Film festival
Toronto starts: Jolie, Crowe and Hoss expected
For the 50th edition of Toronto International Film Festival Reisen Stars like Angelina Jolie and Keanu Reeves, Nina Hoss gets a prize and Russell Crowe plays Hermann Göring.
In Toronto, the red carpets are traditionally rolled out in September – in 2025 not only for stars and filmmakers, but – at least symbolically – also for the film festival itself. Because the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrates 50th anniversary.
The anniversary edition will open on Thursday evening (local time) with the world premiere of “John Candy: I Like Me”, a tribute to the Canadian comedy legend. Directed by Colin Hanks, produced the film, among others, Ryan Reynolds. In total, more than 290 films from almost 50 countries are on the program by September 14th.
Special closeness between the audience and stars
What started small under the title “Festival of Festival” in 1976 is now the most important stage in the industry in North America. “We not only write festival history, with our selection we also curate the film canon,” says the CEO of the festival, Cameron Bailey, the German press agency.
Above all, the Tiff showed that “it thinks globally – with great openness to films from Asia, Latin America, Africa and Iran”. The film world meets in Toronto, the special closeness between the audience and stars remains a central focus.
The prominent guests include Angelina Jolie this year, who can be seen in the fashion drama “Couture”, as well as Russell Crowe, who plays the Nazi criminal Hermann Göring in “Nuremberg”. In addition, the documentary “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” is to be shown, which tells the terrorist attack of Hamas from October 7, 2023 from an Israeli perspective.
The director BAZ Luhrmann presents his concert documentary “Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert”. Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Kirsten Dunst are also expected.
Nina Hoss is awarded
German cinema also plays a role. Joscha Bongard’s “Baby Star” and Agnieszka Holland’s “Franz” celebrate world premiere about Franz Kafka. The German actress Nina Hoss receives the Tiff Tribute Performer Award and can also be seen in Nia Dacostas Ibsen interpretation “Hedda”.
“Tiff is the most important goal to the North American film industry and a starting ramp – for films, directors and careers,” says Simone Baumann, the managing director of German Films.
In 2025, 21 German contributions and co -productions travel to Toronto. The festival is also an important part of the Oscar campaign: “The momentum for this year’s contribution” looking into the sun “could not be better.”
Audience award instead of jury
On Sunday, September 14th, the Tiff winning film will be announced, which the audience traditionally chooses in Toronto before the festival is completed with Anne émond’s romantic comedy “Peak Everything”.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
