There is an electric pulse that takes over Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival, where the lines between pure cinephile joy and backstage magic blur completely. This year delivered that rush in spades, strung together by unforgettable screenings, quiet conversations and celebratory rooms.
The audience energy at TIFF is unparalleled. Feeling an entire room erupt during I Play Rocky captured that communal cinema magic at its loudest: an infectious crowd locked into every beat. Jordan Firstman’s vibrant, stylish directorial debut Club Kid delivered equal parts sharp humour and genuine heart, making you laugh and cry in a heartbeat. Rounding out the standout screenings,The Debut marked another strong, assured win for Jesse Eisenberg on the heels of A Real Pain, anchored by a compelling turn from Julianne Moore.
Then came the quiet standout of the week: an intimate panel for Tenzing that felt like a shared campfire. Tom Hiddleston, Genden Phuntsok, director Jennifer Peedom and producer Iain Canning brought such warmth to the room, but it was Tom lingering long after the mics were off, making sure to talk to everyone with genuine curiosity, that turned the day on its head. I left the conversation with Tom effectively convincing me that I, too, could tackle Everest Base Camp (he said it’s doable and he did it too). That is the kind of wild, inspiring detour only this festival can orchestrate. Stay tuned for our interview with Hiddleston and Phuntsok.
The Golden Globes reception was pure kinetic energy, the kind of electric room where everywhere you turned, familiar faces were simply sinking into the night. It felt rare and refreshing: phones tucked away, walls down, and easy conversation flowing across the room. I found myself catching up with Colman Domingo, whom I spoke to for our feature last year, and Jay Duplass, who was electric in I Play Rocky and Megan Park’s Sterling Point.
Weaving through the crowd, I was introduced to Andrew Scott, who was excited to be back at the festival, to talk about his new film, Elsinore. It was also a delight connecting briefly with Gemma Chan, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson and the cast of Being Heumann to hear how it felt premiering their projects this year.
I struck up a conversation when introduced to Curry Barker and Obsession star Inde Navarrete, who made one of my favourites this year. They were back at the fest, a year after they brought their film to TIFF and now starting their awards campaigning. At the reception for La Bola Negra, the cast were soaking in the festival high after the massive standing ovation at the TIFF premiere, which comes shortly after Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi won Best Director Award at Cannes. It was also announced that Spain selected the film for the Best International Feature in the Oscars race.
On the visual arts side, the LAIKA Exhibition Opening Night Reception for Wildwood: Inside the Performance offered a stunning tribute to the artistry of stop-motion, giving an up-close look at the sheer craft behind the screen. The panel was filled with details about how the animators brought the film to life. It’s a title many are looking forward to.
Word on the street is that Hudson Williams drove out crowds in full force yesterday. Between his fireside chat with Keith Bennie and the evening premiere of Yaga, King Street was completely gridlocked by fans waiting hours (I heard since 5am) just to catch a glimpse. The moment he stepped out – red bottoms (Louboutins) and all – the screams were practically deafening, proving that the Heated Rivalry mania is still running at absolute fever pitch.
Rounding it all out was the grandeur of the TIFF Tribute Gala, an evening anchored by true cinematic heavyweights. Watching Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Helen Mirren, Lee Chang-dong, and Bassam Tariq take the stage to be honoured was a grounding moment to remind us of the power of this festival and why we tell and celebrate stories in the first place. I briefly spoke with Seth and Lauren Miller Rogen — almost eight years since I last interviewed the pair — about bringing Babies to TIFF, a movie many millennials are having conversations about.
FEATURE PHOTO BY SPRING MORRIS.
