Olmo – Mexican Director – USA film at Scotiabank Theatre
Olmo takes place in New Mexico (the USA state). Actor Avian Uttapa (Night Swim) plays the lead role of Olmo, a disco-loving 14-year-old living in 1979. He has a BFF Miguel, an older sister Ana who loves roller skating, and who annoys him and a mom, a mostly absent mom, working more than she’s home.
The story focuses on Olmo who has a bedridden father suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. The trouble begins when, on the same day he’s put in charge of caring for his dad, the girl next door (with whom he has a massive crush) invites him to a party. It’s a coming-of-age story dealing with teen angst versus the Latino sense of family duty. Eimbcke and the magnificent actors deliver one of the warmest, emotional and hilarious coming-of-age films I’ve seen in some time. Excellent film
Red Carpet-animated film Space Cadet Cast at Lightbox
Canada – North American Premiere
On the Red Carpet before the screening and for a Q & A after the film were Director & Original Score by Kid Koala, Editing: Corinne Merrell, Producer: Nathalie Bissonnette, Production Designer: Lillian Chan, Screenplay Mylène Chollet with other crew.
Quebec film for animated film Space Cadet
With Kid Koala and other creators of the film – at TIFF Lightbox
A wonderful animated film, children depicted so beautifully with emotions of happiness and tears. Tells how a child becomes so attached to her Space Robot and then has to say goodbye. The film makes us think of the future (possibly near future?) when our companions might be robots.
The red carpet for Easy’s Waltz and Glenrothan on the afternoon of September 11th, 2025, brought a warm, golden glow to TIFF. The late-summer daylight lit up King Street as the cast and filmmakers arrived, the soft sun making everything shimmer — sequins, sunglasses, and smiles.
Easy’s Waltz had an easygoing charm mirrored by its stars, who laughed and waved to fans before pausing for photos. Glenrothan’s team followed with a more reserved elegance, the Scottish drama’s cast exuding quiet confidence and camaraderie. Photographers caught every moment as the light shifted slightly toward evening, creating perfect natural tones.
The mood was relaxed yet celebratory, the buzz of festivalgoers blending with the hum of cameras. It was a picture-perfect TIFF afternoon — a mix of artistry, anticipation, and cinematic magic glowing under Toronto’s late-day sky. Glenrothan 5:15 – Easy’s around 6:00.
RENOIR film at Scotiabank – Japanese film.
In the film RENOIR, a young girl’s father is very ill in the hospital. Chie Hayakawa (Plan 75, TIFF ’22) delicately captures the transition from childhood to adolescence through the eyes of Fuki, an 11-year-old girl dealing with her father’s terminal illness, portrayed by incredibly talented newcomer Yui Suzuki. As Fuki navigates the emotional turbulence of preadolescence, she is left to fend for herself, with her mother (Hikari Ishida) overwhelmed by work and the stress of caring for a dying husband (Lily Franky).
Retreating into her imagination, experimenting with hypnosis, and engaging in dangerous phone calls to a dating agency, Fuki struggles to understand and process her grief. Suzuki’s performance is extraordinary, delivering a rich palette of emotions — loss, wonder, guilt, detachment — through a nuanced portrayal of a complex character.
The film explores complicated family dynamics amid an economic boom and growing admiration for Western culture, where material wealth often masks emotional isolation.
What is the connection with RENOIR, the painter? In many Japanese households of the time, replicas of Impressionist paintings were popular. The film features a reproduction of Renoir’s portrait Irène Cahen d’Anvers. This cherished childhood gift from Hayakawa’s father lies at the heart of the film, symbolizing nostalgia and the longing for love and connection. Beautiful film.
We ended our night with the red carpet of Junk World at The Royal Alexandra Theatre as the guest of the movie were in fine spirit for the photo and video opportunity.
BKonthescene 