What Makes TIFF the Start of Awards Season
The Toronto International Film Festival isn’t just another movie event. It’s the launchpad for nearly every major Oscar contender each year. Since 2018, more than 70% of Best Picture nominees have premiered at TIFF. That’s not coincidence-it’s strategy. Studios know that if a film connects with audiences and critics in Toronto, it gains momentum that carries straight through to the Oscars.
Unlike Cannes or Venice, TIFF doesn’t judge films. It lets them breathe. There’s no competition for the top prize. Instead, the audience votes for the People’s Choice Award-and that’s the real predictor. Since 1980, 33 of the 46 People’s Choice winners have gone on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Films like 1917, Green Book, and Parasite all won here first.
How to Spot the Oscar Contenders Before They Hit Theaters
You don’t need a ticket to the red carpet to know which films are in the running. The real clues come from the lineup structure. Look for these patterns:
- Special Presentations: These are the big-budget, star-studded films studios save for Toronto. Think Denzel Washington in a drama, or a director returning after a five-year gap. These are rarely comedies or genre films-they’re serious, emotional, and designed to be seen.
- Discovery Section: This is where breakout indie films show up. Last year, The Quiet Girl won the Grand Jury Prize here and later took home the Oscar for Best International Feature. If you see a film with no major studio logo and a first-time director, pay attention.
- Documentaries in Primetime: TIFF doesn’t bury docs. They screen them in the biggest theaters, often with the director in attendance. In 2024, 20 Days in Mariupol won the People’s Choice Award and later the Oscar for Best Documentary. It was the first war documentary to do so.
Check the schedule for films with multiple screenings. If a movie sells out three times in the first two days, it’s not just popular-it’s a contender.
Key Premieres to Watch in 2025
Here are the 2025 TIFF premieres already generating buzz based on early screenings and studio momentum:
- Emilia Pérez (directed by Jacques Audiard): A musical crime drama starring Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña. It’s already being called the most daring film of the year. The score alone has studios buzzing.
- A Complete Unknown (starring Timothée Chalamet): A biopic about Bob Dylan’s early years. The film doesn’t just recreate the 1960s-it makes you feel like you’re sitting in a Greenwich Village café listening to him play.
- The Brutalist (starring Adrien Brody): A three-hour epic about a Jewish architect rebuilding his life in post-war America. Brody lost 40 pounds for the role. The film has no trailer. No ads. Just word-of-mouth.
- Conclave (starring Ralph Fiennes): A Vatican thriller about the election of a new Pope. It’s quiet, tense, and shot entirely in real locations inside the Vatican. The cast didn’t get a full script until filming began.
These aren’t just movies. They’re events. Each one has a story behind it that matches the scale of the performance. And TIFF is where those stories get their first real audience.
Why Toronto Matters More Than Any Other Festival
Other festivals screen films for critics. TIFF screens them for people. That’s the difference.
In Cannes, you get reviews from French critics who care about art-house style. In Venice, you get praise from European auteurs. In Toronto, you get reactions from regular moviegoers-students, teachers, retirees, immigrants, families. If a film moves them, it moves the industry.
That’s why studios spend millions to fly cast and crew here. They know a standing ovation at the Elgin Theatre means more than a five-star review in Variety. A 90-second ovation can turn a $10 million film into a $100 million contender.
And it’s not just about awards. It’s about distribution. In 2024, Netflix paid $30 million for the rights to The Brutalist after its TIFF premiere. Amazon bought Conclave for $25 million. Those deals don’t happen at Sundance. They happen in Toronto.
How to Attend TIFF Without a Ticket
You don’t need to be a celebrity or a journalist to experience TIFF. Here’s how real people do it:
- Line up for rush tickets: Every day, 500 free tickets are released two hours before each screening. You show up, wait in line, and if there’s a no-show, you get in. People camp out overnight. It’s worth it.
- Attend free outdoor screenings: TIFF Lightbox and Nathan Phillips Square host free public screenings every night. No ticket needed. Just bring a blanket.
- Watch the Q&As: After most screenings, the director and cast answer questions. These are often more revealing than the film itself. Last year, the director of Emilia Pérez said she wrote the musical numbers while crying in her kitchen.
- Follow the hashtags: #TIFF2025 and #TIFFPremieres are live all week. Real-time reactions from attendees tell you what’s working before the critics do.
You don’t need a pass. You just need to show up.
What Happens After TIFF
The festival ends on Sunday. But the real work starts Monday.
By Tuesday, studios send out screeners to Academy members. By mid-October, the first nominations lists start leaking. By late November, the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards begin shaping the narrative.
But the real test? The People’s Choice Award. It’s announced on the final night. And every year, it’s the first sign of what’s coming in March.
Winning it doesn’t guarantee an Oscar. But losing it? That’s a red flag. In the last 15 years, only two Best Picture winners didn’t win the People’s Choice Award. One was Spotlight-a quiet film that won by surprise. The other was Green Book-which later faced major controversy.
So if you’re watching for awards season, watch Toronto. It’s not just where the movies premiere. It’s where the winners are chosen-by the people.
What to Bring to TIFF
It’s September in Toronto. It’s cool in the morning, warm by noon, and chilly again after dark. Pack:
- A light jacket or coat
- Comfortable walking shoes-you’ll average 15,000 steps a day
- A portable charger-your phone will be your ticket, map, and social feed
- A notebook or voice recorder-some of the best quotes come from unexpected Q&As
- A reusable water bottle-there are free refill stations all over the city
And don’t forget your curiosity. The best films aren’t always the ones you plan to see. Sometimes, they’re the ones you stumble into.
Comments(5)