Oscar buzz, vodka and stalking advice doled out at the Hazelton Hotel
With two weeks left until the opening gala of the Toronto International Film Festival, reporters gathered at the Hazelton Hotel to get a rundown on the buzziest films (Precious), parties (One X One), possible Oscar contenders (Mo’Nique, the woman from Soul Plane) and TIFF-inspired cocktails (Skyy vodka for all).
CTV film critic Richard Crouse said the Oprah-backed film Precious could mean a possible Oscar nomination for Mo’Nique, while co-star Mariah Carey can finally shake off the tarnished glitter from, well, Glitter. Closing film Young Victoria also got a thumbs-up and was predicted to be Emily Blunt’s big break. But the most intriguing film tidbit (and a brilliant marketing move to boot) was that everyone who went to the pre-screening of Heath Ledger’s last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, had to sign a waiver that forbid them from talking about it.
We were also given a celebrity-stalking cheat sheet listing some of the parties celebrities are expected to attend:
September 10 Party: Year of the Carnivore Venue: Rolly’s Garage Who: Performances by Buck 65 and Sook Yin Lee
September 11 Party: Windsor Arms 10th anniversary celebration in support of Artists for Peace and Justice Venue: Windsor Arms Hotel Who: Paul Haggis, Olivia Wilde
Party: The Trotsky premiere Venue: Pravda Vodka Bar Who: Jay Baruchel, Colm Feore, Jessica Pare
September 12 Party: Hello! Magazine Venue: Birks Who (invited but not confirmed): Ryan Lochte, Mary Louise Parker, Jane McLean, Michael Douglas, Woody Harrelson
Party: One X One concert Venue: Koolhaus Who: Performance by Mary J. Blige
September 13 Party: Norman Jewison’s annual Canadian Film Centre barbecue Venue: Canadian Film Centre Who: Canadians
Party: Cairo Time premiere Venue: Spice Route Who: Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig
Party: Good Hair premiere Venue: One King West Grand Banking Hall Who: Chris Rock
September 14 Party: Mother and Child pre-screen and cocktail party Venue: Fairmont Royal York Who: Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson
September 15 Party: InStyle Magazine party Venue: Windsor Arms Hotel Who (invited but not confirmed): Naomi Watts, Keanu Reeves, Michael Cera
Party: Cinema Against AIDS Toronto benefit for Amfar Venue: The Carlu Who: Performance by Sarah McLachlan, dinner prepared by Jamie Kennedy
September 16 Party: Cooking With Stella premiere Venue: Mildred’s Temple Kitchen Who: Lisa Ray, Don McKellar, Deepa Mehta, Dilip Mehta
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