The 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will open with the world premiere of John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Canadian comedy icon John Candy. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, the film will debut on September 4 at Roy Thomson Hall.
The documentary explores Candy’s life both on and off the screen, featuring exclusive home videos, family interviews, and memories from collaborators to highlight his influential career spanning over two decades, TIFF announced in a press release. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey described the film as “hugely entertaining” and “all heart,” calling it the perfect way to mark the festival’s milestone 50th edition.
Born in Newmarket, Ontario, Candy began his career with The Second City Toronto improv troupe in 1973 before joining the cast of the acclaimed television show SCTV in 1976, which earned multiple Emmy and ACTRA awards. Candy passed away at age 43 from a heart attack in 1994 while filming Wagons East in Mexico.
Following its TIFF premiere, John Candy: I Like Me will stream on Amazon Prime Video this fall. The 11-day festival runs from September 4 to 14, with the full lineup still to be announced. Meanwhile, a free collection of objects related to Candy’s life, donated by his wife Rose Candy, is currently on display at the TIFF Film Reference Library.
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