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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

TIFF Opening Night Gala Gets Space-Age Decor

Carla Warrilow
September 9, 2011
Thursday’s opening night gala was the first of many Toronto International Film Festival parties scheduled during the 10-day confab. Held at the Liberty Grand, the evening took its theme from the festival's opening film, From the Sky Down, a documentary about U2. Some 3,000 people attended the event, including band members Bono and the Edge, where audiovisual and lighting components were the decor focal points, thanks to a collaborative effort from Westbury National Show Systems and ESG Show Services.

With the cooperating weather, the venue's courtyard quickly became a popular spot for guests. Minimal furnishing kept the focus on the four-foot mirror ball suspended from steel cables attached to the pillars of the building. “When I did a walkthrough with Joel [Dubin, account manager and technical director of Westbury], I asked him, 'Is there a way to get a mirror ball in here?'” said Barbara Hershenhorn, president of Party Barbara Co., who designed the event. “They had never done something like this before.” The suspended ball seemed to float in the air and reflected light everywhere in the courtyard. 

A second audiovisual highlight was a wall of 18 TV screens, which created a moving backdrop within the Artifacts Room. The screens were different sizes and each looped a surreal video—a mirror ball slowly became the galaxy, for example, and the screens periodically switched to static. The video took about a day to program, but Dubin explained, “The hardest thing was actually finding the TVs. No one has TVs anymore—plasmas, yes.”  

TIFF sponsors also played an important role at the event. Diet Coke had an area to itself in the Governor’s Room, with its own bar and lounge comprised of white sofas and red and silver pillows. In the Diet Coke “Stay Extraordinary” photo booth, guests could pose for photos that were printed out on the spot, posted online, and later, sent to guests on a USB key. Another sponsor, Skyy Vodka, served signature cocktails and had models posing like pinup girls inside a giant martini glass, while Perrier-Jouët served Champagne in the sectioned-off V.I.P. lounge in the Artifacts Room. The three DJs, Lissa Monet, Jojoflores, and Mark Oliver, played simultaneously throughout the venue till the party wrapped around 2 a.m.

E21392standalone
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Guests walked the orange carpet to enter the colourfully lit Liberty Grand.
Guests walked the orange carpet to enter the colourfully lit Liberty Grand.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
A hanging mirror ball reflected light around the Liberty Grand's outdoor courtyard.
A hanging mirror ball reflected light around the Liberty Grand's outdoor courtyard.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
The four-foot mirror ball was suspended over the courtyard with steel cables attached to the building.
The four-foot mirror ball was suspended over the courtyard with steel cables attached to the building.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
The Artifacts Room was lit in blue and furnished with white tables, couches, and bars.
The Artifacts Room was lit in blue and furnished with white tables, couches, and bars.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
The DJ played in front of 18 TV screens, which created a moving backdrop in the Artifacts Room.
The DJ played in front of 18 TV screens, which created a moving backdrop in the Artifacts Room.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
TIFF sponsor Perrier-Jouët served Champagne in the V.I.P. lounge within the Artifacts Room.
TIFF sponsor Perrier-Jouët served Champagne in the V.I.P. lounge within the Artifacts Room.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
The V.I.P. section came with a self-serve candy bar.
The V.I.P. section came with a self-serve candy bar.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Skyy Vodka, a TIFF sponsor, served signature cocktails and had models wearing its trademark colour.
Skyy Vodka, a TIFF sponsor, served signature cocktails and had models wearing its trademark colour.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Models posed in a giant Skyy martini glass in the Artifacts Room.
Models posed in a giant Skyy martini glass in the Artifacts Room.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
On TV screens, a looped video depicted surreal images of things like a mirror ball, the galaxy, and static.
On TV screens, a looped video depicted surreal images of things like a mirror ball, the galaxy, and static.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
In the Governor's Room, the DJ booth was covered in glowing tiles that changed colour.
In the Governor's Room, the DJ booth was covered in glowing tiles that changed colour.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Diet Coke served guests from its own bar in the Governor's Room.
Diet Coke served guests from its own bar in the Governor's Room.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
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