TORONTO—The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was a 10-day whirlwind of celebrity sightings, film screenings, and cocktail parties. But it didn’t go without a bit of scandal—the world premiere of the film Sparta was axed from the lineup following allegations against Australian director Ulrich Seidl for on-set misconduct and child exploitation.
All other drama during the fest was left onscreen, with viewings of The Whale, a movie that chronicles a 600-pound man’s transformation; Causeway, starring Jennifer Lawrence as a U.S. soldier coping with a traumatic brain injury; and Tyler Perry’s crime-drama, A Jazzman’s Blues (just to name a few).
And nestled between the screenings, which took place Sept. 8-18 this year, was a kickoff celebration, gifting suite, and portrait studio. Keep scrolling for an inside look.
‘Toronto Life/Hello! Canada’ Hollywood North Party
The Toronto Life/Hello!Canada Hollywood North Party kicked off TIFF with an invite-only evening soiree that celebrated the Canadian talent—350 actors, directors, showrunners, and producers—in attendance.
Guests danced to tracks spun by a live DJ and were surprised and delighted with performances by Canadian drag queens Imarra (pictured) and Perla. And when not mixing and mingling with canapés and a cocktail in hand, attendees could interact with the on-site activations, including a 360-degree photo booth by MAC Cosmetics, a FAME Polaroid-branded photo booth, and Toronto Life’s portrait studio.
Guests danced to tracks spun by a live DJ and were surprised and delighted with performances by Canadian drag queens Imarra (pictured) and Perla. And when not mixing and mingling with canapés and a cocktail in hand, attendees could interact with the on-site activations, including a 360-degree photo booth by MAC Cosmetics, a FAME Polaroid-branded photo booth, and Toronto Life’s portrait studio.
Photo: George Pimentel
Fittingly, table decor included a display boasting each cover variation of Toronto Life’s September 2022 issue. “There’s no better way to celebrate the season and our city’s abundance of TV and film stars than with a can’t-miss festival kickoff party,” said the magazine’s editor-in-chief Malcolm Johnston.
Photo: George Pimentel
Bask-It-Style Gifting Suite
The 12th iteration of Bask-It-Style took place at the Fairmont Royal York on Sept. 7. The invitation-only event welcomed 85 celebrities and members of the media into the landmark hotel’s Manitoba Room, which was transformed into a gifting suite designed for guests to leave with an on-the-go “survival kit” of goodies to enjoy in between TIFF’s packed programming.
Products up for grabs included multivitamin supplements courtesy of Pascoe; hyaluronic acid serum, moisturizer, and hydrating cleanser from Soo’AE; DAVIDsTEA filter backs and matcha on-the-go kits; as well as makeup from L’Oreal, snacks by Toronto Popcorn Company, and apparel from local brand Kit and Ace.
Products up for grabs included multivitamin supplements courtesy of Pascoe; hyaluronic acid serum, moisturizer, and hydrating cleanser from Soo’AE; DAVIDsTEA filter backs and matcha on-the-go kits; as well as makeup from L’Oreal, snacks by Toronto Popcorn Company, and apparel from local brand Kit and Ace.
Photo: Kennedy Pollard Photography
![Jessica Glover, the founder and principal at GLO Communications—the boutique, full-service communications agency that hosted Bask-It-Style—said that her team’s “ability to bring everything together under the uncertainty of the pandemic” was the greatest success of the gifting suite. “This was our first event since the onset of COVID-19, and a lot has changed since then,” she added, noting that because of this, GLO worked under “a shorter timeframe and added restrictions.” However, “to have hosted a successful event with [those limitations] is a big accomplishment that I am quite proud of,” Glover said.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2022/09/Bask_It_Style___Royal_York_2022_112.6335c7671578b.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Jessica Glover, the founder and principal at GLO Communications—the boutique, full-service communications agency that hosted Bask-It-Style—said that her team’s “ability to bring everything together under the uncertainty of the pandemic” was the greatest success of the gifting suite. “This was our first event since the onset of COVID-19, and a lot has changed since then,” she added, noting that because of this, GLO worked under “a shorter timeframe and added restrictions.” However, “to have hosted a successful event with [those limitations] is a big accomplishment that I am quite proud of,” Glover said.
Photo: Kennedy Pollard Photography
Global Film Premiere of ‘CAUGHT’
The global premiere of the Age of Union’s short documentary film CAUGHT took place on Sept. 12 at the Paradise Theatre.The private screening event captured the true spirit of TIFF—from the theater marquee that welcomed 80-plus guests to the to-do, to the film itself and its raw lens in depicting the consequences excess consumerism has on the planet’s oceanic systems. Created in partnership with Sea Shepherd, Age of Union founder Dax Dasilva noted how great it was to hear how CAUGHT “resonated with viewers, confirming the powerful impact [he] hoped the film would have.”
Photo: Mauricio Jose Calero
![At the premiere, Age of Union also announced a $1.5 million donation to Nature Seekers, a nonprofit organization located on the east coast of Trinidad that’s committed to conserving and protecting sea turtles. The donation marked the largest private endowment Nature Seekers has ever received. Dasilva (pictured left) told BizBash that it’s been challenging to “keep momentum going for awareness and action tied to unregulated and illegal bycatch [where unwanted fish are caught while commercial fishing for other species],” but the film premiere helped do that. “Well beyond our global premiere … it’s important to keep these difficult conversations alive,” he added.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2022/09/DSC_0487.6335c7f1ebf40.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
At the premiere, Age of Union also announced a $1.5 million donation to Nature Seekers, a nonprofit organization located on the east coast of Trinidad that’s committed to conserving and protecting sea turtles. The donation marked the largest private endowment Nature Seekers has ever received.
Dasilva (pictured left) told BizBash that it’s been challenging to “keep momentum going for awareness and action tied to unregulated and illegal bycatch [where unwanted fish are caught while commercial fishing for other species],” but the film premiere helped do that. “Well beyond our global premiere … it’s important to keep these difficult conversations alive,” he added.
Dasilva (pictured left) told BizBash that it’s been challenging to “keep momentum going for awareness and action tied to unregulated and illegal bycatch [where unwanted fish are caught while commercial fishing for other species],” but the film premiere helped do that. “Well beyond our global premiere … it’s important to keep these difficult conversations alive,” he added.
Photo: Mauricio Jose Calero
NKPR IT HOUSE
Steps away from the TIFF Bell Lightbox—a city block-long cultural center in Toronto where much of TIFF's programming takes place—was the NKPR IT HOUSE, a VIP-only hub designed for guests “to recuperate from the hustle and bustle of the city’s film festival season,” said Natasha Koifman, NKPR’s president. Located at the Purman Building, IT HOUSE invited 200-plus tastemakers to explore the space, which featured vignettes boasting local businesses and vendors as well as games, including an oversized Connect 4 board with tiles boasting the logos of those businesses and vendors as well as a branded pingpong table.
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR
La Bonne Fille, a fine tea company from Toronto, turned a corner of the IT HOUSE into a cafe. Here, guests could sip on hot and cold brews in flavors such as creamy earl grey, velvety vanilla, rose blush, and blueberry while admiring a teacup-clad display complete with neon signage that playfully read, “Spill the tea!”
Guests could also explore on-site tasting experiences at Lobos 1707’s tequila bar, Ceder’s mocktail bar, and popcorn snacks from Purplesful.
Guests could also explore on-site tasting experiences at Lobos 1707’s tequila bar, Ceder’s mocktail bar, and popcorn snacks from Purplesful.
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR
Adjacent to La Bonne Fille’s cafe was a larger-than-life teacup overflowing with lush blooms and greenery—a nod to the tea company’s floral, locally brewed blends. It was displays such as this one that made Koifman note on the best part of this year’s TIFF: “Festival magic was back in full swing!”
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR
Hey Babes Cosmetics constructed a salon at the IT HOUSE, and it was notable for its flamingo-filled wallpaper, gold-accented salon chairs, and pops of pink that are also found in its branding.
Not to be forgotten was Hello! Canada’s portrait studio, which brought the glitz and glamor of its entertainment news to life; as well as MCM’s walk-in closet, Regimen Labs’ skincare station, and Starks Barber Company’s on-site barber shop.
Not to be forgotten was Hello! Canada’s portrait studio, which brought the glitz and glamor of its entertainment news to life; as well as MCM’s walk-in closet, Regimen Labs’ skincare station, and Starks Barber Company’s on-site barber shop.
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR
Canada-based women’s fashion brand Joseph Ribkoff activated at the NKPR IT HOUSE with a styling lounge. And after guests found the perfect outfit, a 360-degree photo booth captured an Insta-worthy pic.
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR
Sony Classic Pictures’ Supper Suite
The Supper Suite hosted four premiere film parties for Sony Classic Pictures—Living, One Fine Morning, Carmen, and Return to Seoul—at MARBL. Leading entertainment communications brand A-List Communications hosted the Supper Suite, and David Manning, the company’s executive vice president and CMO, told BizBash that the venue was selected for its close proximity to the festival’s main theaters, “making it easy for talent to get to us quickly pre- and post-screenings, [and] because of the large layout, modern luxury of the venue, and high caliber of food quality.”
Photo: Photagonist.ca
Each event boasted a star-studded guest list of about 125, including Natalie Portman and her husband and director Benjamin Millepied, who attended the premiere of Carmen. Of course, cast members from the film Paul Mescal and Rossy de Palma were also present with the Supper Suite’s signature Paloma cocktail in hand.
Photo: Photagonist.ca
VIPs on the guest list were welcomed to the venue by a photo-worthy entryway overflowing with live greenery. Neon signage let attendees know they were at the right place before walking onto the red carpet and getting their picture taken in front of a branded step and repeat.
Photo: Photagonist.ca
All food and beverage was prepared by MARBL’s in-house kitchen and service team. Cocktails on the curated menu included the signature Supper Suite Paloma; the MARBL Pick Me Up (pictured), made with coconut-infused Belvedere, Kahlua, Baileys, and espresso; the Hennessy and lavender-mixed Hennessy Love; and the Belvedere Dream with tangerine and Moet champagne.
Photo: Photagonist.ca
Getty’s Portrait Studio
Throughout TIFF, stars stepped off the red carpet and into the Getty Portrait Studio. The setup outfitted a room at the Bisha Hotel, and welcomed celebrities to get their portraits taken. The cast of The Menu stopped by for an appointment.
Photo: Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
Daniel Radcliffe also got his portrait taken. He starred in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which had showtimes at TIFF on Sept. 8, 9, and 18.
Photo: Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
