IT LOUNGE gifting suite at Windsor Arms Hotel plays host to TIFF celebrities and contributes to a roster of charities

The IT Lounge, hosted by NKPR at The Windsor Arms Hotel during TIFF week is proud to have broken new ground as the first gifting suite in North America to have had each participating brand contribute to a charity or cause.

A who’s who of celebrities visited the IT Lounge during the week to lend their support. For each of those visits, a special donation was made to the 12 charities. Brooks, Fila, Goody , Sharpie, Universal Music, were just some of the gifting companies contributing to the program.

Some of the many celebrity guests that visited IT Lounge: Paul Haggis, Olivia Wilde, the entire crew from So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Sissy Spacek, Saukrates, James Purefoy, Divine Brown, Kat Dennings, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Jennifer Garner, Russell Peters, Kyle MacLaghlan, Ivana Santilli, Marci Playground, Edward Norton, Ricky Gervais, Kardinal Offishal, Samantha Morton, Kristin Booth, Colin Mochrie, Deb McGrath, Eva Avilla, Lyriq Bent, Monika Schnarre, Caitlin Cronenberg, Lisa Ray, Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer, Terry Gilliam and many, many more!

CAREY MULLIGAN earning rave reviews in Toronto premiering AN EDUCATION – coming to America next in Wall Street 2 with Shia Lebouef

Your going to be hearing a lot more about British up-and-coming actress Carey Mulligan in the next year. Mulligan has a breakout role in AN EDUCATION, playing to rave reviews at TIFF and other film festivals. Mulligan’s stay in Toronto for the films premiere was a brief one. She had to get back to the New York set of Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps acting opposite Shia Lebouef in the Oliver Stone directed sequel to the eighties hit. It will be Carey’s first big role in an American movie. If that doesn’t endear her to North American audiences, Ms. Mulligan is sure to appear in the gossip mags as she is rumored to be dating her Wall Street co-star Lebouef.

Bollywood star PRIYANKA CHOPRA arrives in Toronto for TIFF premiere of What’s Your Rashee?

(festivalinsider.ca) Top Bollywood actress PRIYANKA CHOPRA arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival for a day of press to talk about What’s Your Rashee? The film also features HARMAN BAWEJA in the lead role of someone who returns home to India and has to find a bride within 12 choices of women presented (all played by Chopra.) On arrival to the press conference, Ms. Chopra greeted a handful of fans gathered and signed autographs.

rising star Amber HEARD at TIFF’09 with THE JONESES – Next up is THE RUM DIARY with Johnny Depp

Rising star AMBER HEARD was in Toronto for the world premiere of The Joneses. The film also stars Demi Moore and David Duchovny. Heard was channeling old-school Hollywood glamour during her stop at the after-party at AME on Mercer St. for the TIFF premiering film which has been earning strong reviews. Next up for Amber is a movie based on Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary, opposite Johnny Depp.

KEANU REEVES opens the DOOR on second chapter of acting career with Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee premiering at TIFF

(festivalinsider.ca) Keanu Reeves made a rare film festival appearance in Toronto this week with Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee which premiered at TIFF to very good reviews (especially for Reeves’ co-star in the film Robin Wright Penn.) Reeves touched upon a number of subjects during a day of press leading up to the films Gala premiere. He shared his thoughts on the recent passing of a friend Patrick Swayze, “he was a beautiful person and honest.” Keanu also talked at length about how his career is in transition from the earlier action oriented parts he had become known for. “I feel I’m starting the second chapter of my career. It’s a property of age. Certain roles and what you’ve done in the past just don’t hold the same power…” said Reeves during the press conference for the film.

“I know I’ve been very lucky, and at this point, I don’t really have to work for dough.” – Keanu Reeves

Nicolas Cage at 2009 TIFF press conference ON the importance of acting awards and where he keeps his Oscar

NICOLAS CAGE has come to Toronto this year in support of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. It was an especially reflective Cage in the press conference for the film accompanied by director Werner Herzog. “You can’t make movies thinking about awards…You make movies just coming from the heart.” – NICOLAS CAGE

Nice guy Rick Campanelli of ET Canada gives his jacket to a shivering NATALIE PORTMAN on Toronto red carpet

ET Canada reporter Rick Campanelli proved chivalry is not dead on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival. NATALIE PORTMAN arrived at her Roy Thomson Hall Gala premiere for Love and Other Impossible Pursuits looking simply sensational in a strapless mini dress. But with the red carpet outside and it being September in Toronto, there was a slight chill in the air. As Ms. Portman was doing her media duties, Campanelli noticed Natalie was cold. So he offered up his jacket – an offer Ms. Portman gladly accepted. We do hear the jacket was returned to Rick later that evening. And yes, the insider wonders, does Rick ever wash that coat again?

Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts celebrate Mother and Child with a few TIFF party stops

(festivalinsider.ca) KERRY WASHINGTON and NAOMI WATTS attended the party for Mother And Child at Swarovski crystal store on Bloor Street prior to their Gala TIFF screening. Watts and Washington continued the celebrating after their premiere stopping by a party at The Gardiner Museum for designer turned director Tom Ford’s A Single Man

The TIFF Celebs DO CARE about the photos taken of them – DREW BARRYMORE & ELLEN PAGE in Toronto for WHIP IT red carpet premiere

DREW BARRYMORE and her WHIP IT star ELLEN PAGE enjoyed the photos just taken of them at a WHIP IT pre-party during the Toronto International Film Festival. The duo were curious how some of the shots they were posing for turned out. Barrymore then turned to one TIFF photographer for a sneak peek. The film marks Drew’s directorial debut and has played to good reviews and an enthusiastic response from Toronto audiences.

MATT DAMON parties during TIFF week with BILL CLINTON and MARY J all in support of ONE X ONE kids foundation

(festivalinsider.ca) Matt Damon was in Toronto this week for the premiere of THE INFORMANT. It wasn’t Damon’s only duties as he has been coming to Toronto the last few years for his One X One charitable foundation. “Who isn’t interested in trying to improve the lives of children around the world?” mused Damon to the Toronto Star when discussing the important work the OneXOne foundation does. For 2009, Damon’s fundraising events were spread across an entire weekend. Saturday night saw a gala concert at Kool Haus, featuring Mary J. Blige. The next evening was a more intimate fundraising reception at the home of Edward Rogers, Rogers Communications CEO, with former U.S. president Bill Clinton in attendance.

NATALIE PORTMAN wonders what she will be doing 10 years from now during TIFF 2009 LOVE & OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS press conference

NATALIE PORTMAN was in Toronto for the 2009 TIFF press conference for Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. One journalist asked Ms. Portman what she thinks she will be doing ten years from now? “I don’t know if I will want to work. I don’t if I’ll be able to work?” wondered the 28 year-old actress.

LIBERACE movie directed by Steven Soderbergh is a GO – “MATT Damon is going to be my young lover” says MICHAEL DOUGLAS in Toronto

(festivalinsider.ca) One of the interesting things about the press conferences of 2009 Toronto International Film Festival – is if you listen close enough, you might hear about the films you could see play the festival circuit next year. MATT DAMON and MICHAEL DOUGLAS (appearing at TIFF this year in separate films) have both confirmed they will be taking part in a LIBERACE biopic. The Liberace film will be directed by frequent Damon collaborator, Steven Soderbergh (also in Toronto this year with Damon and THE INFORMANT) “Matt’s going to be my young lover.” quipped Michael Douglas in an interview with a local paper. During the TIFF’09 press conference for The Informant, Damon also touched on the subject. “I’m doing this Liberace movie. Michael Douglas is playing Liberace and I play his lover. Steven is directing it,” said Damon. Could we see the trio back at TIFF 2010?