Angelina Jolie, the Oscar-winning actress known for her work in front of the camera, has discovered a new passion—directing films. During a conversation at the Glenn Gould Theater at the Toronto Film Festival, Jolie shared why she prefers directing over acting.
“I like championing other people and finding their greatness,” she said. Jolie presented two films at the festival, one of which she directed, titled First They Killed My Father.
This is her fourth directorial feature, a foreign language film set in Cambodia, which premiered at Telluride before arriving in Toronto. The film, which is headed to Netflix, depicts the Cambodian genocide through the experiences of one family.
It premiered in Cambodia earlier, where it resonated deeply with survivors of the four-year reign of terror that took place between 1975 and 1979, causing nearly 2 million deaths.
Jolie was nervous about how Cambodians would react to the film but found that it opened up a crucial dialogue about the country’s past. “It was such a moving experience. We premiered it across the country, in many places, like the Olympic Stadium, where so much horror happened,” Jolie recounted.
“The country itself deserves this film and this dialogue. I heard parents and grandparents speaking about it [the genocide] to their children because they hadn’t spoken about it before.”
In addition to First They Killed My Father, Jolie also presented The Breadwinner, an animated film she produced, which has its world premiere at the festival.
The film tells the story of a 12-year-old Afghan girl struggling to grow up under the Taliban. Jolie brought her six children to watch the movie at the Winter Gardens Theater, highlighting its importance to her family.
Despite focusing on directing, Jolie is not entirely done with acting. She offered advice to aspiring actors: “Have a full life. Listen to other actors. Be aware and respond. Be a better person.”
Reflecting on her journey as a director, Jolie mentioned that she’s learned from every project and embraced different styles by working with various cinematographers. “They change, and I change,” she said, emphasizing the importance of growth and adaptability.
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