It’s officially Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) season in Toronto, presented by Rogers, and running from September 4-14, 2025! The city will be booming with A-list celebrities, the hottest new film premieres from all over the world, events, lounges, hospitality experiences and so much more.
Looking to have some TIFF fun? Check out our guide below to some of the hottest spots to celebrate TIFF’s 50th year.
TIFF Opening Night Party
To kick off TIFF’s 50-year anniversary, Redbreast Whiskey will be front and centre at the festival’s official Opening Night Party, one of the most anticipated industry events of the season. Taking place at the historic Liberty Grand, Redbreast will engage guests with an immersive speakeasy experience featuring premium whiskey cocktails, tastings and memorable moments.
Festival Street
TIFF’s Festival Street turns 10! The iconic King West Festival Street returns for its tenth year, transforming King Street West into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space for film lovers from September 4–7.
The 50th Festival kicks off with the official unveiling of TIFF’s star on Canada’s Walk of Fame on Thursday, September 4, at 4pm outside TIFF Lightbox. All are welcome to the ceremony, which will be followed by a lively cake-cutting celebration to officially open Festival Street.
Throughout the festival, David Pecaut Square will host open-air screenings and activities, extending TIFF 50 beyond the street from September 4–13, and the CN Tower will light up in gold, every hour on the hour, post sunset throughout the Festival.
Stretching from Peter Street to University Avenue, the four-day celebration offers free entertainment, immersive activities, and a lively mix of food, drinks, art, and culture.
New this year, Festival Street will have Billboard Canada and NXNE Music Zones, featuring Billboard DJs with locations by the Art Market and by the Food Market, where there will also be an outdoor dining activation with additional seating and lighting to soak it all in.
There’s also Corridoor By Maziart, a holographic, immersive experience using interactive technology, inviting passersby to walk down memory lane and become part of a surreal, cinematic red carpet experience by artist Maziar Ghaderi; and a live painting of a 3D Light Box mural to celebrate TIFF’s People Choice Award winners and half a century of innovation in film by artist Adrian Hayles, supported by the Toronto Downtown West BIA.
Criterion Mobile Closet
For the first time, Festival Street will host the beloved Criterion Mobile Closet, marking its Canadian debut.
The Criterion Mobile Closet is stocked with more than 1,000 of the greatest films from around the world, the Criterion Collection Closet may offer more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet.
Filmmakers, stars, and creative luminaries of all kinds come to Criterion to champion their favourite films in their popular Criterion Closet Picks video series. In honour of their fortieth anniversary, they’re taking the Closet on the road and opening the door to everyone.
Open to the public, visitors are invited to explore more than 1,700 films and make their very own Closet videos. If you miss your chance to visit, Criterion movies and merchandise will be available in TIFF Shop.
Watch this space for details on future locations, and be sure to follow Criterion on Instagram, X, or Facebook for updates.
Cinema Park
Cinema Park is back with free outdoor screenings in David Pecault Square. Inspired by TIFF’s Official Selections and guests, these classics come with a few surprises!
This year’s lineup features the 40th anniversary of The Goonies (September 4), Uncle Buck (September 5), Sound of Metal (September 6), Marie Antoinette (September 7), the 25th anniversary of Best in Show (September 8), the 30th anniversary of Before Sunrise (September 9), the 25th anniversary of High Fidelity (September 10), Lady Bird (September 11), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (September 12), and Moonstruck (September 13).
Films will be presented with open captions and screened nightly, rain or shine, at 10pm.
Festival Street Art Market
The Art Market, in partnership with Toronto Film School will have booths along John Street, featuring 14 of the city’s most exciting community film festivals and arts groups including live performances.
Participants include Toronto Film School, Inside Out Film Festival, Reel Asian Film Festival, imagineNATIVE, OCAD, Luminato Festival, Regent Park Film Festival, Muse Arts, Toronto Latin American Film Festival, REEL CANADA, and Toronto Public Library.
Also joining this year are Blank Canvases, College of Make Up & Design, and Hand Eye Society.
Redbreast Experiences & Tastings
Redbreast Whiskey has teamed up with acclaimed restaurant ALO to present a special Pairing Series to delight and surprise whiskey and film buffs alike.
Diners will enjoy a set menu of chef-curated dishes paired with signature Redbreast expressions. Reservations for the premium culinary experience can be made through OpenTable, with seatings available throughout September.
Redbreast has also partnered with popular TIFF hotspots Minami, Fox on John, Melrose, St. John’s Tavern and more to offer limited-edition Redbreast film-inspired cocktail menus that give everyone a chance to taste the city-wide celebration of film and Irish flavour.
The Campari Cinema Center Returns for TIFF 50
This is where TIFF’s biggest stars will be and it’s the perfect chance to star gaze along King West and maybe snap an iconic moment of an A-lister in the heart of our city.
This year marks the Cinema Center’s most ambitious program yet, with events running September 5–11, 2025. Campari returns as Title Sponsor, joined by category sponsors Lavazza Coffee, Rodeo FX, Vellamo Natural Spring Water, Discreta Toronto (the city’s newest King Street lounge), and Jacob & Co. Steakhouse Toronto, recently named one of the world’s 101 best steakhouses.
Produced by Roxstar Entertainment, the leading Hollywood events and communications group, the Campari Cinema Center remains the premier hospitality hub at TIFF, offering press activations, star-studded receptions, and exclusive after-parties.
The stars expected to make an appearance at the Campari Cinema Center include: Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Alana Hadid and Bella Hadid, Dylan Sprouse, Josh Duhamel, Til Schweiger, Vince Vaughn, Shania Twain, Kate Mara, Cobie Smulders, Al Pacino, Simon Rex, Josh Gad, Kaya Scodelario, Billie Lourd, Alex Winter, Anthony Carrigan, and more!
BISHA Hotel
Toronto’s BISHA Hotel is home to Deadline Portrait Studio where you can expect to see stars like Catherine O’Hara, Scarlett Johanson and many, many more this year! It’s going to be the perfect place to star gaze, and is home to some iconic TIFF-themed menu items at BISHA’s dining venues.
Inside the BISHA Hotel, you can head to Akira Back to indulge in the Cow Wow Roll made with wagyu beef, umami slaw ($34) and the Critic’s Choice Cocktail made with Suntory, plum sake and yuzu ($22). For a quicker visit while hoping to make a chance encounter with a star, visit French Made.
At French Made, you can get a Salted Caramel Popcorn Latte ($7.50) either hot or iced, and movie-inspired pastries like a Movie Popcorn Croissant ($9), Peach Melba Macaron ($4), and Ontario Field Berry Tart ($9).
1 Hotel Toronto
official home of The Hollywood Reporter TIFF Studio
The Hollywood Reporter Studio makes its highly anticipated return to 1 Hotel Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival’s 50th anniversary from September 5 to 9. The studio is TIFF’s most star-studded interview and portrait lounge where A-List talent and filmmakers from around the world stop by to chat all about their respective films.
Last held in 2022 at 1 Hotel Toronto, it was visited by Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Kate Hudson, Harry Styles, Daniel Craig, Brandon Fraser, Zac Efron, Laura Dern, Ethan Hawke and more.
Taking root in 1 Hotel Toronto’s Flora Lounge from September 4 – 9 is The Hollywood Reporter Green Room – a vibey piano lounge. The Green Room presented in partnership with Grey Goose wraps 1 Hotel’s eco-luxury with Hollywood elegance: think rich velvet accents, living walls, soft candlelight, and a striking grand piano setting the tone each evening.Filmmakers, festival-goers, and city creatives can drop by for chef-driven bites and a cast of cinematic cocktails (full list below), between screenings to recharge in style.
Nightly live performances (from 8 – 11pm) anchor the room while conversation flows amid lush greenery, luxe textures, and warm natural details – proof that respite can be every bit as memorable as the red carpet itself. Walk-ins only.
Unhidden Gems presented by Redbreast
Film lovers are invited to discover Unhidden Gems presented by Redbreast, a co-curated list of six films worth seeing, handpicked for their authenticity, artistic depth and brilliant storytelling that helps festival goers distill must-see cinematic masterpieces at the festival, and shine a global spotlight on them.
These picks include ‘Copper‘, ‘Dinner With Friends‘, ‘Julian‘, ‘Laundry‘, ‘Levers‘, ‘The Tale of Silyan‘, and ‘Under the Same Sun.’
The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the world’s number one premium Italian beer, is toasting its fourth consecutive year at TIFF and the Festival’s landmark 50th edition.
The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro continues to bring the superior taste of Italy to TIFF with authentic, high-quality ingredients crafted in Italy. Guests can indulge in stylish, curated Italian aperitivo boards, expertly designed in partnership with International Celebrity Chef David Rocco, featuring flavours that transport you straight to the streets of Italy. Festival goers will be able to try sample pours of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, and Peroni Nastro Azzurro Stile Capri, perfectly paired with this bespoke menu.
New this year to celebrate TIFF’s 50th milestone, HOPNA will debut The Peroni Nastro Azzurro Aperitivo 50—a daily ritual from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. featuring Peroni Nastro Azzurro cocktails alongside a selection of curated aperitivo, offered at a discounted price. All proceeds from this limited-time experience will support Every Story, a TIFF initiative
Designed with the brand’s signature Peroni Nastro Azzurro blue palette, rich textures, and luxe fabrics, the reimagined space blends Italian style with the electric energy of the Festival.
In Conversation With (ICW) Series
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.
Films, of course
All official selection titles are now live on tiff.net/schedule including six additional features, bringing this year’s Festival count to 291 films (209 features, 6 Classics, 10 Primetime, and 66 shorts)
Purchasing tickets online is the easiest and most efficient way to get tickets to the screenings you want. Visit About TIFF 50 to review on-sale dates and ticket options for this year’s festival.
