Although the curtain on 34th Toronto International Film Festival doesn't officially close until Saturday, the partying typically hits a wall come Wednesday. The same thing happens every year; people's stamina for schmoozing just suddenly disappears.
Also, the chic shindig co-hosted by InStyle magazine and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and held at the Windsor Arms Hotel typically represents the climax of TIFF's event calendar. Any stars who haven't left town by Monday stick around for the Tuesday night soiree, which has been considered among the most coveted of invites since its inception in 2000.
“It's part of the fabric of the festival,” said hotel owner George Friedman. “It's not a typical fest party where anyone can come. If you're on the list, you're on the list; you're not, you're not.”
Natalie Portman poses at the gala presentation for Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.
While this year's bash did not boast as buzz-worthy a guest list – Paris Hilton and Micky Rourke made 2008 a night to remember – neither did it disappoint. Early arrivals included Anthony LaPaglia who could be overheard telling InStyle 's Karen Levy about his decision to shave off his strip of punk-inspired hair. “I tried to take it down a notch and then I messed it up so I took it all off,” he said. “But I can go get a magic marker and draw it back on just for you.”
What distinguishes this mixer from most of the others is that mixing does occur. While men made a beeline for Cairo Time actress Patricia Clarkson, I sat down to chat with her co-star Alexander Siddig and the film's director Ruba Nadda.
I asked about their after-party from Sunday night which, regrettably, I missed. “It was cold,” summed up Mr. Siddig, which seemed ironic given that the movie makes a point of emphasizing the Egyptian capital's heat.
The elegant, Sudanese-born British actor told me this was his first time to the pyramids since he was a teenager and that no, he does not smoke shisha like his character Tareq does in the film.
When Ms. Clarkson came over and slumped into his arms, seemingly exhausted by all the attention, Ms. Nadda said she was blessed that the two stars have such chemistry. “Either you have it or you don't, and they've got it,” she said, adding that the swish party felt a little surreal given how she got started. “I came from guerrilla filmmaking; my films cost $500.”
Actress Shriya Saran arrives at the Cooking With Stella screening at Roy Thomson Hall.
The event also allowed Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York to pose for a photo with Clive Owen, who also looked chummy with Nicolas Cage, who settled into one of the VIP alcoves with producers Alan and Gabe Polsky, Laurie May and Brad Pelman from Maple Pictures and a beefy bodyguard. Also there: Colin Firth sans bodyguard, but with Livia Giuggioli and Radha Mitchell, resplendent in a fuchsia Valentino cocktail dress.
There were a few other surprise guests. Gabbing from one of the room's central banquettes was the singer with paw prints on her décolletage. Who's that girl? Eve's that girl! Bill Nighy also showed up, having already stopped in at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS Toronto gala. He's been hitting a lot of the parties; I caught up with him near a table piled high with glass jars of penny candy. Has there been a favourite so far? “This one, largely because of the M&Ms and because it's a really nice room,” he said, also singling out The New York Times reception.
As for the film-focused amfAR and Dignitas fundraiser in support of AIDS research, the first-ever Toronto event amped up the star quotient thanks to Michelle Yeoh and Sarah Ferguson, Miranda Richardson, Verne Troyer and Eve. Sarah McLachlan and Deborah Cox entertained guests in the grand Carlu event space, done up to evoke Old Hollywood.
“AmfAR has been really great at hosting charity events in Cannes, Venice and Dubai,” said Kevin Sullivan, the evening's title sponsor along with MAC Cosmetics.
“The film industry really brings a sense of magic and spotlight to the issues we're concerned with,” said Dr. James Orbinski of Dignitas, which helps provide HIV/AIDS prevention and care to African communities. “It's really the goodwill of these people who choose to bring attention to and raise the profile of the issues we feel are important.”
Actress Terri Kwan and director Yonfan arrive at the Prince of Tears screening.
I suspect it will be my last time bumping into director Terry Gilliam (there with producer daughter Amy) who apparently read Tuesday's column mentioning his hand-painted outerwear. “Look, I'm wearing a different jacket tonight,” he said, sounding defensive but self-satisfied. “You can write that.”
Mr. Gilliam, you can consider it done.
