The Toronto International Film Festival took place September 10 to 20, inspiring its usual slew of parties. Though several of the events catered to glitzy crowds filled with movie stars and industry executives, many of the bashes shared a casual vibe that conjured the feel of a backyard barbecue. Street culture also influenced several of the events, which had everything from food trucks to edgy art installations. Here's a peek inside some of the laid-back elements of this year's TIFF party scene.
The first TIFF Soiree took place on September 9, before the festival officially kicked off on September 10. Held at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the gathering featured an onstage Q&A session with actress and new director Natalie Portman. Guests paid $300 to $650 for event tickets, and proceeds benefited the festival's programming.
After the discussion, guests headed to Luma (the restaurant at TIFF Bell Lightbox) for an after-party. The night offered casual snacks such as popcorn and tacos; there was also a string quartet wrangled by the Idea Hunter.
Entertainment stuck with the low-key vibe, and guests participated in nightly karaoke sessions. Eighties hits, including Prince's "Kiss," proved popular.
Another casual activity was ping-pong, which guests played both inside and outside the event space.
Gifting suites also had an informal vibe this year. At Diaz Contemporary, the Essentials Lounge offered products from such companies as Cake Beauty, Glaceau, Krispy Kreme, and Knix Wear. To tease all the swag that was available throughout the lounge, a display case held products from each sponsor. The event was presented by EGPR and took place on September 9.
In what would reflect a trend throughout this year's festival, a doughnut stand offered treats and coffee to guests at the Essentials Lounge.
Menu Food Truck also offered guests casual street food. The menu specializes in fried rice balls made with exotic ingredients such as Japanese beef curry, fish cakes, and pork with spicy lime, coconut, and green curry.
Presented by Sorel and Elle Canada, the Tastemakers Lounge took place at the Intercontinental Toronto Centre from September 10 to 15. New activations included the Elle Canada Portrait studio, where photographer Luis Mora snapped visiting celebrities.
Elle Canada also used virtual reality to engage guests. Using the Saumsung VR Gear, visitors could see 3-D behind-the-scenes footage of the magazine's recent shoot with actress Diane Kruger. Samsung displayed its virtual reality gear at several other TIFF events this year.
For its 10th iteration, the NKPR IT lounge took place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox September 10 to 20. Sponsors included Goody, which had a candy station and a selfie mirror. The brand also set up a station that used candy jars to display its latest products.
Entertainment One hosted its annual TIFF event at Andrew Richards Designs on September 14. Designed by Jeffry Roick, the event featured an installation from the Los Angeles street artist known as "Can't Stop Goodboy."
Tim Hortons hosted a station that looked like a mini doughnut shop. Guests could pick up coffee, doughnuts, and miniature doughnuts the chain calls "Timbits."
The regular-size doughnuts were branded with Entertainment One's logo and dusted in blue sprinkles that matched the company's signature hue.
The event also had a candy bar that allowed guests to make their own bags of treats. The event had a red carpet entrance in previous years; for the 2015 iteration, there was a more low-key entrance marked with a small photo wall.
Held on September 13 at the Candian Film Centre, the fund-raiser offered snacks from local eateries such as Pizzaville. The restaurant served guests slices of pizza right out of the box.
For the seventh year, Miami-based venue Nikki Beach hosted a pop-up event series to coincide with the film fest. This year, the pop-up was held at the Spoke Club from September 10 to 13. Events included an "#Instabrunch." Targeted at beauty, fashion, and lifestyle bloggers, the daytime event offered buffet-style meal service.
Shopping center Square One staged impromptu, flash-mob-style fashion shows on King Street West on September 11 and 12. Ten models sported looks from Square One stores, including Topshop and H&M.
Entertainment also had an impromptu air at the September 11 Producers Ball, which took place at the Royal Ontario Museum. The benefit featured strolling ballet dancers. As at several other TIFF parties this year, the bash also featured a candy bar where guests could make their own bags of treats.
