‘John Candy: I Like Me' Documentary to Open 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
It may only be June, but the fall film festival picture is starting to come into relief, as today the Toronto International Film Festival has announced its 2025 opening night gala pick: the world premiere of Colin Hanks' documentary 'John Candy: I Like Me.' The Opening Night Gala will take place on Thursday, September 4, at Roy Thomson Hall. The film is billed as 'a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Canadian icon, with stories and memories from Candy's family, closest friends, and longtime collaborators.'
'Comedy fans all over the world grew up on John Candy's humor,' said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF in an official statement. 'We love that John's global career started in Toronto, and we can't wait to share 'John Candy: I Like Me' with everyone at this year's Opening Night Gala premiere. Colin Hanks has made a hugely entertaining film packed with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, but like John, this movie is all heart. For us, it's the perfect way to kick off TIFF's 50th edition.'
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The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4 – 14, 2025. More festival details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Added Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds in their own statement, 'When you hear the name John Candy, your face lights up. He wasn't just a great actor; he was an even better person. People loved his everyman qualities, but they didn't know how relatable John really was. He went through the same struggles we all do, except now we talk about them. We are incredibly honored to have gotten to know the man better through this process and to bring the real John Candy to audiences starting with his hometown of Toronto.'
The film, an Amazon MGM title that will debut globally on Prime Video in the fall, is further described as a way into Candy's 'on- and off-camera existence, featuring never-before-seen home videos, intimate access to his family, and candid recollections from collaborators to paint a bigger picture of one of the brightest stars of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. It's the story of a son, husband, father, friend, and professional driven to bring joy to audiences and loved ones while battling personal ghosts and Hollywood pressures.'
The film is Hanks' third feature directing effort, following documentaries on both Tower Records and the band Eagles of Death Metal, which chronicles the events before and after the November 13 terrorist attacks that took place while they were performing at the Bataclan in Paris.
Of note: TIFF's Film Reference Library already includes a free John Candy Collection, donated by Rose Candy, containing objects related to Candy's professional career and personal life from the 1970s to the early 1990s.
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