#partieswithoutborders

Kick-starting the Festival @ Kit Kat

One of the most coveted TIFF invitations was to the 8th annual Canadian Filmmakers' bash.

Held at the packed Spoke Club, the event was hosted by e-talk's Ben Mulroney and accomplished actors Emily Hampshire and Katie Boland. The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television was well represented by CEO, Helga Stephenson, the Queen of everything TIFF.

After red carpet pics, to everyone’s surprise, the dreaded, tiny elevator lineup was circumvented by a snafu…the elevator was out of service! Lots of huffing and puffing ensued as partygoers climbed the stairs - many in very high heels - to the rooftop, where a team of very competent tarbenders (er, bartenders) rewarded the athletic trek.

It was a smart move to hold this party, touting Canadian talent, the night before the Festival begins. Eyes were wide open.

Also on hand was esteemed director Atom Egoyan, whose TIFF entry this year was "Devil’s Knot". 

Above: The Invitation to Canadian Filmmakers' Party

Saving Hope’s dapper stars Benjamin Ayres (l) and Huse Madhavji.

Katie Boland was warmly greeted by Paris-based, TIFF Press Conference moderator and film critic Henri Behar, who congratulated her on the Venice Film Festival debut of her film, "Gerontophilia", directed by Bruce LaBruce (also a TIFF feature) (www.katieboland.com).Boland was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her mom, well-respected director Gail Harvey. 

Photographer and "The Animal Project" Associate Producer John Gundy 

Emily Hampshire's film, “All The Wrong Reasons”, starring the late and great Corey Monteith, directed by Gia Milani, won the TIFF $10,000 Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award. www.emilyhampshire.com.

Charming and trusted project manager at Party Barbara Co., Rondon Rollocks and Party Barbara Hershenhorn

At a Sept., 12th press conference to raise awareness for the release from a Cairo prison of director John Greyson and Dr. Tarek Loubani, Atom Egoyan joined Sarah Polley, Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney writer Michael Ondaatje, Greyson’s sister Cecilia Greyson and TIFF Lightbox Artistic Director Noah Cowan. To support this cause, please visit www.tarekandjohn.com

Q radio and television host Jian Ghomeshi (l) with awesome television critic Rob Salem and style guru journalist Rita Zekas.

Above: A must visit, POST TIFF destination!