NYWIFT Blog

By Tammy Reese & LaKisa Renee 

The Toronto International Film Festival is always filled with memorable moments, from the excitement of the red carpet to the conversations that continue long after the credits roll. This year, one of those moments came on Sunday, September 13, when Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut made its International Premiere at the VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

NYWIFT members LaKisa Renee and Tammy Reese were invited to attend the premiere, and had the opportunity to watch Eisenberg and Academy Award winner (and 2005 NYWIFT Muse Honoree) Julianne Moore walk the red carpet before entering the theatre to introduce audiences to this smart, darkly funny story about finding purpose in an unexpected place.

Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, The Debut centers on Mona Friedman, portrayed by Moore, a suburban housewife who has become increasingly bored and dissatisfied with the routine of her everyday life. When an opportunity to audition for a community theatre production presents itself, Mona decides to take a chance.

What starts as a simple audition quickly becomes something much more meaningful to her when she lands a role in the production.

For Mona, acting isn’t simply a new pastime. It becomes a source of excitement, identity, and purpose. She begins putting everything she has into her performance, determined to get every detail right. Her commitment, however, begins to move beyond enthusiasm as she becomes increasingly consumed by the need to deliver what she believes could be her defining performance.

At the center of it all is Moore, whose performance gives Mona both the humor and emotional depth that make her journey so compelling. Moore captures a woman who is searching for something that feels like it is truly hers, and once she discovers acting, she gives herself completely to it.

The film cleverly explores the familiar theatrical idea that there are no small parts, only small actors, while asking what happens when someone takes that philosophy to the extreme. Mona’s experience becomes a larger exploration of passion, identity, ambition, and the sometimes complicated line between finding something you love and becoming consumed by it.

The ensemble also includes Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, and legendary performer Bernadette Peters. 

The film is produced by Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, and Eisenberg, with A24, Fruit Tree, and Topic Studios behind the production.

For us, (LaKisa and Tammy), being at the TIFF premiere was another special experience and an opportunity to celebrate the artists who continue to bring new stories and perspectives to audiences. There is something uniquely exciting about seeing filmmakers and performers arrive on the red carpet and then watching their work come to life inside the theatre just moments later.

The Debut ultimately uses the world of community theatre to tell a much broader story about what it means to feel stuck, take a chance, and discover something that gives life a renewed sense of purpose.

Mona’s journey may begin with an audition, but what she finds along the way is much bigger than a role on a stage. It is a reminder that creativity can open unexpected doors — and sometimes, the things we initially pursue simply to escape our routine can reveal something about ourselves that we never knew was missing.

At TIFF, a festival built around discovering new stories and celebrating the people courageous enough to tell them, The Debut proved to be a fitting addition to the lineup.

The Debut is directed and written by Jesse Eisenberg and stars Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Jesse Eisenberg, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters. The film runs 105 minutes and is distributed in the United States by A24 and in Canada by Elevation Pictures.

For more information please visit: https://tiff.net/films/the-debut

(Images courtesy of A24; Video Credit: LaKisa Renee)