Toronto Film Festival 2025 Features Sweeney, Jolie, Ansari/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Toronto International Film Festival returns in September with premieres starring Sydney Sweeney, Aziz Ansari, and Angelina Jolie. TIFF’s 50th edition features “Knives Out 3,” a John Candy documentary, and debuts from Maude Apatow and Brian Cox. The festival continues to serve as a key launchpad for award-season contenders.
Toronto Film Festival 2025: Quick Looks
- TIFF opens September 4 with John Candy: I Like Me
- World premieres include Good Fortune, Christy, and Couture
- Sydney Sweeney stars as boxer Christy Martin
- Aziz Ansari and Keanu Reeves headline angelic comedy Good Fortune
- Angelina Jolie returns in fashion-world drama Couture
- Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 3 returns to TIFF with Daniel Craig
- Other debuts: Roofman (Channing Tatum), The Lost Bus (McConaughey)
- Directorial debuts by Maude Apatow and Brian Cox featured
- Notable holdovers from Cannes: Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident
- Festival runs through September 14 across Toronto venues
Toronto Film Festival 2025 Features Sweeney, Jolie, Ansari
Deep Look
TORONTO (AP) – The 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) unveiled its red carpet lineup Monday, spotlighting a wide-ranging mix of A-listers, directorial debuts, and international standouts. The 2025 edition promises major premieres including Knives Out 3, a heartfelt John Candy documentary, and highly anticipated projects from Sydney Sweeney, Aziz Ansari, and Angelina Jolie.
Set to begin on September 4, TIFF opens with John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary from director Colin Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds, celebrating the late Canadian comedy icon. The festival runs through September 14, drawing top talent and awards-season buzz back to Toronto.
Star-Packed World Premieres
Among the biggest premieres:
- Aziz Ansari’s comedy Good Fortune, where Keanu Reeves plays a celestial being guiding a down-on-his-luck man, headlines TIFF’s gala presentations.
- Sydney Sweeney stars in Christy, portraying real-life boxing legend Christy Martin, in David Michôd’s gritty sports biopic.
- Angelina Jolie leads Couture, directed by Alice Winocour, as an American filmmaker swept into Paris Fashion Week drama.
Rounding out the red carpet are:
- Roofman by Derek Cianfrance, with Channing Tatum as a desperate father-turned-burglar
- Hedda, an adaptation of Ibsen’s classic by Nia DaCosta, starring Tessa Thompson
- The Choral, a World War I drama with Ralph Fiennes
- The Christophers, the third 2025 film from director Steven Soderbergh
- Rental Family, featuring Brendan Fraser as an American actor navigating Japan
- The Lost Bus, a disaster drama starring Matthew McConaughey
Knives Out Returns to TIFF
Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will mark its world premiere at TIFF. The third installment in the hit franchise, starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, continues its tradition of debuting in Toronto, following previous entries that became major box office and critical successes.
Venice and Telluride Contenders Also Join TIFF
Though Toronto faces stiff competition from Venice and Telluride for world premieres, it will still showcase high-profile films expected to appear at both festivals:
- Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet,
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein,
- Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Smaller Player.
The staggered rollout signals TIFF’s evolving but still influential role in fall’s awards-season landscape.
New Voices and Directorial Debuts
The 50th anniversary lineup also emphasizes fresh directorial voices:
- Brian Cox’s Glenrothan, marking the acclaimed actor’s first foray behind the camera
- Maude Apatow’s Poetic License, a reflective indie debut
- Bad Apples, with Saoirse Ronan as a teacher facing an unruly student
- Easy Waltz, starring Vince Vaughn and Al Pacino in a Vegas drama
- Adulthood, directed by Alex Winter, exploring generational divides
Cannes Crossovers Enhance TIFF’s Global Appeal
Several Cannes favorites will also screen in Toronto, offering North American audiences a second look at celebrated festival circuit titles:
- Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident
- Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value
- Oliver Laxe’s spiritual drama Sirât
- Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, a tribute to French cinema
Festival Outlook
TIFF 2025 appears poised to celebrate both legacy and innovation—honoring its milestone 50th year with films spanning genres, global perspectives, and industry icons. With early Oscar buzz already surrounding several titles, the Toronto red carpets are likely to set the tone for the fall movie season.
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