Just like that, yet another festival is behind us, and what an exciting festival it was. This year at the 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) I managed to catch 38 films (not including 1 screening of Hope shortly after the festival ended), and overall I would say I was pretty impressed with the line-up. So to wrap up my festival experience off the festival I thought it would be fun to take some time to showcase a few of my favourites. Hope you enjoy!

My Best Actress Award: Julianne Moore in The Debut

Julianne Moore is an incredible actress, full stop. But the fact that I walked out of The Debut absolutely astounded by her performance is just such a testament to her amazing talent. Her portrayal of Mona Friedman in The Debut, from meek beginnings to absolutely unhinged and electrified, had me totally impressed. Julianne Moore is quite a force of nature, and I truly don’t think anyone else could have done that role justice.

Runner Up: Mason Reeves in Josephine. The young actress nearly stole the screen at only 9-years-old, playing opposite Gemma Chan and Channing Tatum, in an incredibly nuanced role. She’s definitely one to watch.

My Best Actor Award: Andrew Scott in Elsinore

Andrew Scott owns his performance as Ian Charleson, acclaimed real life stage actor who suffered from AIDS, with Scott bringing both levity and gravitas to this emotionally weighty role. And to make things even more challenging, in the film he also has to perform Hamlet! I was totally blown away by his performance, and honoured to have sat just opposite the aisle to him in the premiere.

Runner Up: Anthony Ippolito in I Play Rocky. Anthony Ippolito disappears into the role of Sylvester Stallone, elevating the performance beyond what could have been a cheap impersonation. He’s yet another young performer to watch.

My Best TIFF Experience: Anchors Aweigh Live!

Comedian Matt Barats brought his A-game to TIFF this year in Anchors Aweigh, bringing a live band and his own live narration to the second screening of this film at the festival (the first being the Midnight Madness premiere). Honestly, it was such a fun treat so late into the festival, and a special experience I didn’t even know I needed to check off my TIFF bucket list. And while the film, and Matt Barats style of comedy, is not going to be for everyone, this screening was definitely one to remember.

Runner Up: La Bola Negra premiere. It felt like we were transported to Venice, with a much deserved standing ovation that Los Javis and the actors absolutely ate up. What can I say, there’s just something so magical being in a crowd so fired up.

My Biggest Surprise: Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

Maybe it’s a matter of me going in with little to no expectations, but I was completely surprised by Mahershala Ali and writer-director Bassam Tariq in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Ali absolutely dominates the screen. The action sequences are on point. The visuals are poignant and stylish. And there’s some actual emotional weight to balance it all out. I walked out truly impressed, and truly disappointed that we never did get that Blade movie.

Runner Up: I Play Rocky. Again consider it a matter of going in with little to no expectations. But as someone who is not really a Rocky fan, even I enjoyed the film. Part underdog biopic and part behind the scenes, there’s a little something for everyone in this one, and the reaction from the crowd really said it all. A thoroughly great watch.

My International People’s Choice Award Pick: La Gradiva

There was just something so special about this coming of age film that I struggle to express it in words. But this film, as an intimate portrait of youth on the verge of adulthood, was absolutely one of my favourites of the festival. Following the journey of a group of French high school seniors on a class field trip to Italy, the film brilliantly balances between emotion, expectations and heartbreak, all told through the eyes of its young cast. What results is a film that feels raw, authentic and extremely poignant. While this was certainly a long shot for People’s Choice, it’s the type of quiet film I hope someone will watch on a rainy day and fall in love with.

Runner Up: La Bola Negra. As a three time-period spanning queer identity epic, the film was visually stunning and brimming with style and electricity. I don’t think the film quite stuck the landing for me, but I walked out of the screening really excited to see what director’s Los Javis have in store for us next. While this film didn’t get my top pick, I can completely understand why this one landed TIFF’s top prize. Bravo!

My People’s Choice Award Pick: Tangles

I’ll admit this was never going to win People’s Choice, but as the film that brought me to tears multiple times, it has to be my #1 choice. Tangles won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, as a story about a young woman dealing with her vibrant mother’s Alzheimer diagnosis. But between its inventive art style, its use of animation to visually characterize complex emotions, and its deeply resonant and accurate representation of the Alzheimer’s experience (both from the patient and family perspective), this is one extremely well made film. And for that reason it’s my biggest recommendation from the festival.

In Conclusion

So those were my top picks from the festival. Hopefully you get a chance to catch some of these films as they get released over the next year, and hopefully they will move and inspire you the same way they did me! And with that, we have yet another Toronto International Film Festival in the books. Can’t wait for next year 🙂