Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical coming-of-age story “The Fabelmans” is the winning film at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This was announced by festival director Cameron Bailey on Sunday in Toronto. Spielberg’s most personal work to date Michelle Williams and Paul Dano in the leading roles, the audience in the Canadian metropolis, which traditionally chooses the winner instead of a jury, was enthusiastic. Second place went to the drama “Women Talking” by Canadian director Sarah Polley.
“The Fabelmans” draws largely on the childhood of 75-year-old Spielberg and the life of his parents, played by Williams and Dano. The film tells the story of Sam “Sammy” Fabelman, a boy who falls in love with cinema but struggles through family turmoil to pursue his dream.
At this year’s ten-day film festival in Toronto, almost 260 films competed for viewers’ attention. However, Ulrich Seidl’s new work “Sparta”, which should have celebrated its world premiere in Toronto, was not shown. After the discussions regarding the circumstances of the shooting with young amateur actors in Romania, which were triggered by a “Spiegel” research, the premiere was cancelled.