Kari Wong on All That She Wants, TIFF 2026 and what comes next

All That She Wants is heading to TIFF for its World Premiere. As a Toronto-based production and a major step in your career, what does it mean to have the film premiere in front of a TIFF audience?

Kari Wong: As someone who grew up just outside of Toronto in a home where art was such a big part of how my family bonded, this feels incredibly full circle. Music, film, television and all forms of art were always ways for us to connect, share experiences and spend time together growing up.

Having a film premiere at TIFF is something I dreamed about as a kid. To now have All That She Wants make its World Premiere in front of a TIFF audience feels honestly a little surreal. There’s something really special about getting to share this project with the city and community that have been such a big part of my life.

You play Paige, the woman Luke is seeing when his connection with Emma begins to complicate things. Without giving too much away, how would you describe Paige, and what interested you most about playing her?

Kari Wong: Paige is great company. She’s a fun time and loves being surrounded by friends. Sometimes, she has a little “too much fun,” but there’s nothing a little rest and recovery can’t solve before she rallies to be the life of the party the next night.

She’s bubbly and easy to talk to, which leads her relationship with Luke to develop into what you’ll see on screen. Honestly, what drew me to play Paige was Luke, and Cooper brought him to life so beautifully. When I read the script, I remember stopping to laugh out loud. I knew playing Paige would be so much fun, but that it would also fill my cup.

I’m thrilled to say that I was right—I had the best time on set playing Paige and working alongside Annie and Cooper.

You’ve worked across film, television, animation, voice acting and video games. How has moving between such different kinds of performances shaped you as an actor, and is there one area you’d particularly like to explore more?

Kari Wong: I’m so thrilled to have worked across so many mediums in my field. Creating in such different spaces has challenged me to stretch my craft in ways I never could have imagined.

I’ve found voice acting, in particular, to be such a unique and freeing process. There’s no camera on you, so you’re not thinking about hair, makeup, wardrobe or how you’re being perceived. You’re in your own little bubble in the booth, and there’s so much room to simply play—and “play” is really the key word for me. Voice acting fills my cup, and it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

That said, I’d love to take that same sense of exploration, freedom and playfulness and bring it into more on-screen work in film and television. I think there’s something really exciting about finding that freedom in front of the camera, too.

All That She Wants brings together a notable ensemble, including Annie Murphy, Cooper Raiff, Zosia Mamet and Christine Baranski. Was there a particular moment during production when you stopped and thought, “This is a pretty special project to be part of”?

Kari Wong: Honestly, I think I was nervous from the moment I got the audition. I had already recognized so many names attached to the film, and even during the audition process, I had a feeling this was going to be something really special.

Once I received the full script, all the pieces started to fit together. I remember thinking, “All these incredible artists being part of this project makes complete sense—but what am I doing here?”

For anyone at my stage in their career, walking onto a set can be nerve-racking and, at times, intimidating. But this set was filled with such kind, genuine and fun people that it quickly became much less daunting.

It helped the film not feel so big and scary. Of course, there are unbelievable names and talent involved, but Annie, Cooper, Scarlett and Andrew, in particular, never failed to make me feel included and appreciated whenever I was on set.

To be surrounded by such incredible artists and still feel like there was a genuine sense of community and play—that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.

With the film premiering at TIFF and your career continuing to grow, what would you like this moment to lead to next? Are you looking toward more opportunities in the U.S., and what kinds of characters or projects would you love to take on?

Kari Wong: My next goal is really to put my head down, keep working and continue growing in my craft. I do what I do because I genuinely love it, and I hope the hard work is starting to pay off. ;)

I want to continue making art that connects with audiences from all walks of life—whether it makes them laugh, cry, feel inspired or simply feel more connected to the world around them.

For me, success means continually pushing myself as an artist, challenging myself to step outside my comfort zone and using my work to create meaningful connections with audiences. I’ve always had a little dream of one day calling another city, such as New York or Los Angeles, home. I’d absolutely love the opportunity to work in the U.S. and see where that journey might take me.

More than anything, I see it as an opportunity to grow as an actor, meet new people and open myself up to new creative experiences. I’d love to continue playing strong, memorable characters like the ones I’ve previously had the opportunity to play, such as Valentina Furi in Unicorn Academy and An Yu in PJ Masks, while also pushing myself into new territory.

I’d especially love to explore more dramatic or action-driven roles and see what I can discover in those worlds. Ultimately, I just want to keep learning, keep creating and keep saying yes to opportunities that challenge me as an artist.

All That She Wants premieres Sunday, September 20, at TIFF 2026.