It’s here: jam-packed days, sleepless nights (facilitated by the 4am last call), and Toronto in its finest form.
Of course, we’re talking about the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). And each day we are going to bring you 3 of the most notable things from the day and night before.
So, about last night…
The stars: A-listers
The cast party for Ethan Hawke’s Seymour: An Introduction went down at The Calvin Bar in the Trump Hotel. Though the party was scheduled from 9-11, Hawke was still there when we arrived just past 10:30. The pounding rain meant the Soho House terrace wasn’t an option, but stars like Liev Schreiber (sans Naomi Watts, who’s also in town) and an impossible-to-miss Benecio del Toro – thanks to a bright red hat – enjoyed drinks and smoke breaks on the main level.
The event: Best Buddies 20th Anniversary Gala
TIFF isn’t just about films and parties. The legendary Goldie Hawn stunned on the carpet (inspiring non shortage of Instagram posts) for the Best Buddies 20th Anniversary Gala at the Carlu last night. She was the evening’s main attraction – and for good reason. The glamorous evening honoured her as she received the International Humanitarian Leadership Award. The award recognizes her work with the Hawn Foundation, a charitable organization that teaches children to reduce stress and stay focused through mindfulness and meditation techniques. The event managed to raise $1.6 million for Best Buddies.
The film: Escobar: Paradise Lost
Though the film doesn’t premiere until this evening, there was a lot of buzz about it last night. So why will you like Escobar: Paradise Lost? Well, it’s based on a true story and there’s definitely nothing dull about the life of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (played by del Toro). Marking Andrea Di Stefano’s directorial debut, the film is told from the point of view of a Canadian surfer, Nick (Josh Hutcherson), who falls for the woman of his dreams, Maria (Claudia Traisac), at a surf camp near Medellin. The only problem? It turns out her uncle is Pablo, who exposes Nick to his wild world of extravagance, organized crime, political corruption, and ruthless violence. Told you you’d want to check it out.
#NOTABLE
Images: tiff.net, tumblr, thhawnfoundation.org
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