Toronto International Film Festival 2023

Running from Thursday September 7th until Sunday September 17th, 2023, the 48th annual Toronto International Film Festival took place. For my first year at the festival, I chose to volunteer as well as attend as an industry member, and boy was it an experience unlike anything I have done before. The volunteer shifts I had allowed me to view the public from a different lens. Then, attending press and industry screenings gave me the opportunity to see more films than just those I bought public screening tickets for. Even with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes going on I was still able to see many big names as well. Through rushing, as well as press and industry screenings, and public screenings I was able to attend a total of 29 film showings and one primetime showing.

Thursday September 7

I attempted to get into the press and industry screening of Anatomy of a Fall on day one, but sadly it was full. Instead I chose, at random, Riddle of Fire. A cute little film about the adventures of a trio of friends, Weston Razooli’s film was a nice first film of the festival. With an empty space available, I chose to see Anand Tucker’s The Critic starring Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton and enjoyed it as well. Then it finally came time for one of my highly anticipated film viewings of the festival, La Chimera. This Alice Rohrwacher film has been on my watchlist since it premiered at Cannes earlier this year. It was everything I hoped it would be and I am glad I got to watch it in cinemas with a full crowd. I then concluded my day by attending the international premiere of Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. As always, Miyazaki’s animation is beautiful, even though the film lost me a bit in the middle. Overall, it was a beautiful piece, but perhaps not his best work.

Friday September 8

Film number five that started off day two was Patricia Arquette’s Gonzo Girl. I definitely enjoyed this more than I thought I would even though I had no clue what it was about when I walked into the cinema. Willem Dafoe and Camila Morrone have beautiful chemistry and are both superb actors. Before calling it quits I attended Visionaries: Guillermo del Toro, a talk with the man himself. Guillermo is such a brilliant director and person; he spoke so freely and clearly without caring about what anyone else thinks. He has insights and hopes for the future. Learning about how he chooses what to direct and what not to direct, the conversation was so insightful.

Saturday September 9

The first Saturday involved three screenings and one five-hour volunteer shift. Director Lulu Wang came to the press and industry screening of Expats to introduce her limited series. The episode she chose to air at the festival was episode five, but it was directed in such a way that it could be a standalone and she had done that on purpose for festival goers. I then spent my first volunteer shift in the atrium of TIFF Bell Lightbox greeting the public and taking photos for them in front of the TIFF background. After my shift I went to rush for the premiere of Lee at Roy Thomson Hall and got in. Directed by Ellen Kuras, Lee stars Kate Winslet and Andy Samberg as they tell the story of Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller, model turned Vogue photographer in World War II. The film is mainly held together by the two leads, as well as some cinematography ideas. I concluded the day with the world premiere of Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters. This was definitely my favourite overall film that I saw at the festival. From the time Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman starred in The Lost Daughter together as the same character, I knew I wanted to see them play opposite each other, and they did not disappoint. The two actors have great chemistry and are able to bat heads perfectly in this drama. Sharrock does a brilliant job directing all actors and making the period piece feel right for the time. Watching Wicked Little Letters in the Royal Alexandra Theatre with a full house was a wonderful experience. The audience was full of laughter and gasps. You know a film is made well when the audience reacts and empathizes with the characters. I cannot wait to see this film again and for it to be shared with more audiences.

Sunday September 10

Before my second volunteer shift I was able to see Azazel Jacobs’ His Three Daughters at the press and industry screening in the morning. The story of three estranged sisters reuniting to deal with the declining health of their father is told with actresses Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne. The actresses on their own are amazing and when put together they have such thrilling chemistry as they bring their characters to life. The story of love and loss is told through the lens of sisters who get on each other’s nerves. Very rarely is that seen in film, and it is a message to those who deal with it too to know it is normal. My volunteer shift was at the Scotiabank Theatre today and I was part of the team who greeted people outside the cinema. Then, in Chloé Robichaud’s Days of Happiness Sophie Desmarais plays Emma, a lesbian conductor who has a toxic relationship with her father. Of course the comparisons with Todd Field’s 2022 film Tár will be made. However, Robichaud creates a marvelous French-Canadian film exploring what is it like to deal with toxic family and finding who you are on your own.

Monday September 11

With two press and industry screenings, The End We Start From and Seven Veils. I concluded the afternoon with Solo. Perhaps my favourite performance of the entire festival, Jodie Comer delivers another career best. Mahalia Belo directs The End We Start From an apocalyptic type of drama centered around a catastrophic event that inflicts the city of London. The camera work, editing and directing were integral aspects of the film. However, it was Comer’s performance that stood out most to me. As always she portrays emotion in the most unforgettable way and really allows the audience to connect with her character. I did not know a single thing about Seven Veils before attending the screening which meant I did not go into the film with any expectations. That being said, it was not the genre or plot for me. What would become the Best Canadian Feature Film winner, Solo directed by Sophie Dupuis follows Simon (Théodore Pellerin) as he deals with two types of love, that of his crush on fellow drag queen Oliver (Félix Maritaud) and his absent mother Claire (Anne-Marie Cadieux). Solo is not easy to watch as we see Simon taken advantage of by toxic relationships. However, Dupuis’ choices make the film’s style one to die for. Not only were the drag scenes shot with precision, but the colouring also does them such justice. The audience can empathize with Simon. A heartbreaking experience, especially for queer audiences. More queer films need to be made and Sophie Dupuis did a stupendous job with Solo.

Tuesday September 12

Feeling the fatigue that comes with constant standing, poor sleep, and film watching, day six included Pain Hustlers and Fingernails. David Yates’ newest film Pain Hustlers is based on the 2018 New York Times Magazine article “The Pain Hustlers” and book The Hard Sell. Emily Blunt stars alongside Chris Evans as Liza Drake and Pete Brenner. Based on the true story, Drake eventually finds herself at the center of a criminal conspiracy with fatal consequences. Even though the film was based on a true story, I am sad to say that I found it fun and entertaining the way it was put together. Now, for the premiere of Fingernails, I did not expect to see what I watched. One of the most beautifully shot films that I watched at the festival; Fingernails was an interestingly plotted film. In a future world, couples can test their compatibility through analysis of their fingernails and workshops can be attended to hopefully improve their results. Years after Anna (Jessie Buckley) and her partner Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) received a positive fingernails test, she attempts to improve her relationship by secretly working at an institute that helps couples increase their odds. Christos Nikou directs a film that should focuses on the idea that even if there is love and compatibility in the beginning, it needs to be worked on throughout the relationships to be maintained. However, some of the plot fell flat. The effort fell through with the writing and perhaps some of the acting. But Jessie Buckley held the film together.

Wednesday September 13

At the one-week mark of the festival, I upped my film viewings with a total of five films today. We started with a press and industry screening of Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut. Debating whether or not to see it, Mother, Couch! was the second viewing of the day. I then attended the premiere of Shayda. In the VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales theatre, Quiz Lady had its second showing. Lastly, I ended day seven with a screening of the Irish film Flora and Son. Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut did not disappoint. For her to pull off directing as well as acting in the film is impressive as not many director actors can do this. Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour is a drama based on the true story of the serial killer who attended a game show, The Dating Game, and won. Kendrick’s order of the film worked well, showing different Alcala killings while focusing mainly on the game show. All aspects of the film work well together to tell the stories of the two women who survived the serial killer. I look forward to more directing from Kendrick in the future. Mother, Couch! sounds like exactly what you think it would be about. David (Ewan McGregor), Gruffudd (Rhys Ifans), and Linda (Lara Flynn Boyle) are three estranged siblings brought back together when their mother chooses to remain on a couch in a furniture store for days on end. Enjoyable until the last five minutes, Mother, Couch! tells the story of love, loss and sibling relationships. Making a compelling film with one central location is difficult, but Niclas Larsson does just that. Noora Niasari presented Shayda to the audience for its premiere screening at TIFF. Her film tells the story of Shayda (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), an Iranian woman living in Australian with her six-year-old daughter Mona. She had to flee from her husband and is trying to find a fresh start. Based on her own childhood, Niasari tells such a heartbreaking story in a beautiful way. It is hard to be vulnerable by sharing one’s story with the world, but Niasari shares hers, allowing others to know they are not alone. In the VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Jessica Yu presented the screening of Quiz Lady. Starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh, the story about two sisters and one becomes a contestant on a quiz show made the audience laugh out loud, for real. As always, attending screenings where you are able to see the audience react in real time beats seeing the film elsewhere. Lastly, the screening of John Carney’s Flora and Son. A little slow to begin with, Carney tells the story of single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) keeping her rebellious teenage son Max (Orén Kinlan) out of jail.

Thursday September 14

On Thursday September 14th, day eight, I watched four films. Evil Does Not Exist, Ru, Robot Dreams and my highly anticipated film, The New Boy. Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi films beautiful scenes and kind acting in Evil Does Not Exist. Even though the film was gorgeous to look at, it felt as if there was no plot for me. However, the ending did leave me with a feeling of violence. Canadian film Ru was an unexpected pleasure, without the plot itself being entirely happy. ‘Ru’ meaning lullaby in Vietnamese and stream in French, the film tells the story of a sea crossing and refugees in Montreal, Canada. Another film at the festival that tells stories that the world needs to know and can make minorities feel seen. Robot Dreams was a happy little animation film that allowed for much reflection after watch. With no dialogue, director Pablo Berger tells the story of Dog when he decides he is tired of being alone and builds himself a robot companion. It finally came time for me to see my most anticipated film of the festival. I was so excited when TIFF announced this film as part of the selection. Warwick Thornton’s The New Boy. Contradictory to many, I found Thornton’s story a touching one of a young boy who had to grow up. Cate Blanchett shines in her role as Sister Eileen and Aswan Reid stuns as The New Boy. This story in 1940s Australia about aboriginal orphan and renegade nun is not for everyone but some might enjoy it.

Friday September 15

I had one last volunteer shift on the second Friday. However, I was still able to see two films. The first viewing of the day was a press and industry screening of Concrete Utopia. I finished the day with Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt. Another apocalyptic film, Concrete Utopia is directed by Um Tae-hwa and follows the residents of the last apartment standing after a massive earthquake reduces the rest of the world to rubble. It is shot wonderfully; however it is a bit too long of a runtime. After volunteering for six hours, I got to see The Dead Don’t Hurt presented by director and actor Viggo Mortensen himself. A western that feels more modern than most, Mortensen acted and directed another feature film. Doing it as a fun game during the festival, I noticed that they say the title at the one hour and one minute mark in the film. Vicky Krieps stars alongside Mortensen and as always stuns with her acting ability. After the film, Mortensen did a small Q&A with the audience and discussed the film and his hopes for the future. I found his discussion the most interesting out of all the ones I had attended at the festival.

Saturday September 16

Saturday September 16th was my last full day of the festival. I tried to fit in as many films as possible to make the most of it. I started the day off with a short happy film Next Goal Wins directed by Taika Waititi. Based on true events, Next Goal Wins tells the story of Thomas Rongen’s attempts to change the American Samoa soccer team’s trajectory, while also saving his own career. Fictionalized films based on true events can sometimes have too much added for plot, and in the case of Next Goal Wins there has been some discourse about the additional material. That being said, however, Waititi was able to make the film heartfelt and enjoyable. Of course as all redemption arcs for characters, it can feel overplayed. But in the film, it was the team members who stood out most for me. Next Goal Wins was not the best film I have seen at the festival, but it was a cute Saturday morning watch for day ten. Following this fun film, I saw Wildcat directed by Ethan Hawke and North Star directed by Kristin Scott Thomas. Neither film were enjoyable for me, but I stayed for their full runtimes.

Sunday September 17

My final screening of the festival was in the morning on Sunday. Smugglers directed by Ryoo Seung-wan was set in the 1970s and follows women as they help the men smuggle goods from the sea into coastal towns. A little too long for a morning film, it was an enjoyable way to end the festival.

After attending 30 screenings. four volunteer shifts, and seeing different cast and crew members, my first experience at the Toronto International Film Festival was more than anything I could have hoped for and I cannot wait to attend in future years.

Poster credits to IMDb and Letterboxd.