Happy TIFF season! From September 4-14, the Toronto International Film Festival will bring the city to life for its 50th anniversary edition, with hundreds of film premieres, superstar guests, and tons of activities that film lovers won’t want to miss.
Wondering which celebrities you can see, where to watch the red carpets, or what you can do for free during TIFF? We’ve gathered some of the must-know information for this year’s festival, including everything you need to know about celebrity guests, Fan Zones, and Festival Street.
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Celebrity Guests
TIFF is the place to be to catch a glimpse of some of your favourite stars. Whether they’re walking the red carpet, greeting fans, or even grabbing a bite at a restaurant downtown, there are countless stars coming to this year’s festival that we’re excited to see on the streets of Toronto. Approximately 730 guests are expected to attend TIFF this year, including:
- Amanda Seyfried
- America Ferrera
- Angelina Jolie
- Angourie Rice
- Barbie Ferreira
- Catherine O’Hara
- Charli xcx
- Chloé Zhao
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph
- Elizabeth Olsen
- Elle Fanning
- Emily Blunt
- Jodie Foster
- June Squibb
- Kerry Washington
- Kirsten Dunst
- Lily James
- Mae Martin
- Maude Apatow
- Mia Goth
- Mila Kunis
- Naomi Scott
- Natalie Portman
- Renate Reinsve
- Sarah McLachlan
- Scarlett Johansson
- Shailene Woodley
- Toni Collette
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Festival Street
From September 4-7, a stretch of King Street will transform into a pedestrian-only space filled with activities for Toronto’s film lovers to enjoy. From Peter Street to University Avenue, Festival Street is the best way to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy and culture surrounding the festival. With plenty of free entertainment, activations, food, drinks, and immersive experiences, this is a must-do on opening weekend—whether or not you scored TIFF tickets. Here are a few Festival Street happenings to keep on your radar:
Criterion Mobile Closet
Cinephiles at TIFF this year will get to experience their own moment in the Criterion Closet! The Canadian debut of the Criterion Mobile Closet will allow the public to explore the collection of over 1,700 films and make their own video in the iconic closet. Lines will be long, so plan to arrive early.
Cinema Park
Another beloved TIFF tradition returns! Cinema Park is back this year with free, open-air film screenings in David Pecaut Square, every night at 10pm from September 4-13. This year’s lineup includes: The Goonies (Sept. 4), Uncle Buck (Sept. 5), Sound of Metal (Sept. 6), Marie Antoinette (Sept. 7), Best in Show (Sept. 8), Before Sunrise (Sept. 9), High Fidelity (Sept. 10), Lady Bird (Sept. 11), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Sept. 12), and Moonstruck (Sept. 13).
Festival Street Art Market
Discover and connect with 14 Toronto film festivals and arts organizations at the Festival Street Art Market. Booths and live performances will take over John Street as local groups share initiatives, activities, and their upcoming programming. Featured orgs include Toronto Film School, Inside Out Film Festival, Reel Asian Film Festival, imagineNATIVE, OCAD, Luminato Festival, and Regent Park Film Festival.
Sushi Bar
Sushi lovers—don’t miss your chance to score some free omakase! In celebration of the TIFF premiere of Still Single, a documentary about Canada’s first two-star Michelin chef, savour a taste of Masaki Saito’s groundbreaking culinary creations. On September 5 from 5-6:30pm, a 60-foot sushi bar pop-up will provide festivalgoers free omakase prepared by over a dozen chefs from Yorkville’s MSSM.
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Fan Zones
Wondering how watch the red carpet action up close? TIFF’s dedicated Fan Zones allow festivalgoers access to watch their favourite celebrities walk the red carpet! This is your best shot at a celebrity sighting at TIFF—stars often approach the zones to greet their fans, take photos, and sign autographs. In addition to two Fan Zones on King Street, there are also five zones in David Pecaut Square. This year, fans must reserve free tickets to the Fan Zones in advance—tickets will be released daily at noon for the following day. More info.
Must-See Film Premieres
There are hundreds of film screenings taking place throughout TIFF, with so many buzzy new titles making their premiere at the festival. Our guide to TIFF 2025 will take you through the must-see titles led by women and gender diverse folks, including Swiped, the story of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe, Peak Everything, TIFF’s closing night rom-com, and directorial debuts from Maude Apatow and Scarlett Johansson. Depending on your film(s) of choice, it may be difficult to score last-minute tickets, but you can always try your luck with the Rush Line!
For more information about TIFF and the full schedule events, visit their website.
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