TIFF’s birthplace is getting a literal memory lane complete with its own red carpet

Long before the TIFF Lightbox on King Street became the focal point for Toronto’s film festival, Yorkville was the place to go for an annual glimpse of cinematic glitz and glamour. TIFF launched as the Festival of Festivals in the swanky hood in 1976, but aside from some ritzy receptions, Yorkville hasn’t been as central to that film-fest life since the Lightbox muscled it out in 2010.

Related: Untold stories from the Toronto International Film Festival’s first 50 years

To celebrate TIFF’s origin story, the OG festival neighbourhood is rolling out its own red carpet with the Rogers TIFF 50 Timescape, a starry path on Yorkville Avenue between Bellair and Hazelton where visitors can stroll through five decades of festival highlights via archival footage and multimedia displays. The ruby-lined path will be about 40 metres long and is the perfect photo op for anyone looking to add a main-character moment to their feed.

The exhibition will feature daily musical stylings by the Casa Loma Orchestra playing iconic film scores, an artist creating a piece on-site inspired by TIFF’s history, and carpet-side Q&A sessions with directors who will dish on their careers’ biggest trials and triumphs. Rogers will also be giving out 50 pairs of free TIFF screening tickets over Instagram. And for those opting to skip the downtown trek altogether, a massive screen will live-stream the Roy Thomson Hall red carpet, cinema trivia, throwbacks from previous TIFFs and current festival recaps.

The Rogers TIFF 50 Timescape will be open from September 5 to 7 and is totally free and open to the public. It’s not TIFF exactly, but it’s a sprinkling of stardust without a neck cramp on King Street.