ritchie po, tiff, film festival, toronto, helen siwak, folioyvr, arts and culture

TIFF 2025: Fifty and Still Flawless

The Toronto International Film Festival turned fifty this year, and it is bigger than ever. Every September, Toronto transforms into a cinematic playground, and this year’s milestone edition proved once again that TIFF remains virtually peerless in delivering excitement, glamour, and serious film cred. From world premieres to red carpet chaos, there was never a dull moment on King Street.

ritchie po, tiff, film festival, toronto, helen siwak, folioyvr, arts and culture

The lineup was stellar, packed with award-season contenders and festival favourites and prizewinners from Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Telluride. The programmers clearly understood the assignment: to give us prestige, passion, and popcorn-worthy cinema all in one go. And while I love the concentrated action of the King Street hub—with its buzzing lounges like the RBC Avion Rewards and Peroni pop-ups—part of me misses when TIFF sprawled across the city. I would love to see the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres make a triumphant return, or maybe a few special screenings in Yorkville, where it all began back in 1976 as the “Festival of Festivals.”

ritchie po, tiff, film festival, toronto, helen siwak, folioyvr, arts and culture

Still, no amount of nostalgia could dampen the energy. The only real challenge was ticketing. Yes, Ticketmaster continues to test our patience. Unbelievably, I hard a harder time trying to get into some premieres felt harder than for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. And the Criterion Closet pop-up? Fans were lined up at dawn for an opening at noon. Next year, a lottery system would be greatly appreciated so that we can book our time, enjoy the experience, and go back to stargazing and watching the best of world cinema.

ritchie po, tiff, film festival, toronto, helen siwak, folioyvr, arts and culture

But let’s talk films, because this year, TIFF absolutely stuck the landing. Incredibly, my top three picks lined up exactly with the People’s Choice Award results. Coincidence? I think not.

Winner: Hamnet (Dir. Chloe Zhao)
A breathtaking exploration of grief and creation, Hamnet reimagines the origins of Hamlet through the lens of unfathomable loss. Jessie Buckley delivers a performance that shattered me—in the best way—while Paul Mescal cements his status as Hollywood’s new leading man. Zhao, already an Oscar-winner, makes history as the first director to win the People’s Choice Award twice.

First Runner-Up: Frankenstein (Dir. Guillermo Del Toro)
A gothic homecoming from Toronto’s own Guillermo Del Toro, this is quite possibly the definitive take on Mary Shelley’s masterpiece. It is haunting, humane, and unexpectedly hopeful, a visual feast for both horror devotees and romantics.

Second Runner-Up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Dir. Rian Johnson)
Rian Johnson delivers another razor-sharp whodunnit. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is back, the all-star cast plays it to the hilt, and the central mystery as twisty as ever. Pro tip: hold your bathroom breaks, because this one demands your full attention.

ritchie po, tiff, film festival, toronto, helen siwak, folioyvr, arts and culture

TIFF 2025 reminded me why I fall in love with cinema all over again every September. TIFF may be fifty, but still the most fabulous festival on the continent—equal parts brains, beauty, and box office magic.

All photos by Ritchie Po.

Author Profile

Ritchie Po, Correspondent: Ritchie Po is a privacy consultant, cybersecurity lawyer, and AI ethics advisor passionate about the intersections of technology, creativity, and culture. Ritchie is also a cineaste who draws inspiration from his love of music and figure skating—often fuelled by the avant-garde genius of Björk.