Made independently on a shoestring budget, Obsession has defied expectation, surging past half a billion dollars at the global box office and emerging as a cultural flashpoint that is reshaping the conversation in Hollywood. Almost overnight, Haley Johnson went from an ambitious young producer to one of the most sought-after names in the industry.
Nearly a year after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival ignited a frenzied studio bidding war, Johnson reflects on the whirlwind journey. She takes us behind the making of Obsession with a scrappy independent crew, and the meteoric rise to become one of the most successful theatrical films of 2026.
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Haley Johnson
Oct 4
12:30 pm
VIFF Centre, VIFF Cinema
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Sunday October 04
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See More Talks at VIFF
A Wish Come True: The Making of Obsession with Producer Haley Johnson
Producer Haley Johnson takes us behind the making of one of the year’s most culturally impactful films, Obsession.
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Image: © Heather Hazzan
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Stories Behind the Music: Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer & Musician
Join legendary DEVO co-founder and composer Mark Mothersbaugh in conversation with award-winning composer and former studio executive Robert Kraft, exploring a singular career spanning Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Thor: Ragnarok, and more.

