My 2025 Tiff Experience

Tiff is back and so am I ! This year is my first year in a couple of years not volunteering or working the festival. It was also one of the first gears that I decided to not renew my membership. Big mistake.


I’ve been so busy with work, and moving, and I had a concussion for the later half of August, that TIFF wasn’t really top of mind recently.


I decided not to renew my membership, and decided I would just go to one or two movies and rush whatever when I felt like it. But then the second the festival has started I missed this so much. Just being back on festival street made me smile.


Not that I’ve been to many other film festivals, but there is always a special feeling about TIFF. There is an energy and excitement of being in a crowd watching the newest and most unique films that you might otherwise not go see at a regular theatre.


The venues are stunning as always, I was able to catch movies at Roy Thompson Hall and Princess of Whales which are two of my favourite venues in the city. They both seat the largest crowds of the festival, so you have the most people laughing, gasping, and clapping along to the VARDA promo before the film.


It’s different than your typical movie going experience at a cineplex (no shade to cineplex), you get to see these films with some of the most dedicated film enthusiasts in the city.


I found tickets harder to find this year, which is good for the festival. It was hard to come by films that had many seats left. I tried to get some last minute resale tickets and probably overpaid for most films that I got to see. But now I’ve learned my lesson and will re-purchase my membership next year.


If you are under 25 there are a lot of benefits of the cheaper membership and getting it early. This is not a plug but from my experience if you want to see the big films almost guaranteed, you need the membership.


My first showing was on September 7th for the world premiere of Hedda. We were the first audience to see the film. I went into the film blind and I spent the whole time trying to figure out what time period they were in. It was so incredibly slow, which added to the suspense of the film, but I was so bored for a great chunk of the film. I love Tessa Thompson and she plays this role perfectly. The Q&A was great and it answered a lot of the questions I had about the film. I didn’t realize it was an adaptation and was told very differently previously. Having that background, it makes a lot more sense. Even though I have not seen the original version of the film, I liked the changes they made. I think it really brings it to this era. Still not my cup of tea though.


The next day I saw Eternity, with Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, and director David Freyne all in attendance. This film was incredible. I absolutely loved it. It was hilarious and sad and crazy in all the right ways. It feels like the TVA from Loki, Everything, Everywhere all at Once and your 2000s family comedies rolled into one. Elizabeth Olson absolutely shines in this film and I loved the fresh take on the afterlife.


My last film I saw of this year’s festival season was Rose of Nevada. Super unique film concept, indie, and interesting filming style. I loved that it had two mainstream actors in the centre of this film that feels so low budget and small. Really enjoyed this one to end my festival on.


Shoutout to the volunteers, you are fantastic and you make this festival run. Thank you for being as welcoming and knowledgeable as ever. They donate a lot of their time to be a part of the festival. I loved being a volunteer with TIFF and I always go out of my way to thank them for working for free to provide a great festival for us. So next time you see a volunteer, give them a thank you.


Another great year at TIFF, when King st becomes my favourite street in the city. It truly is a celebration of bringing people together for the love of film.


Thank you TIFF, here's to another 50 years!