It might solely be June, however the fall movie competition image is beginning to come into reduction, as as we speak the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant has introduced its 2025 opening evening gala decide: the world premiere of Colin Hanks’ documentary “John Sweet: I Like Me.” The Opening Night time Gala will happen on Thursday, September 4, at Roy Thomson Corridor. The movie is billed as “a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Canadian icon, with tales and recollections from Sweet’s household, closest associates, and longtime collaborators.”
“Comedy followers all around the world grew up on John Sweet’s humor,” mentioned Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF in an official assertion. “We love that John’s world profession began in Toronto, and we are able to’t wait to share ‘John Sweet: I Like Me‘ with everybody at this yr’s Opening Night time Gala premiere. Colin Hanks has made a vastly entertaining movie filled with a few of Hollywood’s greatest stars, however like John, this film is all coronary heart. For us, it’s the proper solution to kick off TIFF’s fiftieth version.”
The fiftieth version of the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant, offered by Rogers, runs September 4 – 14, 2025. Extra competition particulars shall be shared within the coming weeks.
Added Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds in their very own assertion, “If you hear the identify John Sweet, your face lights up. He wasn’t only a nice actor; he was a fair higher individual. Individuals cherished his everyman qualities, however they didn’t understand how relatable John actually was. He went by the identical struggles all of us do, besides now we speak about them. We’re extremely honored to have gotten to know the person higher by this course of and to deliver the true John Sweet to audiences beginning together with his hometown of Toronto.”
The movie, an Amazon MGM title that may debut globally on Prime Video within the fall, is additional described as a manner into Sweet’s “on- and off-camera existence, that includes never-before-seen dwelling movies, intimate entry to his household, and candid recollections from collaborators to color a much bigger image of one of many brightest stars of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. It’s the story of a son, husband, father, good friend, {and professional} pushed to deliver pleasure to audiences and family members whereas battling private ghosts and Hollywood pressures.”
The movie is Hanks’ third characteristic directing effort, following documentaries on each Tower Data and the band Eagles of Dying Metallic, which chronicles the occasions earlier than and after the November 13 terrorist assaults that passed off whereas they had been performing on the Bataclan in Paris.
Of be aware: TIFF’s Movie Reference Library already features a free John Sweet Assortment, donated by Rose Sweet, containing objects associated to Sweet’s skilled profession and private life from the Nineteen Seventies to the early Nineteen Nineties.