Power Publicist Natasha Koifman works with Paul Haggis and Olivia Wilde on TIFF Friday night Artists for Peace and Justice fundraiser

One of the most talked about parts of the Toronto International Film Festival is THE PARTIES. TIFF is famous for its parties. There are just a select few power publicists in Toronto that make many of the festival celebrations and fundraisers happen. Natasha Koifman is one of those publicists.

A hot party ticket at TIFF this year was the first Friday’s Artists for Peace and Justice fundraiser at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Friday nights event brought out a who’s who of TIFF elite including director Jason Reitman, Elisha Cuthbert, Kim Cattrall, Amanda Seyfried, Jason Bateman and Vivica A. Fox.

Find out what it takes to put together a celebrity-laden shindig and what the TIFF power publicists go through in this NOW Magazine profile of Natasha Koifman.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher grace the TIFF’09 red carpet for THE JONESES

Demi Moore had husband Ashton Kutcher join her at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Demi’s latest work – The Joneses. The film premiered Sunday afternoon at the Visa Screening Room in the Elgin Theatre. It was Demi and Ashton’s second straight red carpet within twenty-four hours. The night previous the couple tended to red carpet duties in New York City.

Canadian Film Centre annual BBQ hosted by Norman Jewison in celebration of the independent creative spirit always a highlight during TIFF

photo: director / writer Sook-Yin Lee and her “Year of the Carnivore” cast actors Mark Rendall and Ali Liebert at the CFC annual BBQ.

One of the more anticipated parties during the Toronto Film Festival each year is the annual Canadian Film Centre BBQ that happens on the first Sunday afternoon during TIFF week. While the big Hollywood produced movies can sometimes dominate the press headlines at TIFF, the CFC event likes to, as the invitation says, “celebrate the Canadian independent creative spirit.”

And it does that well.

A Canadian Film Centre produced short, “Shortman v. minivan” is making a Toronto Film Festival premiere this week
photos: Keifer Sutherland of 24 fame made an appearance in support of the CFC event and The Arkells performed.

A very dapper BEN BARNES at the ROOTS party for the film PASSION PLAY

(festivalinsider.ca) A very dapper looking BEN BARNES attends a pre-screening party at the ROOTS store on Bloor St. The very hot Barnes (fresh off the success of leading The Chronicles of Narnia) is visiting TIFF in support of DORIAN GRAY. Also showing up at the Roots event was Megan FOX and Michael CAINE. The Roots event was actually for a film not playing TIFF, PASSION PLAY – a soon-to-be-released film starring Fox.

IRISH eyes were smiling at the Ondine TIFF red carpet premiere when U2′s BONO & EDGE pay a surprise visit to support Neil Jordan’s film

(festivalinsider.ca) Its definitely been a year of surprise red carpet guests at TIFF. First Robert Deniro shows up on the red carpet for PRECIOUS and the next day, members of the group U2- Bono & Edge appear at the premiere of ONDINE starring Colin Farrell. The insider had a hunch on this one as Irish director Neil Jordan is a close friend of the bands, even done a music video for them. Throw in Colin Farrell and you gotta night to celebrate the Irish. Yup, there just might be a pint or two flowing at that post-screening reception tonight.
UPDATE: U2′s Bono, Edge, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. did join director Neil Jordan and Colin Farrell for a post-film party at a popular King St. west restaurant. There was GREEN CARPET outside to welcome the party guests.

DREW Barrymore on why Roller Derby is empowering for women as her directorial debut WHIP IT makes a TIFF 2009 world premiere

DREW BARRYMORE brought the cast of her directorial debut, WHIP IT to Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas square for a red carpet AND roller derby exhibition. It was all in support of the world premiere of WHIP IT at TIFF. Barrymore talks to the thousands of assembled fans (yes, thousands!) about directing for the first time and why WHIP IT is an empowering story for women.

Robert DENIRO makes surprise TIFF appearance in support of OPRAH’S PRECIOUS at Gala Toronto premiere

(festivalinsider.ca) If the Oscar buzz was not already loud after its earlier world premiere at Sundance, that buzz is screaming now after the Gala premiere PRECIOUS had at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was THE Gala premiere of this TIFF and an incredible line-up of guests came out in support of the film. But when Oprah’s good friend ROBERT DENIRO made a surprise appearance at Roy Thompson Hall last night even the cast of the film was left a little speechless. Deniro came to Toronto unannounced first appearing at a low-key cocktail reception for the New York Times at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) before heading over to the Precious Gala.

MARY J. BLIGE talks about her inspiration for PRECIOUS theme song during press conference for PRECIOUS

With a packed press conference of the world’s media in attendance. Producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry brought a very buzzed about cast to Toronto for the premiere of PRECIOUS. Mary J. Blige was personally called by Oprah about creating music for the movie. Considering the subject matter of the film, Blige could relate and immediately set out to write songs.

A TIFF IT GIRL – MELANIE LYNSKEY has 3 films during 2009 Toronto festival – including BOTH Clooney films

With so many films playing in festivals this year for Melanie, she was asked if there is anything she likes to travel with to make her more comfortable away from home, “my dog and my husband… well, maybe NOT in that order.”

Playboy founder HUGH HEFNER (and FRIENDS) makes Toronto appearance for Playboy, Activist, Rebel documentary premiere

(festivalinsider.ca) HUGH HEFNER made a grand TIFF red carpet entrance at The Elgin Theatre on Saturday afternoon for the screening of Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist, Rebel. The legendary PLAYBOY founder emerged from a black stretch limo (emblazoned with the famous Playboy symbol) and was accompanied by three lovely ladies. Hef is well into his eighth decade- and it literally took that long for him to open up and support a film about his life’s work. Director Brigitte Berman met Hefner years ago, but it wasn’t until Hefs 80th birthday party that Berman was able to talk the icon into participating in a documentary. “For me, this film has it all – sex, glamour, politics, romance, tragedy, and conflicts – and many great surprises about a man people think they know, but don’t really know,” Berman said.

Woody Harrelson plays the superhero at TIFF this year in DEFENDOR – Doesn’t see the point of making a CHEERS movie

Woody Harrelson is back at the Toronto Film Festival again this year with another quirky type of character part he has been playing the last few years. In DEFENDOR, Woody takes a stab at playing a superhero. The film has been playing to good buzz and since Harrelson’s performance a couple of years ago in the Oscar winning NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, he has been on a run with a string of good films. The TIFFinsider still couldn’t resist asking Woody about the prospects of a CHEERS reunion movie, or had one even ever been discussed. “Not that I had heard of.” quipped Woody. Would he do a CHEERS movie if one was offered? (thinking for second) “Probably not. I think we kind of covered everything on tv.”

The only GOATS for GEORGE CLOONEY at Toronto Film Festival will be in the movie – Thank you very much.

The party to celebrate the Clooney starring THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS was held at a posh Bridle Path residence on Friday night. A pen full of real goats was assembled there to greet the guests outside. When it was suggested that Clooney and cast pose with the goats. George wanted none of that and sailed past the goats into the private party. We know Clooney is a great guy – But I guess even George knew that was one photo op to stay a mile away from.

What the Toronto streets look like outside a TIFF party Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are in as the cast from THE INFORMANT celebrate their TIFF premiere

(festivalinsider.ca) Matt Damon has come to the Toronto International Film Festival this year in support of Steven Soderbergh’s THE INFORMANT. After their Elgin red carpet premiere, Matt Damon and cast headed over to Sassafraz restaurant in the heart of Yorkville. Michael Douglas would later stop by to join the party. It didn’t take long for word to spread that A-list stars were in the building as hundreds lined the streets for a glimpse.

A Gorgeous George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and cast of Men Who Stare At Goats arrival at Roy Thompson Hall Red Carpet

(festivalinsider.ca) One of the most anticipated guests of the Toronto International Film Festival – Mr. George Clooney made his first (of two!) red carpet appearances on the first Friday of TIFF for The Men Who Stare At Goats.
Even with a banged up and bandaged hand, Clooney still spent a good fifteen minutes taking pictures with fans and signing autographs.

Jennifer Connelly overcome by tears thinking of her father’s death at 2009 TIFF press conference for Creation

The press conferences at TIFF always provide their share of surprises. And when Jennifer Connelly, took time in her CREATION presser to address remarks a media executive made about her and her husbands very brief pre-Gala party appearance it generally stunned the packed room of media.

A newspaper report had quoted Astral Media’s John Riley as being upset his family didn’t get a chance to personally meet Mrs. Connelly and husband Paul Bettany at an Astral Media TIFF launch event. Connelly took time in the press conference to explain the evening of her and husband’s Gala premiere, was also the 1st anniversary of her father’s death. and THAT was the reason she cut her party celebrations short. To their credit, Mr. Riley and Astral Media did release a statement.

TWO red carpet looks – ONE night for Amanda SEYFRIED at TIFF’09 premieres of AN EDUCATION and JENNIFER’S BODY

(festivalinsider.ca) One of the “it girls” for the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival – Amanda SEYFRIED made not but one, but TWO! red carpet appearances on the opening night of TIFF. Amanda joined boyfriend Dominic Cooper for the premiere of An Education (a film getting Oscar buzz in some circles already) and at the same theatre, four hours later (and to a much more packed carpet of fans and media) Amanda joined Megan Fox and the cast of Jennifer’s Body. Next week, Ms. Seyfried is sure to grace another TIFF red carpet when Canadian writer / director Atom Egoyan’s CHLOE premieres.

Will TIFF be the most Tweeted Film Festival in history? Twitter has become the best place for Toronto Film Festival breaking news.

There is no doubt newspapers and television have traditionally been the go-to source for Toronto Film Festival news in years past. But the online world – and one place in particular – TWITTER, may have now become the best place for real-time TIFF news. For those in the twitter-know, there really is no better source of breaking TIFF news then the #tiff09 hashtag stream. (If your not familiar with Twitter or tags, think of hashtags as words to organize all news content around.)

If your looking for people tweeting about the festival, you can catch the individual thoughts of many from a few different perspectives of TIFF.

Official TIFF sources on Twitter:

@TIFF_NET
@InfoTIFFBell
@mmadnesstiff

Official people behind those official TIFF sources:

festival director @CAMERON_TIFF (and assistant to Mr. Bailey @ALEX_TIFF is tweeting.)
@jenbell_TIFF
@giovanna_tiff
@ChrisYDS_TIFF
@dc_comics
@kimberly_lyn

the TIFF film programmers

@thompowers
@colingeddes
@noahlightbox

Some cool people working the tiff scene

@ashley_bartlett

Unofficial (but still very good) sources:

@TOfilmfest
@TIFFReviews
@tifftalk
@TIFFblog
@Larry411
@RobertAMitchell
@inkcanada
@thesubstream

True film fans:

@pink_lolly
@canmark
@trinas1972

The major media people and reviewers:

@akstanwyck
@wellshwood
@amyverner
@shinangovani

The talent and stars coming to TIFF:

@JasonReitman
@diablocody
@mrskutcher
@KevinSpacey
@michaelsheen
@hughhefner

oh yeah, and there is us @tiffinsider

We want to make you feel like an INSIDER this TIFF – We got FREE SCREENING TICKETS and CADILLAC rides to give away – FOLLOW US on twitter for the details to win

The Cadillac TIFFinsider will be giving away FREE SCREENING TICKETS to many of the most popular films playing the Toronto festival this year. But your going to have to FOLLOW US on twitter (@tiffinsider) to really have the best chance to win.

Each day, we’ll be giving away FREE tickets at secret locations around Toronto. We’ll be revealing these locations and SECRET PASSWORDS exclusively on Twitter. SO YOU MUST BE FOLLOWING ALONG TO HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.

And it’s not just film tickets you can win. You’ll also have a chance to ride like that stars do and test drive a Cadillac.

(Sorry folks, you will have to be at least 19 years of age to win tickets and hold a valid drivers license if you want to cruise around in a Cadillac.)

Our first sets of complimentary tickets will be for screenings of JENNIFER’S BODY and ANTICHRIST on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH. Details to follow very soon at www.twitter.com/tiffinsider

Looking for lessons in fish sex? Isabella Rossellini and Green Porno kick off TIFF photo ops at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum

The powers at TIFF have been saying for years the Toronto Film Festival is NOT just about films. They are certainly proving that correct this year with many different art events happening during TIFF all over the city.

Internationally-renowned actress and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini has brought her popular GREEN PORNO: SCANDALOUS SEA to TIFF this year. The installation features Rossellini’s playful short films about the reproductive habits of marine creatures. The public has a chance to visit Rossellini’s installation FOR FREE in Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) from September 10 to 20.

Cadillac People’s Choice Award celebrates the best in film from TIFF – now expanded in 2009 for Documentary and Midnight Madness categories

The 34th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival brings about important change to the Cadillac People’s Choice Award. In addition to the main feature award (Slumdog Millionaire won last year) for 2009, there will be new Cadillac People’s Choice Awards presented in separate documentary and Midnight Madness categories. The awards are chosen by audiences through a voting process that takes place at screenings throughout the Festival.

TIFF’s Real to Reel program that showcases the documentaries has some especially thought provoking films this year. Early favorites might be Chris Smith’s COLLAPSE. A candid look at the media empire of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in VIDEOCRACY has been stirring buzz. We also hear great things about WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY, an insiders look at the Disney animation empire that recently wowed Telluride Film Festival audiences.

A Cadillac People’s Choice Award will also be presented to favorite Midnight Madness feature. An early favorite in this category could be the already much talked about JENNIFER’S BODY, featuring a demonically possessed Megan Fox and written by Oscar winning Juno scribe, Diablo Cody. But vampires from another Midnight Madness feature, DAYBREAKERS, led by Ethan Hawke could give JB a run. And of course, there are still eight other films in the Midnight Madness program for consideration.

One thing for sure, competition for the Cadillac People’s Choice Awards will be tight. We’ll just have to wait and see what the TIFF audiences decide when the awards are presented on September 19th.

Jason Reitman’s UP IN THE AIR flies into TIFF on strong reviews from Telluride Film Festival

Well, its safe to say director Jason Reitman will be having himself a very busy TIFF this year. Besides the highly anticipated George Clooney starring Up In The Air, Reitman is also in Toronto as producer on Jennifer’s Body. And if Jason can find the time, we’re sure he’ll be around to support his father Ivan Reitman’s Chloe, the Atom Egoyan directed film which Reitman Sr. produced and is also having a TIFF red carpet premiere.

Up In The Air had its first real showing at the Telluride Film Festival this past weekend. To say critics were blown away would be an understatement. The intimate showing of Up In The Air at Telluride gave a screening of the film to mostly American critics. Hailing Reitman’s latest as everything from “a triumph” to “sure-fire Oscar contender” should cement Up In The Air’s status as a TIFF must-see movie and where a much larger press pool will now have a chance to see the film.

Let the Awards campaign season officially begin!

Movie reviewer Richard Crouse on THE ROAD, THE TROTSKY, DAYBREAKERS, and who he most wants to interview at TIFF – Part 3/3

Here is the final part of our video chat with movie reviewer and author Richard Crouse who will be all over TIFF this year. Crouse shares his feelings on Viggo Mortensen’s THE ROAD, Jay Baruchel’s THE TROTSKY, and DAYBREAKERS. Richard also tells the insider about one particular celebrity he would most love to interview during TIFF (It’s Oprah.)

RELATED: Richard on PRECIOUS, YOUNG VICTORIA, & IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS
RELATED: Richard’s most memorable TIFF interview ever

Jennifer’s Body star MEGAN FOX and BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN arrive early in Toronto – the weekend BEFORE TIFF starts

Arriving early for TIFF? Jennifer’s Body star Megan Fox and boyfriend Brian Austin Green are in Toronto this weekend. The couple paid a visit to Holt Renfrew on Bloor St. and strolled Yorkville ave. on Friday. Probably a smart thing for the couple to do now. By next weekend, Yorkville will come alive with the Toronto Film Festival and the relatively unnoticed walk the couple made yesterday, will be impossible.

The Hollywood Reporter spotlights TIFF in annual Toronto Film Festival edition

The Hollywood Reporter puts a spotlight on the Toronto International Film Festival with it’s annual TIFF edition which hit newsstands today. Among the story features;
TIFF: Fest of Both Worlds – TIFF special report
The A List – 10 titles likely to generate buzz in Toronto
Toronto Survival Guide – Insider tips on where to go, what to see and how to get there

Movie reviewer Richard Crouse talks PRECIOUS, YOUNG VICTORIA, & IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS in-between press screenings on the eve of #tiff09 – Part 2/3

In-between press screenings the week before the 2009 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival opens – movie reviewer and author Richard Crouse shared his early thoughts on some of the main tiff’09 premiering films.

Crouse called the Oprah Winfrey produced buzz-film Precious Oscar worthy and “the best movie at the festival this year you’ll only want to sit through once.”

Richard also shared his thoughts on the Toronto festival’s closing night film, Young Victoria featuring Emily Blunt in the title role. Crouse felt this would be the Blunt performance that would “make her a BIG star.” (even more so then the stand-out Devil Wears Prada role.)
RELATED: CROUSE TALKS ABOUT HIS FAVORITE TIFF INTERVIEW EVER

Tarantino loves Jane Campion’s TIFF bound Bright Star

Director and Writer Quentin Tarantino was first in Cannes this year with box-office smash Inglourious Basterds. Tarantino was recently asked by L.A. Weekly what some of the better films he saw at the Cannes Film Festival, “I was a big fan of Jane Campion’s Bright Star, I think it’s her best movie. I got caught up in the seriousness of the poetry, and I don’t mind the chaste stuff,” he said.

Campion brings Bright Star to Toronto next. TIFF should be a good week for Campion’s films, besides Bright Star, Canadian actress and filmmaker Sook-Yin Lee will present a screening of Jane Campion’s first theatrical and groundbreaking feature, Sweetie.