*Krusty the Clown Voice* Hey, hey! I’m Sarah Hanlon, a media-obsessed writer and pop culture scholar. I grew up doing what we now lovingly refer to as ‘big screen activities’ aka developing my personality through enjoying TV and movies. So when I had a chance to cover the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival as a member of the press it was an absolute dream come true for me and (more importantly) my younger self.
Like a John Williams song or oranges in The Godfather, there was a perfectly crafted motif that lovingly haunted my ten days on Toronto’s King Street. It was an ongoing and nagging realization that doing things for little Sarah (pictured below) was perfectly okay.
So, here are 11 ways that this year’s Toronto International Film Festival healed my inner child:
1.
Chatting with the incredible Cameron Bailey about being “a book kid.” My TIFF journey started months ago in June on the red carpet for Canada’s Walk of Fame. I chatted with Cameron and told him that as a Brampton kid glued to my TV and VCR, I was enamoured with TIFF. When asked if he was a movie kid, he replied, “I was a book kid!” For me, stories were always the thing whether in books, movies, or TV. I was raised by characters like Mr. Dressup, Willy Wonka, Lisa Simpson, and a mole named Edgar from Dapplewood. For fictitious and somewhat unhinged characters, they did a solid job. Adults can be pretentious about art, but kids just get it.
2.
Seeing all the young cinephiles and child actors experience the festival. Picture this adorable scene: I’m standing outside the Royal Alexandra Theatre waiting for a screening to let out and this kid comes up to ask, “Are there any famous people coming?” I quickly take out my red carpet press list and give him the rundown of the day. I also got the opportunity to chat with child actor Kit Rakusen on the red carpet for the premiere of Jan Komasa’s Good Boy. He told us his love of acting started with his primary school club’s monologue assignment.
3.
Passing on valuable film knowledge to the next generations. While waiting for the Wayward premiere I grabbed a pint at a local spot and a kid asked me which celeb people were waiting for. I told him, “Toni Collette!” to which he responded, “I don’t even know him!” I obviously had to tell him that Muriel’s Wedding is mandatory viewing.
4.
Watching films that my young Queer theatre-kid felt “seen” in. I saw my young self reflected in both Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon and Nia Dacosta’s Hedda. Both gorgeously crafted melodramas about outsiders with some of the most nuanced and remarkable acting. I saw my youthful desperation and lack of self regard in Lee Hwan’s Project Y (more brilliant performances here from Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo). Renate Reinsve stole the show for me with her devastating portrayal of a depressed artist in Sentimental Value; a film so good I considered forgiving my father. Raul Peck’s brilliant Orwell 2+2=5, which weaves Orwell’s personal life with his work, reflected back to me some of my first ever radical thoughts.
5.
Getting to see Bryan Fuller’s fantastical masterpiece Dust Bunny which explicitly speaks to the audiences’ inner child. I have to give this film extra credit here. Equal parts strange and sweet, Dust Bunny stars Mads Mikkelsen as a hitman hired by the precocious Aurora to kill the monster under her bed. As Sigourney Weaver reminded us on the red carpet, “Sometimes the monster is there to protect you when useless adults do nothing.”
6.
Enjoying my most anticipated movie at TIFF which was actually a TV show. Canadian comedian/ actor/ screenwriter/ recording artist Mae Martin’s latest creative project Wayward is a tribute to Martin’s childhood best friends. Those best friends were actually in the audience on opening night. Martin shared that as teens the group experienced the horrifying events of the show in real life: one of them was abducted in the middle of the night and forced into a teen rehabilitation camp. After the screening, Martin explained that this show is an ode to our younger selves and the “sharp edges” we have as teens that get worn down with age. Teens care about what is right and wrong. They refuse to go along to get along, and Wayward stands as a beautiful call-to-action piece to get us back to that place. Wayward also stars Toni Collette.
7.
Talking to artists that I’ve admired my whole life — this experience completely rewired my brain. Baz Luhrman! Richard Linklater! Tracey Ullman! I got to have the most incredible moments with my actual childhood idols. I told Baz Luhrman that Moulin Rouge saved my depressed teenage life by teaching me “the greatest thing you could ever learn is just to love and be loved in return”.
8.
Taking a moment to reflect in quiet spaces — this is my version of a sensory deprivation tank. On your next day off I urge you to go to a showing at your local theatre. It doesn’t even matter what movie it is! The less you know the better. Buy a popcorn or (if you are at TIFF Lightbox) a coffee and a Craig’s cookie. And just relax. Say nothing, do nothing, and just take it all in.
9.
Realizing that film people are the best people! I met the best people and made more friends than I can even remember. TIFF is all about sharing an experience with other people like that audience chatter during the creditsafter a movie. King street itself is filled with sharing; from giving someone a film ticket that you won’t be able to make to saving someone a seat while they run to get popcorn. The vibe is IMMACULATE. I was working with the amazing team at 1st Reviews and by the end of the festival it felt like a little film family.
10.
Being reminded of the power of movies: they can reach back into time and grab a piece of yourself that you totally forgot existed. Even better, movies reach out in the present moment and connect people — no matter where they come from or who they are.
11.
Affirming my love for this city of Toronto. I love this city SO much. The light, the people, the buildings, the nature, the films! TIFF is such a gift and perhaps my favourite thing about my favourite city.
Growing up in Brampton as a Queer, movie-loving kid, I cannot express to you how obsessed I was with Toronto. I would come for Jays games (Go Blue Jays!), a trip to the ROM, or maybe a trip to the World’s Biggest Bookstore. The allure of the sites, sounds, and smells of “The Big Smoke” haunted my every thought. I watched Adventures in Babysitting (filmed in Toronto) thousands of times. I did not dream of weddings. I did not dream of motherhood. I did not dream of mansions, or cars, or horses. I dreamed of the ~city~! I dreamed of movie things! So when I tell you TIFF2025 healed my inner child, I promise I am not overstating the point. Thank you TIFF.
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