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

TIFF 2025: Where the Stars Align and the Champagne Never Stops

Let’s be honest: Toronto International Film Festival is more than ‘just a film festival.’ It is also a major social event, a style parade, and a networking free-for-all with a side of glamour. This year, for TIFF’s golden 50th anniversary, Toronto was absolutely buzzing. King Street turned into a red carpet runway, with parties spilling from rooftop bars to hotel ballrooms. And yes, I was there for all the sparkle, the schmoozing, and maybe one too many late-night martinis.

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

The city came alive from the moment the Gala Kickoff at the Four Seasons began. By the time I arrived at the St. Regis cocktail soirée (and spotted Shinan Govani mid-conversation with Andrea “6 Mom” Bolley), it was clear that TIFF had hit a new level of fabulous. The Peroni red-carpet terrace was the place to see and be seen, and the exclusive champagne reception for Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, was pure old-Hollywood elegance.

And the stars? They showed up in full force, possibly the glitziest lineup since before the pandemic. I caught Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Paul Greengrass, and Jamie Lee Curtis at The Lost Bus premiere. Angelina Jolie dazzled at Coutures (one person actually climbed a utility pole just to catch a glimpse of her and someone fainted), while James McAvoy presented his debut behind the camera with California Schemin’. The Wake Up Dead Man cast practically shut down the street, with Daniel Craig, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny, Thomas Haden Church, and Andrew Scott all turning heads in one glamorous wave of flashbulbs and coming to discuss the film at our screening that started at 8:30 am on a Sunday morning. That is when you know cinema can be a spiritual or religious experience.

The “In Conversation With” series became a festival highlight. Dwayne Johnson (with co-star and surprise guest Emily Blunt) charmed the crowd, Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun delivered a masterclass in collaboration (with Canadian favourite Don McKellar), and Ryan Reynolds proved once again why Canada claims him proudly. Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta discussed representation and artistry with refreshing honesty, while Guillermo Del Toro reminded everyone why Toronto will always be his creative home.

Yes, the films are the heart of TIFF, but the scene is its pulse. From the sidewalk photographers to the industry deal-makers whispering over canapés, everyone here is part of the spectacle. Fifty years on, TIFF remains perhaps the film festival in North America. It’s the perfect blend of cinema and celebrity, where even the air seems to shimmer with possibility.

Here is to another fifty years of premieres, parties, and perfectly timed standing ovations. Toronto, you still know how to throw one hell of a show.

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

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.