Jonathan Urbin is a Film Studies major at Michigan State University who plans to graduate in Spring 2026. He attended the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025 as part of the education abroad program offered by the Film Studies Program at Michigan State University. He wrote about his experience with this program in the following article originally published by MSU’s Office for Education Abroad.
I was given the opportunity to go on this year’s TIFF study abroad program with MSU. This was my third time going and it was once again an absolute blast! Over the course of the festival, I was able to attend over 20 film screenings, several director and actor Q&As, and connect with a multitude of filmmakers and other enthusiasts.
We first arrived at our hostel on Sept. 4, and from there we picked up our industry passes. Being back in Toronto was a joy. I always enjoy the bustling streets and multitude of shops and restaurants (I ate more chicken shawarma in a week than in my entire life). Whether it’s local thrift stores, record shops, or vendors, during festival week there is always something to look at.
But beyond just the shopping opportunities, the main draw was the films! This year I got to see so many brand-new releases and world premieres.
With the passes we get through the program, in order to get into screenings, we need to get in rush lines (which are basically first-come-first-serve lines for extra cinema seating). Some premieres and films you can get in within 30 minutes, others take several hours for a chance to make it in. So, there is inherently a lot of waiting, but that is a perfect opportunity to meet all kinds of people from all over the world. Whether it’s meeting Toronto residents or getting closer to other students, this program is constantly connecting you with new people in such an exciting way.
The highlights of the festival for me included getting into the world premiere of Hikari’s new film Rental Family. There was a Q&A at the end with Brendan Fraser, and that was unbelievable. I am still in awe that I got to be in a room with him. That film is a beautiful testament to human connection, easily becoming one of my favorites of the year.
I was also able to get into a screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which was delightful. His prowess when it comes to production design and faithfulness to the source material made it a breath of fresh air.
I was also able to see the new Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man. My friend Chris and I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and rushed down the Toronto streets to try and make it into a 9 a.m. screening, and we weren’t even the first ones in line!
Other honorable mentions include Midnight Madness films like Curry Barker’s Obsession and Matt Johnson’s Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie (who we got a picture with!!!).
Every week at TIFF always seems to fly by, and when we got back on the bus on Sept. 10, this time was no different. All I know is those late nights and early mornings were absolutely worth it, and I would go back in a heartbeat. This opportunity was truly sensational, and I am so grateful to have had another phenomenal time at TIFF!
