I will always remember the feeling in my stomach when I got the email confirming that I had been accepted to cover the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for The Rolling Tape: my very first in-person film festival coverage. It felt like a culmination of everything I had been working toward since the beginning of high school. It’s a dream come true that I’m still processing.

When I first got off the seven-hour bus ride, trying my best to emotionally hold myself together and navigate the transportation system of a city I had never stepped foot in, I took in the beauty of an active and vibrant city. Even before nearing the major stretch surrounding TIFF Bell Lightbox and Scotiabank Cinema, I could feel the excitement in the air and the rumblings of major films playing at the festival. Hours before seeing my first movie or finding where the venues were located, I knew that Toronto felt like a new home. And for that week I was there, I took advantage of every opportunity I could.

Once I got to my Airbnb, I dropped my bags off and was off to the races for my first movie that evening: Kitty Green’s The Royal Hotel. I had gotten a same-day ticket that morning, one of the biggest benefits of being an accredited press. It ended up being a public screening where the director introduced the film and answered audience questions after. It was incredibly surreal to be in that room with such a talented force in the industry, a feeling that only expedited when getting to hear from Ava DuVernay and Christos Nikou after screenings of Origin and Fingernails, respectively.

Over the course of six days, I had the opportunity to watch twenty-two movies. As somebody who loves planning each and every part of my day out, one of the most challenging parts of TIFF was figuring out my schedule. Bless Tiffr for being the best resource possible.

I quickly realized as the schedule dropped in mid-August that it was going to be virtually impossible to see every movie I wanted to see (I considered learning how to time travel, of course). I had to make some tough cuts in my schedule while also prioritizing time to eat and write my reviews. The frenzy of meeting new people, completing your coverage, and watching movies can be a lot, but I always built time to check in with myself mentally.

Since I was primarily in town for the second half of the festival after many major directors and industry leaders had left, this afforded me more chances to secure public screening tickets to big titles like The Holdovers and The Boy and the Heron. Having so much responsibility in deciding what films I was going to see also made me realize the importance of diversifying my schedule and seeking out films that weren’t necessarily on everybody’s minds. I allowed myself the flexibility to change up my plans every day, allowing room for new and unexpected experiences to alter my festival experience. My favorite film of the entire fest, His Three Daughters, wasn’t on my radar until the day before I ended up seeing it.

As the days went on, I began to find my sweet spot with how many films I could fit in a day. One day, I had DuVernary’s Origin and the three-hour Turkish Oscar contender About Dry Grasses back-to-back, which was definitely the most overwhelming day. I was in theaters without a break from 2:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. (Note to self: bring more snacks next time). I wouldn’t have traded it for the world, though.

The rush of running from theater to theater on particularly busy days was unlike anything I have ever experienced as a movie lover. Nearly every screening I attended was packed with people, which was exciting to witness. You could tell that everybody there was genuinely excited and eager to see as many movies as possible. Learning about TIFF traditions like the “Arr!” Pirate noise people make during the piracy warning or clapping along to the Bulgari ad with Zendaya and Anne Hathaway was a testament to the community that makes up TIFF’s beating heart.

Public screenings of American Fiction and Dicks: The Musical were some of my favorites to watch with a crowd. I’ll never forget the roaring laughter that echoed through the Royal Alexandra Theatre and Princess of Wales Theatre those nights. No matter how sleep-deprived I was, the rejuvenating feeling of watching a film with a sold-out crowd always kept me going. It’s moments like that that really make you feel alive as a moviegoer.

In addition to the movies, I loved striking up conversations with people from all over the world. It was great meeting people I had previously only known from online spaces, like my colleague Bryan Sudfield. I also attended an industry happy hour that pushed me out of my comfort zone in meeting people who were accredited as press and industry at TIFF. The festival’s overall experience and networking aspect served as an important reminder of how vast the film community is.

It was fascinating covering my first in-person film festival during such an anxious time in the industry with both the SAG-AFTRA and WGA on strike. For interviews, red carpets, and post-screening Q&As, directors and producers mainly took to the stage to represent their projects. Even though many actors and writers weren’t present to promote their projects, their contributions and importance to continuing the art form of cinema were never forgotten. 

As scary as it may be at times to pursue my love and desire to be in the entertainment industry, attending TIFF was a reassurance that by following my heart, I am fulfilling my soul and doing what truly makes me happy. Thank you to Toronto and everybody at The Rolling Tape for making this amazing opportunity come to fruition and believing in me from the very beginning. Each and every person inspires me I crossed paths with and hope to cross paths with again in the future. I will carry this life-changing experience with me forever, no matter where I go.

Reflection Courtesy of Matt Minton