these landmark works return to the big screen to be experienced as they were meant to be seen, and are presented alongside special 50th anniversary screenings of Jaws in 35mm. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

An exhilarating and eclectic mix, this year’s Classics comprise a wide breadth, from lesser-known films from established auteurs, discoveries, films with rising cult status, and revered blockbusters. Rarely shown and largely out of circulation, Aniki-Bóbó is the impressive debut by the late, great Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira; a sly, delightful children’s tale set in a working-class neighbourhood in Porto. Once voted the best Iranian film of all time, Bashu, the Little Stranger by Iranian New Wave pioneer Bahram Beyzaie, tells the story of a boy orphaned by the Iraq-Iran war with pathos and gentle humour. Satyajit Ray’s lesser-known modernist masterpiece Days and Nights in the Forest is incandescent in this new restoration, initiated by Wes Anderson. Rediscoveries of trailblazing voices include The Arch by T’ang Shushuen, adapted from a 17th century Chinese tale and one of the first independent films made in Hong Kong (and by a woman), and iconoclast Michael Almereyda’s hip interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula by way of nineties New York in Nadja which first premiered at TIFF in 1994. Finally, celebrating its 50th anniversary alongside TIFF is Steven Spielberg’s iconic summer blockbuster chiller Jaws, presented in 35mm as a Canadian exclusive.

2025 Classics (in alphabetical order)

Aniki-Bóbó | Manoel de Oliveira | Portugal | 1942
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Bashu, the Little Stranger (Bashu Gharibeh Kouchak) | Bahram Beyzaie | Iran | 1986
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Days and Nights in the Forest (Aranyer Din Ratri) | Satyajit Ray | India | 1970
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Jaws | Steven Spielberg | USA | 1975
50th Anniversary – 35mm Canadian exclusive

Nadja | Michael Almereyda | USA | 1994
World Premiere of 4K restoration

Sholay | Ramesh Sippy | India | 1975
50th Anniversary and North American Premiere of 4K restoration | Gala (previously announced), co-presented by Classics

The Arch (董夫人) | T’ang Shushuen | Hong Kong | 1968
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Today’s announcements mark the last of this year’s TIFF Takeovers. Tickets go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 15. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 12. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025.

#TIFF25: WAVELENGTHS PROGRAMME AT 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF is thrilled to announce its 25th Wavelengths programme, the Festival’s steadfast visionary selection highlighting the best of international cinema, the experimental and avant-garde, and contemporary art. This year’s lineup — through eight features, a special pairing, and three shorts programmes — offers a timely reflection on the art of cinema, bringing together emerging talents alongside legendary filmmakers. From epics to miniatures, the works in this year’s programme push the boundaries of filmic form and language in ways both inspiring and resonant. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025.

Wavelengths favourites returning with features include Lav Diaz, with his new Luminary designation, to present the Gael García Bernal-fronted decolonial epic Magellan (still above); Ben Rivers with his fable-like post-apocalyptic Mare’s Nest; the ever-sly Nicolás Pereda with his typically efficient and surprising Copper; and Maureen Fazendeiro with her poetic, shape-shifting solo feature debut The Seasons.

World Premieres include Rhayne Vermette’s singular and enigmatic Levers, the anticipated follow-up to her TIFF Amplify Voices award-winning Ste. Anne (2021). TIFF is proud to also welcome a number of filmmakers making their first appearance in Wavelengths, including artist and filmmaker Kahlil Joseph with his buzzy, near-unclassifiable BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, and Alexandre Koberidze with his bold and meditative Dry Leaf, shot on an antiquated Sony Ericsson phone.

Additionally, this year’s lineup features a special pairing of Kamal Aljafari’s powerful With Hasan in Gaza, which screens alongside Basma al-Sharif’s equally moving short It’s So Beautiful Here (one of two films by the artist in this year’s selection).

Across three curated programmes, this year’s shorts boast an international and intergenerational mix of artists, a number of film prints, and one work of 3D. World Premieres by Viktoria Schmid, Björn Kämmerer, Blake Williams, and Friedl vom Gröller will be presented alongside exciting first appearances by newcomers Fredj Moussa, Kaiwen Ren, and Eri Saito, among others.

Additional highlights include new work by Mark Jenkin — also presenting his feature Rose of Nevada in Special Presentations — Chan Hau Chun; Jorge Caballero and Camilo Restrepo; Abdellah Taïa; Sohrab Hura; and Maryam Tafakory, with her award-winning Daria’s Night Flowers.

Finally, this year’s diverse showcase also includes a heartfelt tribute to celebrated avant-garde filmmaker Tomonari Nishikawa, a long-time friend of the Festival who passed away in April. In his honour, TIFF will screen his short Ten Mornings Ten Evenings and One Horizon, first presented as a World Premiere at TIFF ’16.

Wavelengths is named after Michael Snow’s iconic 1967 film Wavelength, and draws continued inspiration from the artist’s boundless exploration, experimentation, and innovation across media. The programme is curated by Senior Curator Andréa Picard and Associate Curator Jesse Cumming, with contributions from Jason Anderson and Diana Cadavid.

Wavelengths Features (in alphabetical order):

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions | Kahlil Joseph | USA
Canadian Premiere

Copper (Cobre) | Nicolás Pereda | Canada/Mexico
North American Premiere

Dry Leaf | Alexandre Koberidze | Germany/Georgia
North American Premiere

Levers | Rhayne Vermette | Canada
World Premiere

Magellan (Magalhães) | Lav Diaz | Portugal/Spain/France/Philippines/Taiwan
North American Premiere

Mare’s Nest | Ben Rivers | France/UK/Canada
North American Premiere

The Seasons (As Estações) | Maureen Fazendeiro | Portugal/France/Spain/Austria
North American Premiere

Wavelengths Pairings

With Hasan in Gaza | Kamal Aljafari | Palestine/Germany/France/Qatar
North American Premiere

preceded by

It’s So Beautiful Here | Basma al-Sharif | Palestine
International Premiere

Wavelengths Shorts

Wavelengths 1: Map of Traces

Ten Mornings Ten Evenings and One Horizon | Tomonari Nishikawa | Japan

Rojo Žalia Blau | Viktoria Schmid | Austria
World Premiere

Disappeared | Sohrab Hura | India/Nepal
Canadian Premiere

09/05/1982 | Jorge Caballero, Camilo Restrepo | Mexico/Spain
North American Premiere

Map of Traces (記憶座標) | Chan Hau Chun | Hong Kong
World Premiere

En Traversée | Vadim Kostrov | France
Canadian Premiere

Wavelengths 2: Into the Blue

I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash | Mark Jenkin | UK
North American Premiere

From My Cloud (구름으로부터) | Minjung Kim | South Korea
World Premiere

Cairo Streets | Abdellah Taïa | France
North American Premiere

Daria’s Night Flowers (گل‌های شب ِدریا) | Maryam Tafakory | France/Iran/UK
North American Premiere

Aftertide | Kaiwen Ren | USA/China
World Premiere

Wavelengths 3: Slightest Pretense

Land of Barbar (بلاد البربر) | Fredj Moussa | Tunisia
World Premiere

Conditio Humana | Friedl vom Gröller | Austria
World Premiere

Slightest Pretense (わずかな見せかけ) | Eri Saito | Japan
World Premiere

CONFERENCE | Björn Kämmerer | Austria
World Premiere

Morgenkreis | Basma al-Sharif | Canada/United Arab Emirates
International Premiere

FELT | Blake Williams | Canada
World Premiere