TFS Lights Up TIFF® 50 with Student Films, Festival Street Takeover and Exclusive Industry Tour
TORONTO, ON, September 2, 2025 – Toronto Film School (TFS) will mark the Toronto International Film Festival®’s (TIFF) milestone 50th edition this month with its biggest lineup of events, activations, and opportunities to showcase student and alumni talent yet.
To start, this year’s TIFF lineup features an impressive slate of productions that spotlight the work of 22 TFS alumni. Among the highlights: six TFS grads who contributed their various behind-the-scenes skills to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein will celebrate the highly anticipated film’s North American premiere; Class of 2010 Film Production grad Zain Duraie will mark the world premiere of her debut feature, Sink, during TIFF’s Discovery programme; and TFS instructor Madeleine Sims-Fewer’s latest genre-bending thriller, Honey Bunch – featuring the work of three of her former TFS students – will mark its North American premiere.
But the celebration doesn’t end there! One of the most exciting collaborations TFS is undertaking with TIFF is its second annual sponsorship of the Festival Street Art Market. Officially known as the TIFF Festival Street Art Market, in partnership with Toronto Film School, the September 4-7 market will see some of the local community’s most creative and innovative film organizations – including the Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Fest, imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival, Reel Asian Film Festival, Luminato Festival, OCAD, REEL CANADA, Toronto Public Library, College of Make Up & Design, Muse Arts, Blank Canvases, Hand Eye Society, Regent Park Film Festival, and Toronto Latin American Film Festival – on colourful display on John Street at King Street West for TIFF’s 450,000+ anticipated visitors.
Together with the return of the TFS Cinema at the Festival Street Art Market and the Make It to TIFF with TFS Contest, plus the launch of a brand-new TIFF x TFS Industry Tour, TFS President Andrew Barnsley called the school’s presence at TIFF 50 a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for the entire TFS community.
“We’re proud to celebrate this special moment by showcasing our students’ and alumni’s work, opening our doors to future storytellers, and creating experiences that inspire the next generation of filmmakers, actors, designers, and creative professionals,” said the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Executive Producer.
“We want every student, alum, and aspiring creative to feel the excitement of TIFF 50 firsthand – from immersive hands-on experiences to exclusive industry access. Our goal is to connect emerging talent with the people, projects, and opportunities that will shape the future of film – and to ensure that Toronto Film School is at the centre of it all.”
Festival Street Comes Alive with TFS Cinema
For the second consecutive year, TFS will host its TFS Cinema – a 10×20-foot outdoor mini theatre screening a curated selection of student short films over TIFF’s opening weekend September 4-7. Situated just steps from the TIFF Lightbox at King and John streets, the installation offers festival-goers, industry professionals, and prospective students an up-close look at the creativity and craft emerging from TFS’s diploma programs.
Make It to TIFF with TFS 2025 | Hands-On Access for Creatives
Toronto Film School also just concluded its Make It to TIFF with TFS 2025 campaign, offering students, alumni, and aspiring creatives unique, hands-on opportunities to dive into the energy of one of the world’s premier film festivals. Central to the campaign is an exclusive contest awarding 15 coveted Conference Passes to prospective and current TFS students and alumni. Winners will gain access to the Industry Conference, press and industry screenings, online networking and business tools, exclusive industry venues, and invitations to special events – providing an unparalleled chance to connect, learn, and experience TIFF from the inside.
New TIFF x TFS Industry Tour
As part of this year’s celebrations, TFS will debut the TIFF x TFS Industry Tour, a public, multi-campus event designed to give prospective students an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the school’s six creative diploma programs.
Participants of the September 4 event will:
- Explore all three downtown campuses, each hosting live screenings, tech demonstrations, and interactive sessions with faculty.
- Visit the TFS Cinema on Festival Street to experience student work in the heart of TIFF’s 50th edition festivities.
- Collect stamps in their “Map to the Stars” passport at every location for the chance to qualify for a $5,000 bursary (open to domestic students starting in October 2025).
- Enjoy prizes and giveaways at each stop.
Full TIFF x TFS Industry Tour itinerary details can be found here.
About Toronto Film School
Toronto Film school is an internationally recognized career college that prepares students for jobs in film, TV, video games, and graphic design. A faculty of industry professionals brings real-world expertise to the school’s curriculum through a focus on practical experience, networking opportunities, and portfolio building. Students can choose from a variety of on-campus and online accelerated diploma programs, graduating industry ready in 12–24 months. For more information, please visit www.torontofilmschool.ca. Connect with us on Instagram @torontofilmschool, Twitter @TOFilmSchool, Facebook at /TorontoFilmSchool, LinkedIn at /toronto-film-school and YouTube @TorontoFilmSchool1.
