The Criterion Mobile Closet is coming to TIFF 2025, leaving the United States for the first time.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) continues to go bigger and better, bringing the stars closer to the fans for five decades. The Criterion Mobile Closet is coming to TIFF 2025, leaving the United States for the first time—celebrating 50 years of Toronto’s biggest film festival. Cinephiles, aspiring filmmakers, and everyone in between can stop by (free of charge!) the Criterion Mobile Closet to explore the collection—and make their own Criterion Closet video! You can be like Bowen Yang, Ryan Coogler, or Danny Boyle, and show off your Criterion Closet picks. The Criterion Mobile Close will exclusively be featured at the film festival from September 4th to 7th.
Stocked with more than 1,700 of the greatest films from around the world, the Criterion Collection Closet offers more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet. Now, TIFF 2025 attendees will have a chance to see and explore it in person. Filmmakers, stars, and creative luminaries of all kinds come to Criterion to champion their favourite films in the popular Criterion Closet Picks video series. Last year, Criterion opened its doors to everyone by taking the Closet on the road. Toronto will be their sixth stop, taking the Criterion Mobile Closet out of the country.
Where will the Criterion Mobile Closet be located at TIFF 2025?
Luckily, the Criterion Mobile Closet already has a dedicated spot at TIFF 2025! The Mobile Closet will be located across TIFF Lightbox (address: 350 King Street W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3X5). So far, the listed opening hours include September 4th (3-7 pm) and September 5th (11 am-7 pm). This special, limited-time opportunity is open to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis—visitors do not need a TIFF 2025 ticket or such.
So, how does the Criterion Mobile Closet visit work?
Unlike most of TIFF 2025’s structured events, there are no reservations, advance tickets, or time slots for the Criterion Mobile Closet. You can show up at the site and find your place in line, offering up to five people to share a Closet visit (Criterion organizers recommend group visits!). Each Criterion Closet visit is limited to approximately three minutes. The clock starts as soon as you enter, where you will have time to explore the collection or talk about your selections. However, guests are not required to talk or perform in any capacity.
As long as supplies last, each guest will receive a Criterion tote bag and a printed pocket guide to the Criterion Collection. The Criterion Closet is stocked with every in-print edition from the Criterion Collection, including box sets, as well as all in-print releases from our Eclipse and Janus Contemporaries lines. The pocket guide is a perfect tool to find the exact films you want to highlight for your Closet visit. The numbered order of the films in the guide matches the order of the films in the Closet so that you can easily find what you’re looking for once inside. If you are wondering, yes, they should have David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai!
Additionally, there will be staff in and around the Criterion Mobile Closet and TIFF 2025 area on-site to help find the films you (and your group) want to pick out. Despite Criterion having their camera rolling throughout each Closet visit, there is no pressure to perform or talk about your selections. Visitors who want to record or photograph their visit with their own camera or phone can also use the Mobile Closet’s dedicated wall mount. At the end of every Closet visit, Criterion staff will take a Polaroid of visitors with their selections, which will be theirs to keep as a souvenir along with the tote bag and guide to the Collection (while supplies last).
Purchases on-site are not required, but visitors can buy up to three items with the special Mobile Closet discount of 40% off—in honour of Criterion’s 40th anniversary. Criterion merch is also available to buy. The Mobile Closet experience is a cashless venue.
Whether you casually enjoy movies or are a hardcore film buff, all are welcome to stop by the Criterion Mobile Closet at TIFF 2025. Those who stop by are encouraged to post their Mobile Closet on social, using the hashtag #criterionmobilecloset.
Make sure to stay tuned to CGMagazine for all of our TIFF 2025 coverage.
