Here’s what’s happening at the 2022 version of TIFF Festival Street
The free King St. W. street party is back after a two-year hiatus.
The Toronto International Film Festival is back. Like, really back.
After two years of pandemic-affected programming — TIFF 2020 was held largely online, and 2021 featured no crowds — the 2022 edition will look much the same as it did pre-COVID. This means galas, speakers, and, yes, parties.
TIFF parties are both myriad and occasionally legendary, offering the chance to revel in the buzz of the event and the opportunity to get up close and personal with stars from the current crop of films — this year’s program includes performances from the likes of Viola Davis, Hugh Jackman, and Anna Kendrick. That said, they can be difficult to access for those new to the scene.
This is where Festival Street comes in. Here’s the breakdown of the event.
What is Festival Street?
Started in 2017, Festival Street is a large, free-of-charge TIFF-run street party and series of events. It ran for three straight years pre-pandemic, bringing people and performers together in the thick of things in the area around the TIFF Bell Lightbox building.
After two years in hiatus, it’s back for 2022. There are two main areas to know — the street party itself on King St. W. between Peter and University, which will run Sept. 8–11, and the new OLG Cinema Park in David Pecaut Square, where you can catch free movies every night from Sept. 8–18.
While you’re unlikely to rub elbows with celebrities at Festival Street, that doesn’t mean you can’t see some on a stage, or — at worst — on a screen at a free outdoor viewing party.
“The excitement of the Festival is something we want to share with the entire city,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey in a press release. “Festival Street is where everyone can enjoy and experience the excitement of the Festival and its celebration of film. Family-friendly events, great musical performances, and movies in the park — all for free — are just some highlights you can expect, and we invite everyone to join us.”
What’s happening at 2022 Festival Street?
The street party takes place on King St. between the start of the larger festival on Thurs., Sept. 8, and Sunday, Sept. 11. It will feature selfie-ready lit-up TIFF signage at either end, food trucks for the hungry, and patios for the thirsty.
There will also be concerts on the Slaight Music Stage, including an opening-night event hosted by Kardinal Offishall and featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie.
The free films at OLG Cinema Park include several showcasing stars of 2022 TIFF offerings, including The Mummy, Love & Basketball, and a 30th-anniversary screening of A League of Their Own.
For a full schedule of events for both the Slaight Music Stage and OLG Cinema Park, check out our festival map visualization.
Last but not least, this year visitors can also check out booths for TIFF’s partner festivals, including Inside Out, imagineNATIVE, and REEL CANADA. Not to be missed if you make it down.
Code and markup by Kyle Duncan. ©Torontoverse, 2022