This past weekend, as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, I caught up with Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s CEO, on the red carpet. With the festival celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary this year, we discussed exciting programming announcements like Colin Hanks’ John Candy documentary, the special significance of Deepa Mehta presenting their award, and the meticulous process behind selecting the “TIFF Story in 50 Films.” Cameron also shared some of his most unforgettable festival moments and teased what attendees can expect from this monumental 50th celebration.
Colin Hanks’ John Candy: I Like Me was the first programming announcement ahead of this year’s 50th annual film festival. What can you tell us about the documentary film?
That’s right! It’s just so much fun to watch. I grew up on John Candy, watching SCV and then watching his movies – like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Uncle Buck and all the other films!
This movie tells the story of how he came to become this big star that was so funny on screen and so beloved around the world.
All of his friends and collaborators and colleagues – including previous members of SCTV and other comedy troops – are part of this movie directed by the son of Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks and John Candy also worked together, so Tom’s in the movie too!
It’s just a real pleasure to see a guy who came from very humble origins in Hamilton, Ontario, and see his journey to becoming a global comedy star.
TIFF’s award this evening is being presented by Deepa Mehta, whose own career has been so intertwined with TIFF.
Yeah, I was part of the programming team in 1991 that invited Deepa Mehta’s film Sam & Me to come to the festival. I’ve known her since then! Over 30 years now. She’s brought so many great films [to TIFF].
She’s really expanded the notion of what a Canadian movie is and can be. And she’s fought to make sure that Canadian movies are not just in English and French. Of course, there are many languages that Canadians speak. There are Indigenous languages. She was a part of that effort as well!
She just has such a heart as a filmmaker. So, it’ll be a special honour to have [the star] presented by her.
To mark the 50th, The TIFF Story in 50 Films will be screened throughout this summer to highlight 50 past titles that played a significant role, can you share a bit about the process in how those selections were made.
I’m going to say it took months because we did it in a number of stages. I mean, I started with a long list of films and went through all of the films we showed over the 50 years and made a long list!
Then I went to some of my colleagues and collaborators, who’ve been with TIFF for years as well. They sent me back about another 600 films, so I had to whittle that down to 50!
It was not easy.
We’ve had a lot of great nights of premieres over the years, but these are the films that I think tell, as much as we can, the full story of what we’ve been, for the last five decades.
What has been your most memorable night from TIFF? That you can share!
Good caveat on that!
You know, the night we brought Lee Daniels’ movie Precious to Toronto is one I will never forget. Because by that point, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry were executive producers. We had Mariah Carey, who was in the film. We had Mary J. Blige, who did a song for the movie come [as well].
That was all in Roy Thomson Hall and it was electric! I had never seen it like that!
But then there’s also other nights – like the time we brought Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna from India. We had Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Karan Johar here for that.
Of course, getting to sit down in a more intimate setting with Taylor Swift and talk to her about the film that she had directed (All Too Well: The Short Film) and that we showed.
Now, these are some of the highlights! But there are so many others as well.
Do you have a wish list of other films you’d like to have premiere this year or any stars?
Yeah, I’ve got them in my pocket right here, but I just can’t tell you! [Laughs]
Anything else you can tease for the 50th?
I think it’s just going to be a lot of fun. If you’ve attended the festival in the past, I think it’s going to be an occasion to really remember those highlights for yourself.
And if it’s your first time, it hink it’s a great moment to discover what the Toronto Film Festival can do to you – to your heart, to your tear ducts, and to your soul!
And the merch! The 50th anniversary merchandise.
It’s already out there! I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet, but there’s good merch.
Canada’s Walk of Fame 2025 will air Tuesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. (7:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.
