TIFF PARTY: The festival’s opening-night party featured tacos (but no dark liquor) and a venue change

By John Semley | Photography by Erin Seaman

What could be more Canadian than Canada’s biggest film event hosting its opening party at a hockey arena? We guess TIFF could’ve launched the fest with a Canadian film. Or at least served rye. But still! We’ll take the Air Canada Centre for now. Bathed in purple light and gently throbbing house remixes of that song from Café de Flore, the festival’s opening-night bash offered a change from tradition. For the first time in more than a decade, the party moved downtown after a long run at the Liberty Grand at Exhibition Place. The new venue didn’t attracted A-list guests, and, sure, the bar wasn’t stocked with any dark liquor (unless beer counts, which it doesn’t), but there was plenty of Skyy vodka—and a taco bar, which probably means haute Mexican food has officially jumped the shark. Oh, well. At least now there might be a table available at Grand Electric.