Cate Blanchett took center stage at the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, where she was honored with the TIFF Tribute Award on Sept. 8.  

 The festival also premiered two of her projects: Alfonso Cuarón’s Disclaimer, set to debut on Apple TV+ on Oct. 11, and Rumours, hitting U.S. and Canadian cinema Oct. 18, with both premiering at TIFF. 

 Beyond the accolades and premieres, Blanchett sat down for a conversation with film lovers in Toronto, reflecting on filmmaking, her views on AI, the challenges of producing, and her lifelong passion for theater. 

 When asked how her theater background influenced her film career, she shared her belief that the two mediums are not mutually exclusive. “The stage is made meaningful by the movements of actors,” she said; this philosophy, developed over the years in theater, has shaped her understanding of cinema, mainly how to use a frame and wide shot effectively. She also noted how working in large theater spaces has helped her bring intimacy to the big screen, avoiding the pitfalls of overacting. 

Blanchett also discussed her role as a producer, revealing how her work with the Sydney Theatre Company deepened her appreciation for the collaborative nature of creative projects. “As an executive producer, I see my role as an ally of the creative vision, a sounding board for the director,” she explained. 

 During her conversation at TIFF, an audience member asked Cate Blanchett about the positives and negatives of AI, a hot topic in the entertainment industry and beyond. Blanchett responded, “I’m very proud of the industry, actually, for going on strike about it.” She noted that AI had become a mainstream conversation thanks to the strike, “We should be very cautious with it because innovation without imagination is very dangerous.”  

Blanchett assured the audience that AI’s impact is not limited to the entertainment world but will touch every sector.

However, she expressed a profound concern about AI’s inability to grasp the human condition. “The thing we fear most, and put to the back of our minds most, is our mortality. AI will never understand that. It can imitate it, but it doesn’t feel the deep existential dread or the preciousness of each moment in the way we do.”

Her words highlighted the limitations of artificial intelligence and reminded it can’t replace human experiences. 

TIFF’s Tribute Awards are presented annually to honor distinguished work in film. Most of the fest’s other awards are based on voting by audience or juries, but the Tributes are selected by the board and announced in advance.

Blanchett’s honor was the fest’s Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award and was presented at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel.