ICFF 2025 Wraps Up in Toronto: Over 61,000 Attendees at the Festival
Susan Sarandon Closes a Record-Breaking Edition
Gabriele Salvatores’ Napoli – New York Captivates Canadian Audiences
Toronto, Monday, July 21, 2025 — The 2025 edition of the ICFF and Lavazza IncluCity Festival came to a spectacular close with a breathtaking Gala at The Hearn, crowned by a moving tribute to Academy Award-winning icon Susan Sarandon. The actress received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award and captivated the audience with a powerful on-stage conversation, revisiting highlights of her career — including Thelma & Louise, with the Ford Thunderbird from the film on display.
Over 61,000 attendees filled Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, transformed for 24 days into a glamorous and vibrant open-air cinema village. Alongside nightly film screenings, audiences enjoyed live concerts, cultural panels, immersive art showcases, brand activations, and special programming dedicated to AI, architecture, and multicultural storytelling.
International cinema shone brightly in this year’s awards. The Lavazza IncluCity Jury Prize, awarded by a distinguished jury chaired by Academy Award-winning producer Miles Dale, went to Los Frikis, a powerful work by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, while Eros De La Puente received Best Actor for his raw, transformative performance. The Audience Award went to Treasure by Julia von Heinz, a deeply moving exploration of memory and reconciliation. Emmanuel Courcol was named Best Director for En Fanfare – The Marching Band, and Molly Gordon won Best Actress for her standout role in Oh Hi!.
Meg Otanwa (The Weekend) and Rachel Alejandro (Song of the Fireflies) were both honoured with the Lavazza IncluCity Excellence Award, recognizing their lasting contributions to multicultural and international cinema.
Rachel Alejandro, Cristiano de Florentiis (Co-Founder and Artistic Director)
Italian cinema also had a commanding presence. Familia by Francesco Costabile received the ICFF Best Picture Jury Prize, with rising star Francesco Gheghi earning Best Actor. Napoli – New York by Academy Award-winning director Gabriele Salvatores was honoured with the People’s Choice Award, while producers Arturo Paglia and Isabella Cocuzza were recognized for their work. Matilda De Angelis won Best Actress for her role in Siblings – La Vita da Grandi.
Festival favourite Geppi Cucciari delighted the audience with her signature humour and grace while receiving the ICFF Award of Excellence, followed by a warmly received screening of Diamanti.
Mara Cataldi (Director of Operations), Geppi Cucciari, Cristiano de Florentiis (Co-Founder and Artistic Director)
A key highlight of the Industry Days was the participation of the Manetti Bros., who won Best Director for their compelling works Diabolik – Chi Sei? and US Palmese.
The Italian lineup stood out for its remarkable depth and quality, made possible thanks to the invaluable support of the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, the Consulates General of Italy in Toronto and Montréal, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto, and Cinecittà.
The ICFF Architettura & Design program welcomed Mario Cucinella, whose keynote and masterclass at Toronto Metropolitan University introduced his first Canadian MCA exhibition. Director Francesca Molteni also presented the world premiere of Nuvola – An Open Project for the City, a documentary on Lavazza’s innovative headquarters.
Mario Cucinella, Cristiano de Florentiis (Co-Founder and Artistic Director)
Music also played a key role, with over 30 live concerts animating the Lavazza IncluCity stage throughout the day and into the evening. From Mediterranean sounds to global rhythms, the music program celebrated the city’s diversity and brought audiences together in a vibrant, open-air setting.
From Lavazza to Ferrero and Campari, Barilla to Masi Wine, Moretti beer, Philips Hue, and G Adventures, brand activations lit up the village with colour, flavour and creativity, adding to the immersive experience that defined this record-breaking edition.
As the festival draws to a close, the ICFF and Lavazza IncluCity Festival extend heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, partners, artists, and audiences. With a record-breaking edition and unforgettable memories, 2025 marked a new chapter in the history of international cinema in Canada.
