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.

Harvey Weinstein attends YOUTH IN REVOLT premiere – Weinstein Co. still showing film world their major players in Toronto with pick-up of Tom Ford’s A SINGLE MAN

The insiders camera caught iconic film executive Harvey Weinstein quietly stepping into the Toronto premiere of YOUTH IN REVOLT starring Michael Cera and Portia Doubleday. It seems the Weinstein Co. is on a bit of a comeback lately after that revealing feature about the brothers in a recent New York Times magazine. First, Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is a box office hit still collecting very good receipts overseas. Now during this Toronto International Film Festival, Youth in Revolt was met with enthusiastic applause and reviews after its TIFF Premiere, and the Weinsteins just put down $1 million plus for the U.S. and German rights to TOM FORD’S “A Single Man” (also having a TIFF premiere)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.