Steven Spielberg’s new feature film, The Fabelmans, in which the American director looks back on his childhood and his discovery of cinema, won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sunday, September 18, reinforcing its status as favorite in the race for the Oscars. Described as a semi-autobiographical tale, The Fabelmans immerses spectators in Steven Spielberg’s own childhood, between parental disagreement, anti-Semitic bullying and exploration of the seventh art. This very personal feature film, presented in preview in the Canadian metropolis, will be officially released in France on January 25, 2023. After receiving thunderous applause during its world presentation at TIFF last weekend, it won Sunday the public prize, the main trophy awarded at the Canadian festival which, unlike those of Cannes, Berlin or Venice, does not have an official competition. However, it is the number one film festival in North America and in fact is always seen as a launching pad for the Oscars. in Toronto. It’s the most personal film I’ve made and the warm reception I received in Toronto made my first visit to TIFF feel intimate and personal.”Based on his childhood in Arizona, this coming-of-age drama adult explores the family secrets of a young man passionate about cinema, and notably features Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Seth Rogen. Semi-autobiographical, the film follows young Sammy Fabelman and his family. The parallels with Spielberg’s life are clear. Like him, the Fabelman family moved from New Jersey to Arizona and then to California and Sammy fell in love with cinema, perfecting himself with the help of his friends and inventing techniques for the camera.
