One of the best things to happen in Toronto in the 70’s was the establishment of a small film festival known as The Festival of Festivals.
It ran originally in the Windsor Arms Hotel and then moved to a few downtown theatres and added some excitement to the Yonge Street area. Founded by Henk Van der Kolk, Bill Marshall and Dusty Cohl in 1976, it was originally conceived as a festival that would bring in films from other international festivals. They had heard that other festivals treated non-celebrities coldly and they wanted a film festival that would welcome everyone.
Over the past 50 years, we have seen it evolve from a small festival to one of the most popular and well attended film festivals in the world!
Talking to fellow TIFF afficiendos, there are some who have been attending yearly since the very beginning and have memories of running into stars like Quentin Tarrinto and Gina Rowlands back in the day. One film lover, David Robbins remembers being blown away by the documentary Best Boy which won Best Documentary Award in 1979. He has attended for all 50 years and is a true film lover. “There are a lot of movies that you will never get to see otherwise.”
Myself, I have grainy memories of going to the Festival in the early years. Tickets were only 6 dollars! One of the more famous films of this era that screened was In Praise of Older Women, which was seen as scandalous at the time because the censors wanted 40 seconds cut out and the programmers refused! TIFF moved to theatres like the Varsity, The Uptown, The Bloor and the Cumberland and gained popularity as celebrities started to attend. One of the first big names to show up was Henry Winkler–then hugely popular as the Fonz on Happy Days.
Over the past five decades, TIFF has evolved from the “Festival of Festivals” (the organization officially changed its name to the Toronto International Film Festival in 1994) to the largest public film festival in the world, which in 2024 welcomed approximately 700,000 guests.
Another 50th anniversary that will be celebrated at TIFF, is that of the classic film Jaws, which will be screened three times in 35 mm. I watched it recently and it holds up–no wonder it launched the career of Steven Spielberg.
For me, I have had many different experiences with TIFF. First I went as a young adult and I have a memory of seeing Neil Simon and Marsha Mason introduce a film, though I can’t find a reference to what year or film. In the 70’s not everything made it to the archives! I attended sporadically, as the festival grew. I remember seeing The Long Walk Home in 1990 and my excitement at seeing Sissy Spacek and Whoopi Goldberg up on the stage before it started.
In a recent article in the Toronto Star, Piers Handling, former CEO of TIFF between 1980 and 1999, notes that “ there was a steady growth in Oscar nominations from TIFF films, including “The Crying Game,” “The Shawshank Redemption” and “American Beauty.” These were all significant movies and studios took note. TIFF was on its way to becoming one of the top five festivals in the world. Everyone in the studios noted this.These nominations built credibility for the festival. Other films like Chariots of Fire and The Big Chill had won the People’s Choice awards at TIFF and then went on to receive Oscar nominations. The world started to pay attention to what was happening at TIFF.
Then in 2007, I had a sabbatical from my day job and I decided to become a TIFF volunteer. I trekked in from Thornhill and I was one of the few middle-aged volunteers as they are often either students or seniors. As luck would have it, my old friend from Junior High, Cheryl Pommerantz, recognized me. She was in charge of the red carpet at Roy Thompson Hall–in those days–all the celebrities came down the red carpet and in the front door to Roy Thompson hall. Cheryl offered me a dream job–to work the red carpet! We weren’t allowed to speak to celebrities or photograph them, but what an experience being right beside so many stars! That year, I saw Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Jude Law, Kate Beckinsale, and Colin Farrel, and Laura Linney walk right by me, among many others.
So here we are at TIFF50 and Toronto is in the mood to celebrate the festival that helped put it on the map. TIFF has many partners and in a city that is known for its film lovers–the 50th is being celebrated and acknowledged in many different ways.
Rogers is putting together a TIFF 50th edition television special exploring the history, and featuring archival footage, to be aired exclusively on Citytv. There is also a display of photography in celebration of TIFF’s 50th in the gallery space of the Billy Bishop Airport Pedestrian Tunnel.
Many hotels have been partners with TIFF over the years and that is where celebrity sightings often happen. This year, The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto will host the property’s annual kick-off event at d|bar by Chef Daniel Boulud and to celebrate the festival’s 50th edition they will be unveiling this year’s photo exhibit in collaboration with the TIFF Film Reference Library. There will be a Vanity Fair event, as well. celebrating the 50th, hosted by special guests Ethen Hawke and Richard Linklater.
In addition to the excitement of the 50th Anniversary, Festival Street is 10 years old! Even if you don’t see a film, it will be an experience to walk along King Street’s TIFF’s Festival Street this year. From September 4-7, King Street West transforms into a vibrant pedestrian friendly space for film lovers. Highlights include: cake cutting on Canada’s Walk of Fame, a pop-up of the Criterion Mobile Closet, open-air free screenings of films at David Pecaut Square and an outdoor dining activation by the Food Market. Even the CN Tower will light up in gold post sunset throughout the Festival in honour of the 50th.
There are 291 films screening at TIFF50 and here are some that are getting buzz that I hope to see.
The Opening Gala is John Candy: I like Me—produced by Ryan Reynolds and directed by Colin Hanks. They will be speaking about it at the TIFF industry conference. Candy helped inspire Reynold’s career and comedic sensibility as a fellow self-effacing Canadian.
Good Fortune—another Gala is a fantasy satire from first time director actor/comedian Aziz Ansari, starring Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, and Sanda Oh. You can’t go wrong with that team.
On the documentary front, I have my eye on Canceled: The Paula Deen Story and Coverup which explores the investigative journalism career of Seymour Hersh.
Two more directorial debuts look worthwhile— Scarlett Johansson makes her feature directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb. The title character pretends to be a Holocaust survivor in order to make friends, what could go wrong?
Additionally, Maude Apatow is following in her father’s footsteps with her debut feature Poetic License.
Canadian film maker Chandler Levack returns with her second feature film Mile End Kicks . Set in Montreal it chronicles the journey of a music reviewer turned publicist.
Edward Berger did such a great job with Conclave last year that I had to get a ticket to Ballad of a Small Player starring Colin Farrel who seems able to excel at any role he takes on.
Blue Moon with Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley looks enchanting. Set in 1943, much of it takes place in Sardi’s, a famous New York restaurant.
If you have ever wondered who to spend eternity with, check out Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner and Miles Teller in David Freyne’s film Eternity, a story about a love triangle that takes place after death.
After The Whale, I am hooked on Brendan Fraser and look forward to his performance in the Japanese film, Rental Family
And finally, I am excited to have a ticket to No Other Choice–a Korean suspense film starring Lee Bung-hun from Squid Games that might be this year’s Parasite.
Hope to see you on King Street!
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will run September 4–14, 2025. For more information, visit tiff.net
