Toronto International Film Festival Archives

Toronto International Film Festival

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 345: 2026 TIFF Wrap Up

by Contra Zoom | October 7, 2026

The 51st edition of TIFF ran from September 10th to 20th, and Contra Zoom Pod looks at the award winners and discusses some of our favourite films.

Love of Your Life: TIFF 2026 Review

by Rachel West | September 12, 2026

Margaret Qualley delivers a standout performance in Love of Your Life , while Rachel Morrison turns a deceptively simple romance into a thoughtful exploration of grief, guilt and love.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode Episode 343: 2026 TIFF Preview

by Contra Zoom | September 8, 2026

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10-20th, and Contra Zoom Pod previews 8 films they are excited to see.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 314: Interview with Zacharias Kunuk

by Contra Zoom | October 20, 2025

On the latest Contra Zoom Pod episode, Jeff Bulmer sat down with Zacharias Kunuk, the director of TIFF's Wrong Husband , for an interview!

The Man In My Basement Review: TIFF 2025

by Rachel West | September 5, 2025

More unsettling drama than traditional thriller, The Man In My Basement pairs Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins in a tense, philosophical story of race, power, and morality, marking a confident feature debut for Nadia Latif.

Still Single TIFF 2025 Masaki Saito Sushi documentary

Still Single Interview: Jamal Burger and Chef Masaki Saito on Their TIFF 2025 Documentary

by Rachel West | September 3, 2025

Toronto's only two-star Michelin chef, Masaki Saito, and director Jamal Burger discuss documentary Still Single.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 312: TIFF 50 Preview

by Contra Zoom | September 3, 2025

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival starts up this week, and Contra Zoom Pod previews it!

TIFF 2025: From Frankenstein to Hamnet – 14 Festival Films Based On Books

by Rachel West | August 21, 2025

Whether you”™re waiting in line for your next screening or want to get a jump on reading before some of this year”™s buzziest films hit screens big and small, we have your must-read film list ready.

Relay Review: Thrilling Throwback Fun

by Colin Biggs | August 20, 2025

David Mackenzie's Relay is a throwback of sorts. Not quite the thrillers of the 1970s, like his film Hell or High Water, but closer to the renaissance the genre received in the early aughts, like Cellular and Red Eye.

The Life of Chuck Review: Mike Flanagan’s King Adaptation Contains Multitudes

by Emma Badame | June 9, 2025

Mike Flanagan's latest is a refreshing, hope-filled tale bolstered by effective performances from a cast including Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Friendship Review

by Victor Stiff | May 8, 2025

In Friendship, Tim Robinson's signature off-kilter persona finds a bigger stage, with an absurd cringe comedy destined for cult status.

Hard Truths Review

by Emma Badame | January 22, 2025

Mike Leigh's Hard Truths is a stunning, compassionate portrait of humanity likely to be counted among his very best. Marianne Jean-Baptiste's performance is unforgettable.

Anora Review

by Barbara Goslawski | October 28, 2024

The film is many things at once and yet so decisively unified. A Cinderella fairytale romance, Anora lithely shifts between comedy and drama. It's pure magic.

Eden: TIFF 2024 Review

by Ethan Dayton | September 24, 2024

Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney elevate Ron Howard's bland direction in Eden , which is based on the true story of the Galapagos Affair.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 286: 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

by Contra Zoom | September 24, 2024

With TIFF now behind us, ContraZoomPod discuss some of our favourite films that played and the award winners.

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With just 34 days before reporting to federal prison, Elizabeth Holmes invites filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim into her home for an unrestricted look at her life. What begins as an offer of complete access becomes an unsettling exploration of truth, performance, and the difficulty of knowing who someone really is. Balancing uncomfortable humour with a fascinating sense of ambiguity, the documentary refuses to offer easy answers about Holmes or her carefully constructed public image. Through intimate cinematography, intricate editing, and Fielder’s signature awkwardness, it challenges audiences to question what they’re seeing, making for an ambitious, thought-provoking film that lingers long after it ends. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
5 hours ago
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Rest in peace, Tom Skerritt (1933–2026). A familiar and commanding presence on screen for more than six decades, Skerritt built a remarkable career across film and television, bringing a quiet authority and understated humanity to every role. From Captain Dallas in Alien and Viper in Top Gun to his performances in MASH*, The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, and A River Runs Through It, he became part of some of cinema’s most enduring stories. On television, he earned an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences, a role that showcased his ability to balance strength, warmth, and humour. Whether playing a military commander, a father, or a small-town sheriff, Skerritt had a way of making his characters feel grounded and real. With a career spanning generations and more than 170 film and television credits, he leaves behind a body of work that will continue to find new audiences. Thank you for the performances and the lasting mark you left on cinema.
1 day ago
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Street Fighter brings the iconic video game franchise back to the big screen, following estranged brothers Ryu and Ken as they reunite for the World Warrior Tournament. But with M. Bison plotting to harness the fighters’ power for his own sinister purposes, the competition soon becomes a battle for the fate of the world. Packed with spectacular fight sequences, nostalgic references, and a soundtrack that takes audiences straight back to the ’90s, the film delivers a major upgrade over its predecessor. With a perfectly matched cast, genuinely funny dialogue, and faithful recreations of the game’s signature moves, it balances fan service with entertaining action that newcomers can enjoy, too. 📝 Full review by Sarah Gopaul now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
3 days ago
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Whalefall follows Jay Gardiner, a young scuba diver who finds himself trapped inside a sperm whale and facing an increasingly desperate fight for survival. But as he struggles to escape before his oxygen runs out, the experience also forces him to confront unresolved grief and his complicated relationship with his late father. Led by Austin Abrams, the film delivers an intense underwater survival thriller with impressive technical work and a convincing sense of claustrophobia. However, its exploration of grief and family trauma struggles to match the tension of its central premise, relying on familiar character arcs and heavy-handed emotional beats that leave its themes feeling muddled. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
4 days ago
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What does it mean to see and hear yourself represented on screen? In his feature directorial debut, California Schemin’, James McAvoy tells the true story of Scottish rappers Silibil N’ Brains, who found success by pretending to be American. In this interview with That Shelf, McAvoy discusses the importance of staying true to the Scottish identity at the heart of the film, bringing the duo’s story to life, and why everyone deserves to see their own experiences reflected in cinema. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
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The Social Reckoning revisits the world of Facebook, following data scientist Frances Haugen and Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz as they investigate the company’s role in spreading harmful content and radicalizing users. Set between 2019 and 2021, the film examines the consequences of prioritizing profit over people in the social media industry. Despite tackling an urgent and relevant subject, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up struggles to offer fresh insights into the damage caused by social media. While the story raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the power of technology, underdeveloped characters, an awkward central relationship, and uninspired direction prevent the film from reaching its full potential. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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Six seasons into Slow Horses, Gary Oldman continues to find new layers in Jackson Lamb, the sharp-tongued, dishevelled spy at the centre of the series. In conversation with That Shelf at TIFF, Oldman reflects on playing Lamb over multiple seasons, the character’s history and hidden vulnerabilities, and the parallels between Lamb and another of his iconic spies, George Smiley. He also shares how adapting Mick Herron’s novels allows him to keep discovering new details about a character who carries years of history and baggage. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life takes a turn after his wife’s death leaves him caring for their three children. With his infant refusing formula and their supply of breast milk running out, Latif must navigate a dangerous world of crime and violence while trying to provide for his family. Mahershala Ali delivers an extraordinary performance in this striking blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and religious parable. Bassam Tariq explores faith, fatherhood, hypocrisy, and forgiveness without losing sight of the tenderness at the film’s heart. Despite some uneven pacing near the end, it’s a bold, moving, and unforgettable film that stands apart from anything else this year. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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Eva Marie Saint, one of the last silver-screen icons, has passed away at 102. She burst onto the scene with a magnificent supporting role opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront — a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to memorable parts in North by Northwest, Raintree Country, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Summer and Smoke, Exodus, and The Rainmaker. Her more recent roles included parts in Winter's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Superman Returns. Originally from Newark, she auditioned for Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, becoming one of a new generation of strong, method actors. One of the last of her Hollywood generation, she leaves us with an impressive career and legacy of over 6 decades! RIP.
3 weeks ago
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