Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney arrive at the TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser, on Sept. 13.Arlyn McAdorey/Reuters
TIFF Tribute Awards gala, Sept. 13, Toronto
For the past eight years, the TIFF Tribute Awards gala has marked the festival’s opening week. The evening serves as both a fundraiser for the festival and a platform to honour some of the remarkable talent in town.
The hum of activity started during cocktail hour, which was held in one of the ballrooms at the Fairmont Royal York. Prime Minster Mark Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney, were early arrivals (the PM was on hosting duties as part of the Canada Investment Summit and stayed for cocktails only). At dinner, the latter was seated a couple of seats over from the Vancouver-born Seth Rogen, who was honoured with the TIFF Tribute Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by the Budman family.
Dame Helen Mirren received the award inspired by TIFF’s women’s empowerment initiative, Share Her Journey, dedicating it to recently departed trailblazers Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem. Penelope Cruz, who is in town for her film La Bola Negra, received the Special Tribute Award for her lasting and extraordinary contributions to film. Presenting her with the award were a trio or directors: Florian Zeller, director of Bunker, and Spanish filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the pair behind La Bola Negra, which took home the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director.
Chris Rock, director of the film Misty Green, which had its world premiere at TIFF, honoured the film’s star, Rosalind Eleazar, with the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. Director Lee Chang-dong, who received the TIFF Tribute Ebert Director Award presented by the Tory family, took the stage later in the evening to honour his friend, the remarkable French actor Isabelle Huppert, with a TIFF Tribute Performer Award (she’s in town for the North American premiere of Marc Fitoussi’s All About Corinne).
(L-R) Javier Calvo, Lee Chang-dong, and Javier Ambrossi attend the TIFF Tribute Awards.Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Among the attendees out to celebrate film were outgoing TIFF board chair Jeffrey Remedios and incoming board chair, former Toronto mayor John Tory; arts supporters Jay Smith, Anne-Marie Canning, Diane Bald and Michael Budman; athlete and activist Rick Hansen, who presented Siân Heder with the Impact Media award; and TIFF’s chief executive, Cameron Bailey. Rolex served as the event’s presenting sponsor.
Road to The Golden Globes Party, Sept. 12, Toronto
(L-R) Chloe Bailey, Rowan Blanchard, Chase Infiniti and a guest at the ‘Road to the Golden Globes,’ on Sept. 12.Courtesy of The Golden Globes/Supplied
The previous evening, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto hosted the TIFF-timed Golden Globes party. Dubbed ‘The Road to the Golden Globes,’ the bash is a countdown of sorts to the 84th edition of the annual awards, which will take place in January in Los Angeles. The party has become an after-after party for the big films premiering on TIFF’s buzziest Saturday night. Most parties during the festival are film-specific, but this one brings them all together.
Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts.Courtesy of The Golden Globes/Supplied
Justin Trudeau and Kathleen Robertson.Courtesy of The Golden Globes/Supplied
In one corner, Naomi Watts, in town for The Housewife, caught up with Sarah Paulson, who is at the festival for Closing Night. Jordan Firstman, in Toronto for his anticipated directorial debut, Club Kid (a breakout hit at Cannes) was tête-à-tête with Andrew Scott, at TIFF with director Simon Stone’s latest film, Elsinore. Stars of The Julia Set, including Chloe Bailey, Christopher Briney and Chase Infiniti, popped by a day after their own Hugo Boss-hosted party.
Also in attendance were actors-turned-directors Rebel Wilson, at the festival for Girl Group, and Courteney Cox, premiering her true-crime thriller Evil Genius (her cast Patricia Arquette, David Harbour and Ryan Eggold in tow). Former prime minister Justin Trudeau and his long-time chief of staff, Katie Telford, made the rounds following the announcement of their new media and entertainment production company, Hope and Hard Work. Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne presided over it all.