TIFF 2024: A plethora of packed post-screening parties, plus a fundraiser stacked with megastar weight

Opening weekend of the Toronto International Film Festival’s 49th edition saw parties of all stripes take shape across the city. With writing strikes and lockdowns behind us, the plethora of packed post-screening parties, plus a fundraiser stacked with megastar weight, had TIFF looking like its old self.

Celebrations culminated at the sixth edition of the TIFF Tribute Awards, the splashiest gathering of the festival, which honoured a bevy of film heavyweights and raises funds – more than $1-million on this night alone – for year-round programs at TIFF. Actor Lupita Nyong’o presented the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, one of the biggest of the night, to Cate Blanchett, who stars in two projects at this year’s festival: Alfonso Cuarón’s series Disclaimer and Guy Maddin’s latest feature Rumours.

“We have to keep asking questions that open locked doors and knowing our worth – our worth creatively as well as financially – as greater inclusivity on our sets leads to less homogenous and more vibrant storytelling,” the Academy Award winner said on stage last Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Salma Hayek Pinault introduced her friend and colleague Angelina Jolie with the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media. The award presented by philanthropist Anne-Marie Canning recognizes leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema.

”As artists, and audience, we have an opportunity now more than ever to watch and learn from world cinema, and to listen to and support others who are giving their perspective,” said Jolie during her remarks, before a swift exit for the world premiere of her sixth directorial Without Blood happening nearby.

The TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by the Budman Family was bestowed (by Norman’s son Michael and his wife Diane Bald, with help from actor Viggo Mortensen) to director David Cronenberg, while fellow director Mike Leigh was given the TIFF Ebert Director Award by Chaz Ebert and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Actor and screenwriter Julie Delpy bestowed director Durga Chew-Bose (Bonjour Tristesse) with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by Amazon MGM Studios, and Amy Adams was another big star who received a TIFF Tribute Performer Award from filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, who directed her in his 2016 film Arrival. Jharrel Jerome of Moonlight fame also took home a TIFF Tribute Performer Award – the actor was in town for director William Goldenberg’s film Unstoppable, based on the life of Anthony Robles, who attended the gala. Actor Sandra Oh served as honorary chair of the do, and there in the room of course was TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and TIFF board chair Jeffrey Remedios.

The Golden Globes have had a party presence during the festival for around two decades, and on Sept. 7 the Road to the Golden Globes Party marked the kickoff to their 82nd annual awards. The gathering at the Four Seasons Toronto was awash with actors including Jennifer Lopez (in town for the aforementioned Unstoppable), Pamela Anderson (there for The Last Showgirl), Demi Moore (there for her film The Substance) and Sydney Sweeney (there for the world premiere of Ron Howard’s latest Eden). Andrew Garfield (Audi Canada had held a soirée for his latest We Live in Time a couple hours earlier), Mark Hamill (there for The Life of Chuck) and the legendary Isabella Rossellini (who was at TIFF with Edward Berger’s film Conclave) were all there, too.

Elsewhere in the city, gatherings were under way for a plethora of films. RBC House retuned for the weekend, holding among other gatherings a to-do for Daniel Minahan’s On Swift Horses with bright young stars Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter and Diego Calva.

On Sept. 5 (which, during TIFF time, counts as part of opening weekend), singer Katy Perry was a surprise guest at the party given for The Cut which stars her husband Orlando Bloom, Caitriona Balfe and John Turturro (Olympian Andre De Grasse was there to support). That day also saw a party pop up for David Gordon Green’s film Nutcrackers hosted by tequila makers Don Julio, with the film’s big star Ben Stiller there with his wife Christine Taylor. Over at Soho House, the fashion label Celine held a party for the cast and crew after the premiere of director Durga Chew-Bose’s debut feature Bonjour Tristesse, with her cast including Lily McInerny, Claes Bang, Chloë Sevigny, Naïlia Harzoune and Aliocha Schneider all in attendance.