While the Toronto Film Festival is obviously about movies, it’s also about spotting your favorite stars at premieres and mingling with them at after parties. Since the event lasts a whopping 10 days, there are definitely plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of festival favorites, like Eddie Redmayne and Emma Roberts, but it always seems like the weekends have the most going on. From screenings to parties to galas, we hunted down the top nine places you should be spending your time this weekend. You never know, you may even run into Tom Hardy.
Saturday
Beasts of No Nation Screening
Where: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Who Will Be There: Idris Elba, Cary Fukunaga
Why See It: Based on the 2005 novel written by Uzodinma Iweala, this film tells the story of a young boy in West Africa who is forced to join mercenary fights after civil war tears his family apart and his father is killed. Being called visionary, the film’s worldwide rights have already been snatched up by Netflix for around $12 million (the film only cost $6M to make in Ghana) and will available to stream on October 16, 2015.
About Ray Screening
Where: Princess Of Wales Theatre
Who Will Be There: Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts, Gaby Dellal
Why See It: Elle Fanning stars as Ray, a transgender teenager who decides it is time to transition in to his new life. His mother Maggie (Watts) has to track down his father in order to get legal consent, while his grandmother Dolly (Sarandon) struggles with having a grandson. Considering the wealth of talent here, you may want to take a tissue.
After Party: If you head to the Spanish Patria on King Street, you can celebrate the film with its stars—this could be your only chance to show Susan Sarandon that Rocky Horror Picture Show tattoo you’re so proud of. You should definitely keep Patria in mind for the entire festival, since plenty of parties and festival events are planned for the Tapas-style restaurant.
The Danish Girl Screening
Where: Princess Of Wales Theatre
Who Will Be There: Tom Hooper, Eddie Redmayne, Matthias Schoenaerts
Why See It: Watch the trailer and if you still don’t know why you should see it, we can’t help you. Seriously. Just go home and reevaluate your priorities.
Trumbo Screening
Where: Elgin Theatre
Who Will Be There: Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Jay Roach, Elle Fanning, Diane Lane, John Goodman, Dean O'Gorman
Why See It: Telling the true story of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, this film takes place in the 1940s when Hollywood figures were being blacklisted from the industry for their political opinions. The creative war led Trumbo to write films anonymously under different names (including Exodus and Spartacus), actually earning two Academy Awards in the process—The Brave One and Roman Holiday.
After Party: All of the stars will be headed to the high-tech Montecito lounge that night, nibbling on food from Chef Jonathan Waxman and enjoying some craft cocktails. If you get in, you will be in the same room as Dame Helen Mirren. Enough said.
Legend Screening
Where: Roy Thompson Hall
Who Will Be There: Brian Helgeland, Tom Hardy, David Thewlis
Why See It: What’s better than Tom Hardy? Two Tom Hardys! Based on The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins by John Pearson, Hardy plays the twin gangsters during their rise, fall and eventual life imprisonment sentence.
After Party: The members-only Soho House is known for its star-studded parties and the Legend after party will be no different, especially since Hardy will be there. You’ll find bashes for Drew Barrymore’s Wish You Were Here film, Susan Sarandon’s The Meddler, and a special Toast to “Spotlight” party hosted by Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, and Michael Keaton.
InStyle and Hollywood Foreign Press Association Party
Where: Windsor Arms Hotel
Who Will Be There: Josh Brolin, Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Naomi Watts
Why Go: This annual party is always held at the Windsor Arms Hotel and always attracts the best-of-the-best (like Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Naomi Watts). You can count on the space looking incredible too, since last year there was a canopy of dragonwood branches covered with orchids and teardrop votives.
Sunday
Brooklyn Screening
Where: Elgin Theatre
Who Will Be There: Saoirse Ronan, John Crowley, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen
Why See It: With a screenplay by the talented Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy, An Education), Brooklyn tells the tale of an Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn whose new life is interrupted by her past. Not only is the cast fantastic, this one is sure to look amazing in terms of costume and set design.
Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Gala
Where: Casa Loma
Who Will Be There: Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren, Paul Haggis, Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Moby
Why Go: In its fifth year, the APJ Festival Gala brings together philanthropists, artists, filmmakers, musicians and directors for a bit of fundraising. The black tie gala will feature special musical performances and a surprise guest, supporting Haitian communities through programs in arts, education and healthcare. Though it isn’t officially a TIFF event, coinciding the gala with the film festival means that tons of celebrities and high-profile names are sure to show up. To get in, you can either network to get your name on the list or be added to the individual ticket waitlist and cross your fingers.
High-Rise Screening
Where: Elgin Theatre
Who Will Be There: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Ben Wheatley, Elisabeth Moss
Why See It: Tom Hiddleston can’t really do wrong at the moment, so there’s a good chance that he will nail his role as Robert Laing in this movie adapted from J.G. Ballard’s novel of the same name.
After Party: The High-Rise celebration at Byblos is definitely the place to be on Sunday. Hosted by Michael Achenbaum, CEO of the Gansevoort Hotel Group, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to mingle with the cast and maybe even get a chance to ask Hiddleston how he perfected that Hank Williams croon for I Saw the Light.
