What Timeless Classic Films Are Returning to Screen in Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025’s Classics Lineup?

One of the most prestigious Film Festivals in the world, For its milestone 50th edition, the Toronto International Film Festival is rolling out a vibrant Classics program presented by MUBI, with support from Ontario Creates and the Canada Council for the Arts. Curated by Robyn Citizen, TIFF’s Director of Programming, and Senior Curator Andréa Picard, this special showcase gathers some of the most influential Films from across the globe—breathtakingly restored in 4K and brought back to the big screen in all their cinematic glory. The lineup also includes a special treat: Steven Spielberg’s Jaws in a rare 35mm print, marking the golden anniversaries for both the Film and the Film Festival. TIFF 2025 runs September 4–14, presented by Rogers.

This year’s selection is a feast for cinephiles, ranging from rediscovered gems to cult favourites and beloved blockbusters. There’s Aniki-Bóbó, Manoel de Oliveira’s charming debut set in the working-class streets of Porto, a whimsical yet poignant tale of childhood. From Iran comes Bashu, the Little Stranger, Bahram Beyzaie’s moving portrait of a boy orphaned by war, blending deep humanity with gentle humour. Satyajit Ray’s Days and Nights in the Forest, a luminous modernist drama restored under the guidance of Wes Anderson, offers a fresh chance to appreciate one of Ray’s lesser-known masterpieces.

Other highlights include The Arch, a striking 1968 work by T’ang Shushuen—one of Hong Kong’s first Independent Films, and a landmark for Female Filmmakers—adapted from a 17th-century Chinese love story. Michael Almereyda’s stylish Nadja, a ’90s New York spin on Dracula that first wowed audiences at TIFF in 1994, also makes its return. And, of course, there’s Jaws, ready to terrify and thrill a new generation, just as it did half a century ago.

It’s a line-up that bridges eras, cultures, and genres—offering audiences not just a trip down memory lane, but a chance to see these works as they were meant to be experienced: on the big screen, in pristine quality, with the collective gasp and applause of a Film Festival crowd.

2025 Classics (in alphabetical order)

Aniki-Bóbó | Manoel de Oliveira | Portugal | 1942
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Bashu, the Little Stranger (Bashu Gharibeh Kouchak) | Bahram Beyzaie | Iran | 1986
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Days and Nights in the Forest (Aranyer Din Ratri) | Satyajit Ray | India | 1970
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

Jaws | Steven Spielberg | USA | 1975
50th Anniversary – 35mm Canadian exclusive

Nadja | Michael Almereyda | USA | 1994
World Premiere of 4K restoration

Sholay | Ramesh Sippy | India | 1975
50th Anniversary and North American Premiere of 4K restoration | Gala (previously announced), co-presented by Classics

The Arch| T’ang Shushuen | Hong Kong | 1968
North American Premiere of 4K restoration

The full Film Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 12th. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4th–14th, 2025. For more details, visit the official website of the Film Festival.