TIFF turns 50!

TIFF turns 50!

TIFF celebrates 50 with a once-in-a-lifetime marquee series titled The TIFF Story in 50 Films featuring 50 films that contributed to the Festival’s legacy

The TIFF Story in 50 Films will screen June – August

Cameron Bailey with the first Festival programming book. Photo Credit Margaret Lee

TORONTO — TIFF is marking a major milestone in 2025 as it celebrates the 50th edition of its Festival with a once-in-a-lifetime marquee series titled The TIFF Story in 50 Films. Curated by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, with input and insight from TIFF programmers past and present, this series will showcase 50 landmark films from around the world that played a significant role in connecting with audiences, and reflect the story of TIFF. 

“The TIFF Story in 50 Films is more than a retrospective — it’s a celebration of the landmark moments that have defined our Festival’s legacy,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “Curating this series has been a labour of love, poring over decades of Festival programme books to select 50 films that reflect five decades of TIFF’s taste, eye for new talent, and passion for bringing groundbreaking cinema to our audience. While so many more films have been integral to TIFF’s story and illustrate our current narrative, I’m excited to share the full list in the months ahead and to revisit the memories and enduring impact these films have had on all of us.”

These film titles will include groundbreaking World Premieres and bold discoveries of new filmmaking talent, and speak to the breadth of artistry that has created such memorable Festival moments over the years. While only a sample of the many thousands of films presented since 1976, this selection captures the Festival’s enduring impact. The TIFF Story in 50 Films is free for TIFF Members, one way of thanking supporters for 50 years of discovering great movies together. The series will run from June to August and will feature special events and guests, with the full list of film titles, dates, and invitees to be shared at a later date. 

See the North, TIFF’s monthly, free series of Canadian cinema presented by MUBI, will celebrate the 50th milestone in 2025 by honouring the work of Canadian women and nonbinary filmmakers programmed in the years since the first Festival five decades ago. Coming up on February 11 is Darlene Naponse’s Falls Around Her, which had its World Premiere at the 2018 Festival. Monthly films will be listed in the seasonal programming highlights and online at tiff.net. 

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, more than 700 talent, and 280 films as part of its Official Selection.   

As announced last week, Rogers, the official Presenting Partner of the Festival, will develop and produce a TIFF 50th edition television special exploring the history, and featuring archival footage, to be aired exclusively on Citytv. 

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will run September 4–14, 2025. For more information, visit tiff.net.