The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is set to dazzle audiences with a powerful lineup featuring world premieres, acclaimed directors, and A-list stars including Sydney Sweeney, Angelina Jolie, Aziz Ansari, and Keanu Reeves.
Toronto International Film Festival organizers announced the Gala and Special Presentations, which form the heart of North America’s largest red carpet film event. The festival runs from September 4 to 14, 2025.
Among the anticipated world premieres:
Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune – A comedy starring Keanu Reeves as an angel helping Ansari’s character rediscover purpose.
David Michôd’s Christy – Featuring Sydney Sweeney as legendary boxer Christy Martin.
Alice Winocour’s Couture – Starring Angelina Jolie as a filmmaker navigating the drama of Paris Fashion Week.
They join Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, marking the third entry in the franchise to debut at Toronto International Film Festival.
Other major premieres include:
Roofman by Derek Cianfrance, starring Channing Tatum as a desperate father-turned-criminal.
Hedda, a bold Ibsen adaptation directed by Nia DaCosta, featuring Tessa Thompson.
The Choral by Nicholas Hytner, a WWI drama with Ralph Fiennes.
The Christophers, Steven Soderbergh’s third film of 2025.
Rental Family by Hikari, with Brendan Fraser portraying an American actor in Japan.
The Lost Bus from Paul Greengrass, where Matthew McConaughey plays a bus driver during California’s 2018 Camp Fire.
TIFF 2025 will open with John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary tribute to the Canadian comedy icon, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds.
While Toronto International Film Festival is a major fall awards season launchpad, some buzz-worthy selections will also appear at Venice and Telluride before Toronto. These include:
Hamnet (Chloé Zhao)
Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)
The Smashing Machine (Benny Safdie)
Ballad of a Smaller Player (Edward Berger)
Additional noteworthy titles:
Nuremberg, starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe in a historical courtroom drama.
Swiped, a biopic of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, with Lily James.
Franz, a Kafka-inspired film by Agnieszka Holland.
Directorial debuts to watch:
Glenrothan by actor Brian Cox
Poetic License by Maude Apatow
Further highlights include:
Bad Apples – Saoirse Ronan stars as a teacher facing a disruptive student.
Easy’s Waltz – A Las Vegas drama with Vince Vaughn and Al Pacino.
Adulthood – A coming-of-age story directed by Alex Winter.
TIFF will also showcase acclaimed films from Cannes, such as:
It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi (Palme d’Or winner)
Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier
Sirât by Oliver Laxe
Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater
