The 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) kicked off on Thursday with the North American premiere of “The Boy and the Heron”, the latest and possibly the last feature film by legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. The film, which has already grossed over $50 million in Japan, is a semi-autobiographical fantasy epic about a young boy coping with the death of his mother during World War II.
A Historic Opening for Animation
“The Boy and the Heron” is the first animated film to open TIFF, a prestigious festival that showcases some of the best films from around the world and serves as a launchpad for Oscar campaigns. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey praised Miyazaki’s film as “the most mature, dazzling expression of his vision” and said that it shows that “animation and live-action films don’t need to be differentiated anymore”.
Miyazaki, who is 82 years old and has won an Oscar for his 2001 masterpiece “Spirited Away”, did not attend the opening night at the Princess of Wales Theatre. However, his fans gave him a warm applause every time his name or that of his studio, Studio Ghibli, was mentioned. The film received a positive response from critics and audiences, who were moved by its emotional story and stunning visuals.
A Striking Absence of Stars
While TIFF usually attracts a lot of star power and media attention, this year’s edition was affected by the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which has disrupted the production and promotion of many films. Over 200,000 writers and actors across the US have been on strike since May over issues such as pay, residuals, and the use of artificial intelligence.
As a result, many celebrities were unable to attend TIFF or do any publicity for their films, unless they obtained a waiver from their unions. Some of the few actors who managed to get permission were Patricia Arquette, Camila Morrone, and Willem Dafoe, who were here with their film “Gonzo Girl”, directed by Arquette. Morrone called the strike “essential” and said that it was important to be resolved.
A Pandemic-Proof Festival
Another challenge that TIFF faced was the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the festival to adopt a hybrid format of in-person and online screenings, with reduced capacity and strict health protocols. TIFF also had to deal with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements that prevented some international filmmakers and guests from coming to Canada.
However, despite these difficulties, TIFF managed to offer a diverse and exciting lineup of films, including Craig Gillespie’s comedy “Dumb Money”, Kate Winslet’s biopic “Lee”, Taika Waititi’s sports drama “Next Goal Wins”, Kristin Scott Thomas’ directorial debut “North Star”, and many more. TIFF also featured several panels, masterclasses, talks, and tributes to celebrate cinema as an art form that is both personal and global.