For the first time since 2018, Taylor made an appearance in Toronto at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)! Her short film for All Too Well was featured on Friday night. It was also the first time the film was displayed on 35-mm film. Taylor and the TIFF CEO, Cameron Bailey, discussed the making of the film, the leads, Dylan and Sadie and the cinematographer Rina Yang. Taylor shined on the red carpet in a floor length sequined tan gown alongside Sadie Sink. Check out videos below and photos in the gallery. Plus, you can see two different portrait sessions from Vanity Fair and LA Times.
In the wake of winning the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, Taylor Swift brought “All Too Well: The Short Film” to the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9 for a discussion in front of scores of devoted fans. How devoted? The first group of fans in line arrived at midnight, the second group at 5 a.m. — and they didn’t even have tickets yet, but were hoping that will call would answer their prayers, or that they would catch a glimpse of Swift walking by.
The talk, alongside TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, focused on her directorial process and thinking of her music from a visual angle. It was also coupled with the first 35mm screening of “All Too Well,” which she wrote, directed, produced and makes an appearance in.
The headline news? Deep into the conversation, Bailey asked if Swift would be interested in one day making feature films, and she said yes, if she could find the right material.
She also revealed why the “All Too Well” visual took her ten years to visualize.
“For me, the song was so tough because it was about something that at that point was very current for me,” she said. “I would have a really hard time performing it at the time. I had to really like force myself to focus on other things to try to get through it during tour. So there would there would be no world in which I could have made a visual element to that song at that time. I needed ten years of retrospect in order to know what I would even make to to tell a version of that story visually. And I’m so grateful that I was able to do that with some crazy stroke of all these different twists of fate.”
Swift also explained the significance of “the scarf” from the video, which has become a fan favorite topic of discussion.
“Basically, the scarf is a metaphor,” she said. “And we turned it red because because red is a very important color in this album, which is called ‘Red.’ And I think when I say it’s a metaphor, I’m just gonna stop.”
Swift also described how Dylan O’Brien’s portrayal of Him is so impactful that even though he is “gaslighting” Sadie Sink’s Her, she still finds herself rooting for him too.
“I know it’s problematic, but I’m watching that, I’m like, ‘He is so charismatic,’” she said. “He is charismatic, problematic, and I am still sort of rooting for them to work through this, because he makes some charming points.”
“All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” came out in November 2021, alongside an extended, 10-minute version of the song released on “Red (Taylor’s Version).” It stars Sink and O’Brien portraying a relationship with an age gap that mirrors the song’s lyrics. Swift previously screened and discussed the film at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The viral music video, alongside a performance of the full 10-minute version on “Saturday Night Live,” helped Swift win the Guinness World Record for Longest Song to Reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
After winning the Video of the Year VMA for “All Too Well,” Swift announced in her acceptance speech that she would be releasing her next album, “Midnights,” on Oct. 21.
“I was writing it for Sadie, and if she would have said no, I just don’t know if I would have made the film.” @taylorswift13 speaks on writing ALL TOO WELL: THE SHORT FILM and envisioning @SadieSink for the lead role. #TIFF22
Watch the full talk: https://t.co/FzSu3NB3xp pic.twitter.com/apX7dXgFD6
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 16, 2022
HAPPENING NOW: we’re LIVE as fans meet @taylorswift13 ahead of her screening at #TIFF22 ! She was greeted with chants of “I love you Taylor!” Swift is at the festival for a screening and debut of her short film “All Too Well.” #TaylorSwift13 @CP24 pic.twitter.com/qfBn3jJmbR
— Marc Liverman (@MarcLiverman) September 9, 2022
Taylor Swift se despidió de sus swifties después de presentar ‘All Too Well’ en el #TIFF2022 pic.twitter.com/yElYZTZ3WS
— SensaCine México (@SensaCineMx) September 10, 2022
Taylor Swift going back outside just to meet the many Toronto fans who showed up in support of #AllTooWellTheShortFilm at #TIFF22 ! pic.twitter.com/hgx4vs2P91
— Taylor Swift Updates (@SwiftNYC) September 9, 2022
BEST DAY OF MY LIFE FR FR @taylorswift13 #TIFF22 pic.twitter.com/CzO3mGZSiq
— justin frederic (@justinfrederic) September 9, 2022
.@taylorswift13 and @SadieSink arriving at the red carpet for #TIFF22! pic.twitter.com/jPAIpS0l9H
— Taylor Swift Web (@tayswiftdotcom) September 9, 2022
¡Paren todo! #TaylorSwift y Sadie Sink en el TIFF para la presentación del cortometraje ‘All Too Well: The Short Film’😍 pic.twitter.com/7Eqd4owTYw
— SensaCine México (@SensaCineMx) September 9, 2022