The excitement is palpable as the 50th Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today with the highly anticipated world premiere of “John Candy: I Like Me,” a touching documentary honoring the beloved late Canadian comedian.
Accompanied by Candy’s family, the opening-night will be graced by the presence of renowned actor Ryan Reynolds, serving as the film’s executive producer, and director Colin Hanks.
For the next 11 days, Toronto will be a star-studded hub, with Hollywood elites such as Angelina Jolie, Keanu Reeves, Sydney Sweeney, and Dwayne Johnson set to grace the festival with their presence.
Stepping into the world of cinema, U.K. pop star Charli XCX will make her acting debut in the world premiere of “Erupcja” this afternoon. In this indie drama, she portrays a British tourist entangled in a passionate yet tumultuous romance with a Polish florist played by Lena Góra.
This landmark edition of TIFF will showcase 291 films from across the globe, including highly-anticipated crowd-pleasers like Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine.”
Among the diverse lineup are politically charged films such as “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” recounting the tragic story of a Palestinian photojournalist killed in an Israeli airstrike, and “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” which follows the heroic actions of a retired Israeli soldier during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
The festival will run until September 14, culminating in the prestigious People’s Choice Awards ceremony, often considered a harbinger of future Oscar success.